Works4Me Tips: Getting Organized

Bulletin Boards, Chalk and White Boards - Getting Organized - Works4Me

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Tips Archive » Getting Organized » Bulletin, Chalk and White Boards

Bulletin Boards (22 tips)
Chalk Boards (4 tips)
White Boards (7 tips)

Bulletin Boards

Covering Boards

From Sonny Bechler, a special education teacher and member of the Board of Directors for the Illinois Education Association in Libertyville, Illinois:

"Many schools require their shelves or boards to be covered, and many teachers use bulletin board paper to do this. I would like to suggest that we save paper and consider using old clean bed sheets to cover shelves and the like. If you do not have any old worn bed sheets, ask for some in your weekly parent or school memo. In the fall, you can wash the sheets and store them for the next year. It has worked well in our school and we saved costly paper!"

Stars, Comets and Galaxies

From Jan Formisano, a 2/3 combination teacher at Island Park Elementary School in Mercer Island, Washington:

"Here's a tip for creating a unique bulletin board background for a unit on the solar system. I take a black or midnight blue roll of bulletin board paper and cut it to the size I need. I then take it outside and lay it down in the sun, securing the edges so it doesn't blow around in the wind. I take yellow tempera paint and a large brush and sprinkle, drizzle and splatter with the paint. This creates lovely stars, comets and galaxies as the paint splatters on the paper in small droplets. After it's dry, I hang it on the bulletin board and attach my planets and solar system posters."

Painted Windows

From Jan Formisano, a second grade teacher at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in Falls Church, Virginia:

"I have an idea for those that are artistic and would like to make their classroom look exceptionally alive and wonderful! I choose a theme relating to either science or literature and paint the windows in my classroom. This month, I chose the solar system and planned a scene in outer space with midnight blue paint as the background. There are yellow stars, planets, shooting stars and aliens in space ships. I painted it with regular tempera paints mixed with about � cup of dish detergent. This allows the paint to be easily washed off when ready to change themes. Just add water and it washes off with ease. These paintings create a vibrant color wash in the room and are absolutely incredible!"

Kiosk Display

From Sue Kast, a fifth grade teacher at Vintage Hills Elementary in Pleasanton, California:

"One open house, I ran out of bulletin board space and still wanted to display many of my snapshots that were taken during the year. I thought about building a Kiosk using butcher paper. Here's how to do it. Cut any length and fold it into fourths lengthwise. Tape or glue pictures to three of the sides leaving one end free to be overlapped with the other side. Fold each end over several times for support and then overlap the two ends to form a triangular prism. Staple the ends and also staple some yarn to each of the three sides. I hang this from the ceiling and I have a display that takes up no floor space and can be used for stories, artwork, etc. My fellow teachers loved the idea."

Ceiling Hangings

From Sue Kast, a fifth grade teacher at Vintage Hills Elementary in Pleasanton, California:

"Here's a tip for teachers that have classrooms with acoustical tiles. When I want to hang pictures, windsocks, bulletin boards, etc. from the ceiling, I unbend a paperclip and tuck one end under the metal supports that hold the tiles up. I use the hook end to hang up the student's work. I loop string through all my projects and use a yard stick and/or stand on a kid's desk to get to the places I can't reach."

Kindness Club

From Sally Theobold, an intervention specialist for Putnam County Schools in Palatka, Florida:

"I recognize random acts of kindness in my classroom. I write the student's name, date and act of kindness on an index card. I attach all the cards to a bulletin board titled, Miss Sally's Kindness Club. At the end of the year, I take down the cards and mail them to the parents. This is a great way for students to get recognition for being kind to each other."

Easy Bulletin Board Backgrounds

From Paula Thompson, a retired special education teacher from Theodore Middle School in Mobile, Alabama:

"Bulletin board paper is not easy to measure and put up so I use gift wrap instead. After stapling it to the center of my board, I add a pre-cut corrugated, colorful border. Gift-wrap not only does the trick for holiday themes, but it can be used for backgrounds of subject features such as dinosaurs, jungles, and space themes. Let your imagination flow at your local gift wrap department."

Chance Cards

From a sixth grade math teacher in Crossville, Tennessee:

"I have a wall labeled CHANCE in the back of my classroom. I have seasonal objects around the label that hide individual or classroom rewards. The students never know what they're going to get when they win a trip to chance board. I send them for things like adding really neat extras to our lesson, helping others, doing a good job on homework or doing perfect on my tests or quizzes. It's a very simple idea and the students love it. They always remind me if I haven't used it in a few days. The chances are also connected to my behavior plan and it's not just available to the top students."

Fabric Backgrounds

From Katie Crockett, a reading teacher at Franklin Middle School in Dallas, Texas:

"I buy inexpensive lightweight cotton fabric for my bulletin boards. I choose a bright solid color because the fabric does not fade nor show staple holes. If I want to use a different background for a certain time of the year, I staple it over the cotton. Then, when I take that display down, I still have the cotton background."

Boards to Share

From Dr. Kathy Evans, a teacher at Sundance Elementary in Peoria, Arizona:

"It's fun to have the kids create bulletin boards as part of the visual for a project's presentation. This keeps the boards current with little effort from the teacher. Our librarian has a revolving bulletin board so when we're finished with a display, she hangs it up in the library for the rest of the school to enjoy."

Student Heritage

From Barbara Pollak, an English as a second language teacher at Clark Mills School in Manalapan, New Jersey:

"My students speak a variety of languages and come from many different countries and backgrounds. To help them appreciate each other, I have them fill out a form which includes their names in English and their native language, a few phrases in their native language and some personal information such as their likes and dislikes and how many siblings they have. I put the cards on the bulletin board outside my room with a photo and a string leading to where they're from on the world map. This gives the parents something to look at while they're waiting for conferences and it helps them get to know their child's classmates' backgrounds as well as being proud of their own heritage."

Seasonal Trees

From Karen Russell, a third grade teacher at Willett Elementary School in Davis, California:

"Before school starts, I put up a 3-D paper tree by bunching up colored butcher paper and stapling it onto a blue background. The tree begins the year with apples. I put the students' names on them and write 'pick of the bunch' on a paper barrel. I create a pilgrim scene beneath the tree in November. In December, it becomes a Giving Tree when we put food for the needy beneath it and in the spring we plant tissue paper flowers below it. Other ideas come to mind as we go through the curriculum. My students enjoy creating the changes and sometimes come up with new ideas too."

Storing Bulletin Boards

From Jan Hurd, a first grade teacher at Shelton Park Elementary School in Virginia Beach, Virginia:

"Many times when you develop a good bulletin board that you would like to use another year, you store the pieces but later forget the arrangement. A simple solution is to take a picture of it and then store the picture with the pieces so the arrangement will be easier to reassemble later. I make folders for bulletin board pieces by folding a 24"x 36" piece of tagboard in half and stapling two sides. I keep the folders in a large flat box that movers use for paintings and pictures."

Surprising Science Questions

From Deborah Myers, a science lab instructor at Ford Road Elementary School in Memphis, Tennessee:

"I have a large bulletin board in the science lab entitled, Surprising Science Question of the Week. Every week, I put a question on the board along with a picture clue that the students much research in order to find the answer. They put their answers along with their name and grade level in a pocket that I have hanging outside my door. I give a personalized Science Whiz of the Week Certificate that I created on my computer to everyone who gave a correct answer. The winners also get their names posted in the hallway along with the answer to the question. I was amazed when my answer pocket started filling up! The children even stop me in the hallway to ask me if the new question is up and if they answered it correctly."

Bulletin Board Backgrounds

From Jill Irey, a Spanish and Algebra II teacher at Lake City High School in Lake City, Michigan:

"I use wallpaper for backgrounds on my bulletin boards. It's fast to put up, it doesn't fade and it doesn't show staple holes. In the summer, I look for wallpaper on sale. I prefer the tweed-like designs. I put wallpaper on my bulletin boards first thing in the fall and leave it up all year. If I really want a different background later, I just put it over the wallpaper. Then when I take the special background down, the wallpaper background is ready to go!"

Student Bulletin Boards

From Gay Johnson, a fourth grade teacher at EPIC School in Birmingham, Alabama:

"I have many bulletin boards in my classroom. I prepare a bulletin board for children's work that changes every two or three weeks. I staple fabric on the board so it stays bright and never fades. A solid, bright colored T-shirt type knit works well. Then I put masking tape on top in a grid for as many students as I have. That's one student's bulletin board space. Her writing or art work can be displayed in that section as assigned or he can decorate his section as a mini-bulletin board according to his whim and will. Depending on the number of children in the class, one unit of the grid will be 18"X22" or the size of the cardboard insert in panty hose which is 6"X8". If we ever need the big space of the whole bulletin board, then we just have to take the tape off the fabric."

Student Work Display

From Leann O'Neill, a fifth grade teacher at Harbor Heights Elementary School in Gig Harbor, Washington:

"I find changing bulletin boards and logging in assignments to be very time-consuming. This year, I used one big wall in the hall by my room for a permanent bulletin board. All students did a name plate with a 12"X18" colored picture of themselves. I had these laminated and put them up in alphabetical order in the hall with space for displaying student work. Now when we do a project for display, I put the work up by the 'student.' It creates a great bulletin board and I can tell, at a glance, who has not turned in the work. In addition, we are going to add construction paper details each month. In October, students will add some sort of costume. In November, we will be patriotic for Veteran's Day, etc."

Einstein

From Lou Birenbaum, a first grade teacher at Willow Brook School in St. Louis, Missouri:

"Monthly bulletin boards can be time-consuming. Last September, I hung a poster of Albert Einstein and his quote 'Imagination is more important than knowledge.' Each following month, I altered the poster to match a holiday or another event -- October had Albert attired in a witch's outfit; in November he was a pilgrim, etc. This year, since the kindergartners thought it was a poster of me, I added a poster-sized blown up photo of me in a pose similar to Albert's. For October, I captioned the board 'Dynamic Duo' and I am attired as Batman and Albert as Robin."

Using Fabric

From Nancy Brooks, a kindergarten teacher at Dutrow Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia:

"For attractive bulletin boards that are useful year after year, I use fabric for the background. I have seasonal and thematic fabric which I use throughout the year. For example, I have nursery rhyme fabric for the beginning of the year in kindergarten, fall for later, followed by snowflakes, hearts, bunnies and dinosaurs. I use these as a backing for my bulletin board which displays the calendar."

Paper Tablecloth Backing

From Mary Brasesco, a sixth grade teacher at Carquinez Middle School in Crockett, California:

"I have a very big bulletin board in my classroom and I spent hours in the past trying to make it look interesting and exciting for the kids as well as for open house. My tip is to buy a paper table cloth and tape it to the bulletin board. Right now I have a big Thanksgiving theme table cloth and I put up in large letters 'Things I Am Thankful For.' The kids take turns writing on the 'poster' when they have free time. I was surprised at how much they liked to do this and how many different things they are thankful for. Each month you can have a new theme for your table cloth. The sky's the limit! Have fun."

Student Superstars

From Janet Wiggins, a multi-age kindergarten/first grade teacher at Pleasant Shade Elementary School in Smith County, Tennessee:

"Sometimes things get too hectic to recognize individual achievements, so I started a 'Superstar' bulletin board. When any of my students makes 100 on a test or special project, it gets put up on the board. I also have an achievement chart with each of their names where they can place stickers for each 100 put on the board. When they get five stickers on the chart, they can choose a prize from the prize box. The bulletin has become important to the students, not only for the prizes, but for the visual and classroom recognition. They can keep track of their progress themselves and know what it takes to get to the next prize slot. Whatever their goal, it has made them try a little harder on their work."

Beginning of Year

From Brook Berg, a substitute teacher in St. Paul, Minnesota, who taught social studies in grades 5-12 before returning to school recently:

"This is a tip that I heard about from a retired colleague. One of the biggest chores when beginning a new year is decorating our rooms. Instead of planning and doing a welcome back bulletin board yourself before school starts why not have your current class plan and put together the board before they move on to the next grade? The teacher then simply covers the completed board with butcher paper and goes home for the summer with the knowledge that one back to school task is done! I send this now because to really have a nice board for next year - it's a good idea to let students plan and decorate a couple during the year."

Chalk Boards

Clean Chalkboards

From Maggie Harder, an elementary ESL teacher for Harnett County Schools in Lillington, North Carolina:

"To keep chalkboards clean, use a Kleenex that has lanolin or hand lotion on it. Put it around the eraser and erase the board. You will rarely have to wash your board."

Chalk Graphs

From Terry Castoria, a fifth grade teacher at Defino Central School in Marlboro, New Jersey:

"I use a handwriting line marker, the handle with the slots to fit chalk, to make my graphs on the chalkboard. I make three horizontal sets of lines and then three sets of vertical lines. This makes an instant graphing grid."

Clean Blackboards

From Marilyn Redmond, a second grade teacher at Roland Michener Public School in Kanata, Ontario, Canada:

"Here is a blackboard tip that eliminates yucky wet cloths and sponges while keeping blackboards looking like new. I take a clean small towel and put a little bit of lemon oil on it. I place the towel in a Ziplock bag and leave it overnight so that the lemon oil soaks into the towel. After I erase the blackboard, I clean it with the towel and it removes all the chalk dust without leaving any streaks. The blackboards look like new. I add a couple of drops of lemon oil from time to time but there should not be so much that it wets the board."

Cleaning Blackboards

From Darlene Thomas, a fifth grade teacher at Waverly Elementary School in Howard County, Maryland:

"Here's a tip I just learned this year after 28 years of teaching. I wish I could have known earlier. For those who like clean boards, take a Puff brand tissue with lotion in it and wipe it over the entire blank blackboard. Then write with chalk as usual and erase with a regular eraser. The trick now is to take a Puff with lotion and wipe clean. The boards have no dust and look brand new. Never do you have to deal with that icky wet sponge routine again!"

White Boards

Wiping Boards

From Julie Thompson, a kindergarten teacher at McKendree Elementary School in Lawrenceville, Georgia:

"When whiteboards need a good cleaning, simply use baby wipes over the entire surface. The wipes will take off the marker that erasers leave behind and they're less expensive than white board cleaner."

Wonders of Hair Spray

From Ardith Roddy, an elementary music teacher at Vaughan and Northside Schools in Warren County, North Carolina:

"I keep a bottle of hair spray on hand for whiteboard marker mistakes. It also gets ink out of clothing as well as a multitude of other things. It makes me wonder what it does to hair."

Student Slates

From Debi Beckman, a second grade teacher at Estes Elementary in Asheville, North Carolina:

"Our maintenance department is replacing all our old chalkboards with 4'x8' tile board from the local builder's supply store. This gave me an idea! I had them cut one of these boards into 12" squares, which gave me thirty-two new white board slates. Now each child has their own slate to use when we practice math facts, do math visualizations on the overhead, practice handwriting, etc. Whenever we're doing whole class instruction, I'm able to assess my students' skills. To ensure that we always have enough white board markers, I occasionally send a note home to parents explaining that we're running low. To solve the problem of passing out an eraser for each child, I collected old clean socks. My students keep their markers in the socks and when we need to use the slates, everything is in their desks, ready to go. My kids love them!"

Whiteboard Mistakes

From Hank Rowe, an eighth grade social studies teacher at Amphitheater Middle School in Tucson, Arizona:

"Sometimes a marker is grabbed to write on the whiteboard and invariably, it turns out to be a permanent marker. A quick solution is to use the correct type of dry-erase marker to write over the permanent ink. This breaks down the permanent ink and the whole mess wipes away!"

Math Modeling with White Boards

From Bernadine Samson, a math and physics teacher at Cheylin Junior/Senior High School in Bird City, Kansas:

"Working in groups, my physics students put preliminary graphs and the math model of the data for a problem on 24 X 32 inch white boards. I pick a student at random from each group to explain the results of the experiment to the class and to respond to questions from students and me. I assign selected problems from homework to be put on 12 inch square white boards and students take turns explaining their assigned problems. Through questioning about their presentations, I have uncovered misconceptions even though the written solution appeared correct."

White Boards in the Classroom

From Dan Platano, a mathematics teacher at Perry High School in Perry, Ohio:

"I purchased six 4x8 foot sheets of melamine and made table tops out of them. I set the tops over each group of desks in my room. Anytime we are doing a guided practice or a review session, the students use white board markers and erasers to write their steps for solving the problem on the tabletop. It is easy for me to see and check their answers because of the visibility and the size of the print. Students love it because they can make a mistake and fix it easily. When I visit a group to explain a problem, I can easily write large enough for all the group members to see. In order to prevent cheating among group members during tests, I asked the industrial technology class to make blocks of wood about 2x5 inches with a slanted groove in them that is wide enough to put a divider board in between each student. The use of white board tables has helped me capture the idea of a classroom conducive to learning, to sharing and to teaching one another!"

Cleaning White Boards

From Elizabeth Ahlgren, a math teacher at Morse High School in San Diego, California:

"If you have a white board that requires the use of dry erase markers, inevitably a permanent marker jumps up and attacks the board. To remove the permanent mark, I simple scribble over it with a dry erase marker and it will then wipe off. You may have to use some rubbing alcohol or cleaner to get rid of the last little bit of ghosting but this will take off the marks really well."

Individual White Boards

From Les Baumgarner, a student achievement facilitator at Pecan Grove School in Yuma, Arizona:

"Individual white boards can be used for obtaining feedback from students. You can make inexpensive individual white boards by using Formica sheets available from home improvement or hardware stores. Cut the large sheets of Formica into 9-inch by 12-inch or 12-inch by 18-inch sheets. In the classroom, these sheets can be written on with erasable markers to get feedback from students. They can be used to close a lesson or to monitor student understanding of what you have taught. They save paper, and are a way in which the students can have a new way to express ideas."

Works4Me - Getting Organized - Miscellaneous

Thu, 01 Jan 2004 05:00:00 GMT

Tips Archive » Getting Organized » Potpouri

Paper and Plastic Dispensers (2 tips)
Storing Puppets (1 tip)
Organizing Odds and Ends (3 tips)
Soothing Ouchies (3 tips)
Defining Work and Play Areas (1 tip)
Keeping Track of Puzzles (1 tip)
Toss or Recycle? (11 tips)
Creative Labels (15 tips)
Keeping Track of Supplies (13 tips)

Paper and Plastic Dispensers

Plastic Bags

From Tracy Ostwald Kowald, a first grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary School in Appleton, Wisconsin:

"Here's an easy way to store plastic bags in the classroom: Take a gallon milk jug, cut out a sizable hole in the bottom and stuff it full of bags. The kids can pull one bag at a time out of the top of the jug."

Tissues

From Fritz Burow, an English teacher at East High School in Sioux City, Iowa:

"I've supplied tissues for my 'non-handkerchief-carrying' students for years. But recently, I found a neat toilet tissue dispenser which I was able to attach to the classroom wall. Now the custodians supply me with some of their short rolls of tissue . . . which I provide for my class. It's a novelty which saves money at the same time."

Storing Puppets

Shoe Rack

From Sheryl Beach, a resource teacher of kindergarten through fourth grade students at McKinley Elementary School in Casper, Wyoming:

"My students really enjoy using puppets for entertainment and story telling. The puppets are readily available and easy to choose when a shoe holder is used. I use the kind that sets on the floor (or under the bed) and each puppet fits nicely over the area where the shoe is normally kept."

Organizing Odds and Ends

The Right Pen!

From Janis Higley, a first and second grade teacher at Chief Umtuch Primary in Battle Ground, Washington:

"With all the activity in our classroom, I became frustrated with finding 'the right pen.' I use whiteboard pens, Vis-a-Vis, marker pens, etc. So to keep track of what pen is used on which surface, I keep a supply of sticky-back velcro squares on hand and use them to post the proper pen in the proper place - on a portable whiteboard, near my journal chart, etc. It has saved me many headaches! I also use sticky-back hooks to hang charts anywhere there's space!"

Gift Bags

From Jackie Stoklas, a fourth grade teacher at Holderman Elementary School in Tempe, Arizona:

"Gift bags decorate my classroom in a very practical way. I pinned some to the wall behind my desk to hold happygrams, attendance slips and hall passes so that they don't get lost in the clutter of my desk. I use a large one to hide an object for a 20 questions game and another for a birthday bag that holds special markers, etc. for the birthday child to use. They look like decoration and are a great help to the organizationally challenged."

Space Savers

From Maryellen Roberts, a first grade teacher at Lake Panasoffkee Elementary School in Lake Panasoffkee, Florida:

"Classroom space can be a problem; especially in the lower grades there are a lot of manipulatives. To solve space problems we buy small wash tubs and load them with things. They can be stacked quite neatly on top of each other. Then I use a marker to label the end of the tub so I can see at a glance which one I need. We also use a lot of coins. I saved the cups from pudding and loaded one set with 10 pennies and one with the 10 dimes (fake of course - who makes that kind of money?) and when math time comes I pass out the tub and each child takes one. I also use 2 liter bottles with the black base which I wash and cut off the top and load my unifix sticks into each.These can be passed down a row in a hurry. When done they make a 10 stick again and pop it right back in."

Soothing Ouchies

TLC Box

From Kimberly Nolting, a fifth grade teacher at Pinar Elementary in Orlando, Florida:

"I alleviate many trips to the school nurse by keeping a special TLC Box stocked with Band-aids, anti-bacterial soap, Purell and laminate Hug Coupons. When students come to me with minor scratches, they are allowed to use the special TLC Box. They get the special attention they need from me because I acknowledge their injury. They can also take a Hug Coupon and cash in on it if they need to."

Tooth Canisters

From Jane Lee, a sixth and seventh grade TAG teacher at Safety Harbor Middle School in Safety Harbor, Florida:

"I save the canisters that film comes in for my students who lose teeth. Yes, middle school students still lose teeth and they always like to share the fact. I make a big deal about the event and present them with the empty canister to take the tooth home. I even go a step further and add a sticker to the outside of the canister with the date that this happened."

Magic Cream

From Nancy Kubiak, a first grade teacher at Wilcox Elementary School in North Ridgeville, Ohio:

"My student feel a need to show me the tiniest little scrape on their fingers and they have many complaints of leg, arm and wrist aches and pains. When I'm 100% confident that all they need is a little TLC, I offer them my magic cream. Actually, my cream is Avon hand cream. I validate their complaint and offer them the cream. It always makes the pain disappear instantly and gives me a moment of alone time with one of my students."

Defining Work and Play Areas

Carpet Squares

From a first grade teacher at Providence Elementary School in Virginia Beach, Virginia:

"Carpet square samples are wonderful to use in the classroom! In addition to being 'sit-upons,' they can also be used to define a workspace for a child or small group. Manipulatives (especially for math), games, and puzzles can be confined to a carpet square. Each student has a 'territory' marked. Most carpet and furniture stores will give the out-dated samples to teachers at no cost."

Keeping Track of Puzzles

Coding on the Back

From Phyllis Smith, a kindergarten teacher at Rhea Elementary School in Dayton, Tennessee:

"To prevent a mix-up of puzzle pieces from different puzzles, I label the back of each puzzle piece and the box or puzzle tray with an identifying mark. For example, a puzzle of a kitten will have a k on each puzzle piece and also on the box. This helps me when children choose to work different puzzles on the same table and the pieces get mixed together."

Toss or Recycle?

Recycling School Supplies

Another tip from Sonny Bechler:

"Many students do not want to save their old school supplies such as crayons, colored pencils, rulers, erasers, pencils, paper, and other items at the end of the year. In many cases, these items just get thrown out at home. Our school has (copier paper) boxes in each hallway that are clearly labeled for each item. The school weekly parent newsletter explains to the parents the options that are available to the students if they choose to participate. The last two days of school, the children may contribute to the supply boxes. Usually the crayon, colored pencil, and marker boxes fill up quickly.

"We asked which teachers or staff members (art, resource, computer) need extra supplies and those requests were quickly filled. The surplus supplies were donated to area agencies and preschools. (We also chose the best supplies for needy students in our school.) Hope this sparks an idea for your school."

Recycled Paint Trays

From Susan Wood, a sixth grade teacher in Elk Grove:

"I encourage my students to recycle and as part of a real world application, I use recycled items in my classroom. I take the cup holder trays I get from McDonalds and place yogurt containers in them. I fill them with paints and use them as paint trays. It's good to leave one container on the tray filled with water so the students can rinse their brushes. The yogurt containers are easy to clean and the trays become nicely decorated!"

Plastic Lids

From Barbara Hawk, a sixth grade teacher at Hohokam Middle School in Tucson, Arizona:

"I get multiple uses out of plastic lids and would like to share a couple of them. I keep white glue in reused liquid hand soap bottles with the squeeze top, and children squeeze a small amount of glue into a lid from the container. Then they use cotton swabs to apply the glue to their projects. The swabs and lids are especially useful when working with glitter. When finished, students put the glue lids on the shelf to dry out and the following day, they have fun pulling the dried glue from the lids. Also, a small amount of tempera paint can be squeezed into the lids. I allow each child to take two colors and encourage the students at a table to cooperate in choosing and using colors. This reduces waste at the end of the paint session. When students are done with a lid they bring it back to the table where it can be refilled for another student. Sometimes a student needs only a dab of color and can find it in one of the lids. The clean up is made easy by putting the lids in a dish pan to soak before washing."

Recycling Paper Egg Cartons

From Vera Crisafulli, a kindergarten teacher at Jefferson school in Glendive, Montana:

"It's easy to recycle paper egg cartons. In the spring, cut the egg container apart into separate cups and clip them all until they have four points. Have the children paint them, put a pipe cleaner through the bottom, attach a leaf and it becomes a tulip for spring or Mother's Day. Another fun use is to attach a pipe cleaner to the painted cups and make cute baskets to hang on an Easter or May Day tree. They're also handy to use for a place to lay paint brushes while the children are painting."

Recycling Lamination

From Laurie Staley, a kindergarten teacher at Central Elementary School in Olathe, Kansas:

"Used laminating film makes great overhead sheets. I simply go into a Kinko's or any other store that laminates and inform them that I am a teacher looking for used lamination. They can usually find some pieces in their trash that I cut into 8 � x 11-inch sheets. Smaller pieces are used for letters, numbers, dice, dominos, and playing cards. The lamination is thick and sturdy. Best of all, I am recycling."

White Paper Recycling

From Doug Tepper, a fifth grade teacher at Marshall Elementary School in Tucson, Arizona:

"I feel hypocritical throwing paper in the trash after teaching about tree conservation. So, I called a local recycling company and obtained two five foot tall bins to place in our school. All students and staff members are encouraged to use the bins to recycle paper goods. Once the bins fill up, eager students help bag the paper, weigh the bags, and post a graph showing the total amount collected. A parent brings the bags to the community drop off site. Some companies actually offer a small cash value for the paper. These proceeds can be used to buy a tree or help a charity. Just think of the prevented waste if all the Works4me subscribers each initiated such a program!"

Bright Envelopes

From Coleen Collette, a fourth grade teacher at Memorial Elementary School in Hopedale, Massachusetts:

"I ask my local card shop for left over envelopes for cards that were not sold because their usual procedure is to throw them out. I use the brightly colored ones to send home notes to my students' parents. The color makes the envelope stand out between the school papers and has a better chance of being delivered."

Window Shade Charts

From Kristine Furkey, a first grade ESL teacher at Morgan Elementary School in Holyoke, Massachusetts:

"I like to use a word wall to introduce new words to my students. I have limited space in my classroom so I make my word charts on old window shades that can be pulled down during writing times. Frayed edges on the shades can be covered with colorful tape that will also draw the children's attention."

Box Recycling

From Carleen Drozda, a family and consumer science teacher at Perry High School in Perry, Ohio:

"I recycle Tide detergent boxes to make portable file boxes or portfolio cases. First, I start out with an empty 16.43 lbs. Tide detergent box (120 wash load size). This size is exactly the right size to house Pendaflex hanging file folders and other portfolio covers sized for 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper. Next, I cover the box with contact paper and personalize the case with my own decorations. This case is handy for carrying curriculum guides and other necessities. My students enjoy making these cases to use at home too."

Brightening Up the Classroom

From Kathleen Bryant, a reading and English teacher at Lincoln High School in Lincoln, Nebraska:

"After attending meetings and conferences where I have been showered with colorful handouts, I gather mine and any left on the tables. I use the backs of these for printing items to post in my classroom. The bright colors catch the students' attention. Items such as bookmarks and passes can also be made from these recycled sheets. I even have students request them for doing projects."

Adopt-a-Book... Plus!

From Suzanne Wargo, a media specialist at William J. Johnson Middle School in Colchester, Connecticut:

"Frequently people donate books, magazines, and other materials to the center. Often they are duplicates of what I already have or not appropriate for our age group. So I keep a brightly decorated box called 'Adopt-a-Book . . . Plus!' I put all books, magazines, scrap paper, recycled binders from workshops, freebees from workshops, etc. in this box. The kids love getting something for free and often come to the media center just to see what I have in the box. It's a great way to recycle older books that would just collect dust and get kids to read who might not otherwise pick up a book."

Recycled Transparencies

From Janet Kane, a second grade teacher at Worcester Elementary School in Lansdale, Pennsylvania:

"If your school is lucky enough to have its own laminating machine, then collect the ends of the laminate to reuse on the overhead projector. Recycling the laminate saves on the cost of blank overhead sheets."

Covering Boards

From Sonny Bechler, a special education teacher and member of the Board of Directors for the Illinois Education Association in Libertyville, Illinois:

Recycling School Supplies

From Sonny Bechler, a special education teacher and member of the Board of Directors for the Illinois Education Association in Libertyville, Illinois:

Creative Labels

Textbook Labeling

From Alecia Lambert, a principal and former teacher at Fyffe Elementary School in Fyffe, Alabama:

"This tip is one of the most beneficial things I've done in all my years of teaching in a self-contained classroom. Upon receiving new textbooks, I number them in sequential order along with an L for Lambert. I also write the number with a black Sharpie on the bottom edge of the book, which lets me see the numbers at a glance. I assign one number per student at the beginning of the year and post this on a chart in the room. For example, Allison is number one and all her books will be numbered with L1.

"Any time a book is found in the classroom, we can quickly identify who the book belongs to without having to open it and look for the name. If it's found on the bus, any student in that particular grade knows this is a book that belongs in Ms. Lambert's room. At the end of the year, the books are taken up and stacked in order with the end numbers showing. A quick scan identifies any missing books.

"The principal and central office textbook coordinator are most appreciative of the time saved in performing the textbook inventory as they can quickly scan the numbers and move on to the next classroom. This past year I served in a new position as principal of our school and many of the teachers didn't number and stack their books in this manner. After personally conducting the inventory process twice, textbook labeling will definitely be a school-wide requirement for the fall to save time for myself and the central office people who have to inventory an entire school system."

Making Magnets

From Elaine Kelley, a retired fourth grade teacher from Holley Navarre Intermediate School in Navarre, Florida:

"Here's a tip for the beginning of the school year. I made magnets on my computer using sheets of magnets from any office supply store. I made one for each student to take home and use for hanging schoolwork on the refrigerator. I used our class name and a cute clip art to go along with it."

Book Labels

From Ellen Newman, a retired teacher from Cheltenham High in Wyncote, Pennsylvania:

"Teachers who use a lot of paperback books need to keep track of who returned books and who used a book last if damage is found. I use computer labels with the student's name and room number so that lost books can be returned. It's easier for me to read my label than it is to read the book number written by the student to check books that are returned."

Computer Labels

From Marty Crutcher, a third grade teacher at Love Chapel School in Erwin, Tennessee:

"I really like to find ways to use the computer to make special items for my students. I use custom created labels for many different uses. For example, I make pencil reward toppers. I print phrases such as, '100 on Math Test', 'Happy Birthday' and 'Awesome Reader'. I fold them in half around the pencil to make a flag. This turns an ordinary yellow pencil into an extra special pencil. I also make grade scales on labels and students stick them in their folders or notebooks to use all year. I make book labels that say, 'Please return this book to Mrs. C' or 'This book was donated by Susie Smith'. For the first day of school, I make stickers that say, Welcome to the Third Grade!"

Special Class Labels

From Janie Sapleton, a teacher at Kingsley Elementary in Kingsport, Tennessee:

"I make labels on the computer that say lunch, gym, music, library, etc. to stick in my plan book. This saves a lot of time and looks very impressive if done in different colors. I also typed up the names of special classes and printed them on brightly colored paper to hang on our time schedule. This way, I can change them daily and the young students can easily see what's on the agenda for the day."

Observation Labels

From Becky Cameron, a third grade teacher at Peters Canyon Elementary School in Tustin, California:

"I make my class lists on computer generated labels. I carry this class list on a clipboard during guided reading and small group activities. As the children participate, I make notes on the labels and then stick them on the children's individual folders. I can easily see whom I still need to observe and the compiled labels give me a running record of authentic assessment throughout the year. The notation labels in the students' folders are also valuable for both parent conferences and report card comments. This method works in other areas such as math skills, science concepts and behavior too."

I Need Three Pencils

From Mary Mollerskov, a first grade teacher at Gifford Elementary School in Racine, Wisconsin:

"I write, 'I need 3 pencils' on address labels. When the problem occurs, the child can get a sticker off the posted sheets at the end of the day and wear it home. Older children can stick the reminder in their notebooks."

Rewarding Good Grades

From Erv Bantis, a seventh and eighth grade math teacher at Santa Fe Middle School in Hemet, California:

"Our school is in an area of low socio-economic status. A small reward can sometimes pay large dividends for students who don't have much. For example: If a student makes the honor roll (As and Bs) in any of my classes, I reward them with an Avery label that says:

Student Name
Honor Roll Student/1st Semester
Name of School
Class:_______/Period:________

The kids love the stickers! I run this label on my computer and print out 80 stickers! Now, when a student needs to put a heading on a paper it looks professional. Students are proud of their new-found acclaim. Other students ask, 'How can I get some of those stickers?' My reply: 'Make the honor roll!'"

Rubric Labels

From Mary Wells, a fourth grade teacher at Southside Elementary in Cocolalla, Idaho:

"I use address labels for self-assessing rubrics. I set up a simple 1-5 scale and then list the skills or ideas to be graded for the assignment. For example, a writing assignment rubric might look like this:

1 2 3 4 5 Capitals
1 2 3 4 5 Periods
1 2 3 4 5 Cursive

Students must circle the number that they feel they earned before handing in the assignment. Then I circle the number that I feel they earned when I grade their work. Most of the time we match, but if we are way off, then I know whom I need to work with the next day. The rubrics help students understand how grades are earned and how to focus on specific skills and concepts."

Inexpensive Incentive Labels

From Mary Kay Ackermann, an English teacher at North-Linn High School in Troy Mills, Iowa:

"I make incentive labels on my school computer. I vary the fonts and use colorful clip art. This is a great way to send a variety of messages to students without spending much money."

Rewards, Special Stickers and Incentives

From Sally Engle, a third grade teacher at West Liberty Salem Elementary in West Liberty, Ohio:

"I buy blank address labels and print them on my computer to use as rewards, special stickers and incentives. Print Artist, Print Shop and other good graphic programs allow me to make wonderful stickers for my class. The address labels usually come thirty to a sheet, which is ideal for creating special stickers for a class project. My students also love to have personal stickers made for them. Once they complete a difficult assignment, they are allowed to pick the graphic, font and color for their own personal stickers. This encourages other students to complete the assignments too because they love to trade stickers with each other. These labels are meaningful to the children as they are created specifically for them or for the assignment."

Brighter Lesson Plans

From Caron Mosey, a second grade teacher at Gaines Elementary School in Gaines, Michigan:

"I use my computer to make stickers for organizing my lesson plan book. I make sheets of vibrant attractive date labels for each week, as well as subject labels for each column. Sometimes I even include small pictures that coordinate with the subjects on the labels. These colorful organizers save me time and jazz up what is normally a dull looking book."

Many Uses for Address Labels

From Diane L. Postman, a kindergarten teacher at Poquoson Primary School in Poquoson, Virginia:

"I make my own labels on the computer. I buy Avery Dennison labels and print my own messages such as: (1)Good writing! (2) I am proud of you! (3) Neat coloring! I also use this method to make personalized gift tags for Christmas and Chanukah gifts. I buy printed address labels with my class name and the school address on them to label items in my classroom that might be taken home or lent to someone. I have a self-inking stamp with the same information for the kids to use in the writing center. I use the stamp on nametags for field trips and to label my books too. I carry address labels in my purse to use at conferences when I sign up for mailing lists, giveaways and contests. Lastly, I suggest that parents buy labels with their child's name on them to label individual items such as crayons, scissors and school boxes."

Observation Labels

From Becky Cameron, a third grade teacher at Peters Canyon Elementary School in Tustin, California:

Generic Message Labels

From Karen Davis, a second and third grade teacher at Audubon Traditional Elementary School in Louisville, Kentucky:

"I have a big class so stickers are used up rapidly. I make my own on my computer using address labels. I can make thirty on one sheet. I personalize some and adjust the message according to the students' ages and the subjects being taught. Of course, generic messages usually work the best. For example, I have an Einstein Award where I write, 'I was really thinking' next to a picture of Einstein. There's a lot of enthusiasm and competition to get the first award of the day."

Magnetic Schedule

From Mary Beth Zorger, a fifth grade teacher at Du Pont Elementary School in Wilmington, Delaware:

"Using my word processor, I printed the name of each class (Math, Science, Lunch, etc.) using a large font size on neon-colored pink paper, cut them into strips, and laminated them. Then I printed special events (Class Trip, Assembly, Project) using a different colored paper. Once all the strips were cut and laminated, I glued magnets to the back of each one. I use them to display the schedule on the board each day. They are easy to rearrange. When there is a special event on the schedule, the students spot it right away since it is a different color."

Textbook Labeling

From Alecia Lambert, a principal and former teacher at Fyffe Elementary School in Fyffe, Alabama:

Keeping Track of Supplies

Signing Out Materials

From Denise Carithers, a reading specialist at Litwin School in Chicopee, Massachusetts:

"I found an easy way to have teachers sign out materials from a Literacy or Math Closet. All storage bins have the title of the item written on a laminated card, which is stuck to the bin with a piece of Velcro. In the case of multiple copies of books, which are in Ziploc bags, the title cards are stuck to a storage box, which may contain several bags of books. On the wall is a chart with all the staff members' names on it and a strip of Velcro beside each name. When the teacher borrows an item, he/she simply removes the Velcro title card from the item and sticks it next to his name. In this case, other teachers can see at a glance where certain materials are. It eliminates signing out items in a binder or even having to write anything at all. This system is perfect for the busy teacher."

Can, Shoe and Dot Organizers

From Stacy:

"I save tin cans to use as supply sorters. I clean them out, remove the labels, file down any sharp edges and paint them. They can be glued together or put in the same tray to organize pencils, rulers, pens, etc. Over the door shoe racks are great to use for puppets, mail, make-up work or lost and found items. I keep an inventory of my personal belongings using forms from Microsoft Works and colored dot stickers. Whenever I bring in a book, CD, or video from home, I record it on my form and stick a colored dot on it. The dots are easy to spot even from across the room."

Copied Inventories

From H. Beggerly:

"My colleagues and I just went through a very traumatic thing � our school burned down. Luckily, the fire started early in the morning, before anyone was at school. No one was hurt! Through this experience, I feel I have an extremely important tip. Make and keep an updated inventory list or copies of your orders in two places. Keep one at home and one at school. We are in the process of 're-inventing' our inventory for insurance purposes, and all our records of this were at school. If you have taught for any length of time, you know how difficult this task can be. You just never think of your school actually burning to the ground, with nothing left. For elementary teachers, think of all the books you purchase for your classroom library. We have had an absolutely wonderful response from our community and schools from near and far. But, of course, some things can never be replaced. We are a very close staff, thankful for each other and we are getting through this. Just wanted to pass this tip along in the hopes of helping others who (hopefully not) may need to rebuild their school lives in the future."

Easy Ordering

From Terry Hanson, a math teacher from Benton, Wisconsin:

"Here is a tip that will help every teacher at ordering time in the spring. I use the inside cover of my grade book to record the things I need to order for next year. For example, if I discover that I'm about to use the last box of staples in my cupboard, I immediately write it in my book. I see it frequently throughout the year so I know exactly what I need to order when the time comes."

The Egg Carton Trick

From Janis Highley, a first and second grade teacher in Battle Ground, Washington:

"I use a paper egg carton to hold a perfect dozen markers. Turn the egg carton upside down, poke a hole with scissors into each circle and cover the top (which is now the bottom) with duct tape so that the markers won't fall through the slit. I always know when one is missing. Further, I make labels marked 'teacher' and the kids know they're not to use them as the teacher's markers are tools for teaching."

Milk Carton Containers

From Judy Hall, a primary teacher at Churchill State School in Ipswich Old Australia:

"I cut the tops off used milk cartons and glue four together (two rows of two) with a strong craft glue and then reinforce that with tape around the base. These trays sit on the top of each student's desk and hold their pens, pencils, ruler and other stationary products. This means they are not digging around in their desks looking for supplies. The children like to decorate them with their own unique style."

Hide-a-Way Curtain

From Alva Sapp, a third and fourth grade TAG teacher at Palmetto Primary School in Williamston, South Carolina:

"My classroom has very little storage so in order to hide all my boxes, I made a floor length rod-pocket curtain out of colorful material and hung it on a suspension rod between two file cabinets. I stacked all my boxes behind the curtain and now I have a very attractive room. The curtain serves as a great display area when I pin up my students' work. I can also use the space as a curtain for the children's puppet shows. It's just the right height for most third graders."

Pencil Pots

From Marjorie Dill, a SLD teacher at Sanford Middle School in Sanford, Florida:

"To ensure that borrowed pencils are returned at the end of class, I cut green flower arranging foam to the shape of a decorated clay flower pot and insert it into the pot. I buy inexpensive artificial flowers and separate them into single flowers. I cut each flower so that it has a two-inch stem and cover the stem with tape so there aren't any sharp ends. I attach each stem to the end of a pencil making sure that the eraser is free to be used by the borrower. I sharpen the pencils and insert them into the foam. The students know where to borrow a pencil and they return them before leaving class. I ask the students to donate new pencils to replenish the pot. Those students who regularly use the pencil pots are excited about having their new pencils rooted!"

Storing Supplies

From Libby Rhoden, a first grade teacher at Kruse Elementary School in Pasadena, Texas:

"I save containers from powdered Gatorade, potato chips, coffee, Bisquick and flavored tea. I use them to store all kinds of supplies and keep the supply cans on the shelf for the children to use. The uncovered cans offer real world print awareness. I often find the children reading the cans."

Keeping Materials Handy

From Suzanne Nayback and Shelly Novotny, Multi-age teachers for six through eight year olds at Central Elementary School in Petoskey, Michigan:

"We use a three pocket apron that's similar to a tool belt that we tie around our waist. We put markers, small notepads, pencils, stickers, pens and even band-aides in the pockets so that we are never searching for these items when we are helping out the children or teaching a lesson. It saves us so much time and it allows for much faster feedback with the children."

Storing Magic Markers

From L. Engelhardt, a fourth grade teacher at Murray Elementary School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:

"Here's a little tip for storing magic markers. I take an old bowl and fill it with Plaster of Paris. I insert the markers cap down with about 1/2 of the cap in the plaster and let it set. When it's dry, I can just pull out the markers as I need them and there's no more lost caps! I purchase the same kind of markers every year so that I can reuse the caps."

Assigning Student Numbers

From Sue Travis, a fifth grade teacher at Balls Creek Elementary School in Newton, North Carolina:

"Keeping up with school supplies, calculators, books, etc. is no longer a chore for me nor my students. Each student on my roll is assigned a number, as the students appear on my roll (the numbering allows me to use the same system year after year while using names would not). The first student is 1 and numbering continues downward to the last student. All items (books, calculators, rulers, scissors, glue, workbooks, etc.) available for student use have that number printed on it with a permanent marker. Students cannot claim an item that does not have their number on it. Students soon relate the numbering to alphabetical order and also learn each others' numbers which allows prompt return of misplaced materials. This system also requires students to be accountable for those materials. No one gets blamed for having another student's box of colored pencils or literature book. As the school year closes, I have more items returned than in previous years when not using this system and the year has been trouble-free with locating assigned supplies."

Ordering Supplies

From JoAnn C. Jirik, a teacher at the Niangua R-5 School in Niangua, Missouri:

"I need 7 different cartridges for the computers in my room. When I change one I put the empty box in my school bag as a reminder of which one to buy. It saves time to go to the store and simply ask an employee for the same kind. Also, the color and pix on the box make it simpler than writing a note. After replacing, I keep the empty boxes in a special bag marked for re-ordering and at the end of the school year I have a count of how many of each I needed that year. This method can be used for other supplies that need to be ordered in the spring."

Key Ring Cards

From Sue Kast, a fifth grade teacher at Vintage Hills School in Pleasanton, California:

"I keep a 4" x 6" card on each student with their names, DOB, phone numbers, parent's names and cell phone numbers, e-mail addresses, their class book numbers and supplies. I keep the cards on a key ring. Any information that comes up during the year can be added to the card. I enter the information into my computer and print a set for each of the fifth grade classes. I keep it with me for quick reference.

"Many times kids will return supplies because they have their own. This is marked on the card and makes collecting supplies at the end of the year much easier. Using their e-mail addresses, I set up an address book on my computer. Now I only send out hard copies of letters to the few parents that don't have e-mail. It saves on paper copies, which comes from our school budget."

Works4Me - Getting Organized - Posters

Thu, 01 Jan 2004 05:00:00 GMT

Tips Archive » Getting Organized » Posters

Sticky Situation (5 tips)
Storing Posters (2 tip)
Mounting Posters (6 tips)

A Sticky Situation

Getting Tape Off I

From Jane Stern, a French teacher at Wheaton High School in Montgomery County, Maryland:

"To take tape off the back of posters when I take them off the wall, I have the poster laminated before posting. This makes the poster last much longer. I use only wide transparent polypropylene package tape to mount the poster. This type of tape sticks very well, even on painted cinder block walls. The tape should come off the poster easily at the end of the year. If not, I use my other trick of getting tape and labels off things: a hair dryer to warm the tape or label. I pull slowly and keep rewarming the next section."

Getting Tape Off II

From Nancy Brooks, a kindergarten teacher at Dutrow Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia:

"I find it protects posters or cut-outs that will be hung with tape first to attach a flat piece of tape to the back of the item being hung. This way when the tape is removed, the poster will not be torn."

Getting Tape Off III

From Joan Peirce, an English teacher at Myers Park High School in Charlotte, North Carolina:

"The best method I have learned to keep posters on the wall all year and still easy to take off the wall in the summer - a glue gun. It does not harm the poster or the paint on the wall. The posters stay up all year!"

Getting Tape Off IV

From Linda Bacon, a library information specialist at Pinellas Technical Education Center in Clearwater, Florida, currently on leave to serve as full-time president of the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association:

"Here's another tip for posters and things that have been taped to the wall. When I am doing a presentation with visuals I want to post briefly, I use masking tape 'circles' on the back to put them up quickly. When I take them down, instead of trying to pull the tape off and tearing the visual, I cut the tape and smooth down each end. I use this 'mark' as the guide for my next placement of tape and adhesive."

Getting Tape Off V

From John Hendricks of Wisconsin :

"When I remove posters that I have attached to the wall using tape, I have a hard time pulling the tape off the back of the poster without tearing it. If I leave the tape on, it sticks to another poster when stored. So I've come up with this solution. I go over the sticky tape with a chalk board eraser that is particularly dusty. The chalk dust neutralizes the sticky surface and I can store the item without worry."

Storing Posters

Laminating Posters

From J. Shoemaker, a high school English teacher at Christian Academy of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky:

"To preserve the beauty and usefulness of posters, I laminate them. To store the laminated posters for the summer, purchase a cardboard garment box from any travel agency like AAA. Place pieces of tissue paper or newsprint between each sheet of laminated material. Store upright out of direct sun. This way, you protect those posters from sticking together and save storage space. It works for me!"

Organized Boards and Posters

From Holly Alderson, a second grade teacher at Tuloso Midway Primary School in Corpus Christi, Texas:

"To organize all my bulletin boards and posters, I hang them up where I can see them. I purchased an inexpensive garment rack, hangers and clips. I hang my items from the rack where they are readily available and easy to sort."

Mounting Posters

Gluing Posters

From Anne Thomsen, a social studies and communications teacher at Centennial Middle School in Circle Pines, Minnesota:

"I use a hot glue gun to get posters to stick to cold brick walls. It easily peels off the wall and the poster when you're ready to change. It works well on other surfaces too."

Hook Tape

From Christy Goodney, a teacher at Dripping Springs High School in Dripping Springs, Texas:

"I have painted cinder blocks for walls and found that the backing for the 3M removable hooks work great to hang up laminated posters. The hook tape is similar to double stick tape but has a pull-tab that releases the tape from the wall and the poster. It doesn't pull the paint off the walls and I don't have to worry about my posters falling down. I just buy packets of the tape since the hooks are reusable."

Hanging Student Work

From Leah Keith, a kindergarten teacher at Cullman City Primary School in Cullman, Alabama:

"I have painted cinder block walls in my classroom and I found that charts stay on the wall better with hot glue than with stick tack. To display student work, I hot glued clothespins to the wall in alternating rows. I glued my students' names above the clothespins. Changing displays of student work has never been easier and the pins lift right off the wall when I'm ready to remove them."

Hanging Posters on Cement Walls

From Gus Barreto, a third grade teacher at Peace Lutheran School in Detroit, Michigan:

"I found out how to hang posters on cement cinder block walls. I laminate my posters and put masking tape on the edges of the backside. I put white school glue on the tape and hold it on the wall for about thirty seconds. Sometimes they slide a bit but they usually stop after a minute or two. At the end of year, my posters come right off the wall. I'm careful when I remove them because sometimes a little paint comes off the wall too."

Low-Temp Glue Guns

From DeAnna McDonald, a teacher at Palo Verde High School in Tucson, Arizona:

"A hot glue gun loaded with low-temp glue sticks works wonders attaching posters to the walls of my classroom. The glue comes off the back of laminated posters very well and doesn't stick and smear like that clay so many educational catalogues stock. It comes off my walls, both brick and stucco, both painted and unpainted, without peeling or smearing. And best of all, it doesn't leave holes in either the walls or the posters. A couple of hints: check the spot on very old paint to see if the glue pulls the paint away from the wall. My walls are painted latex semi-gloss and it does not peel. For unlaminated posters, reinforce the corners with a square of book tape so that the glue doesn't adhere to the paper directly."

Liquid Nails

From Susan Q. Reid, a math teacher at Olive Branch Middle School, Olive Branch, Mississippi:

"Two big problems in my classroom used to be the lack of storage space and keeping posters and charts from falling off my walls when they were put up with tape. I solved both problems with one solution - a tube of liquid nails and a bag of clothespins. Before school started, I used the liquid nails to fasten clothespins neatly all around my classroom walls. They are perfect for putting up posters and charts in a hurry. I also can fasten a piece of butcher paper here and there so that groups can go to different areas of the room to record that group's solutions to problems. As for storage, I use large zip lock bags fastened to the pins. In them I store measuring tapes, pattern blocks and all sorts of puzzles for students to use before class begins or if they finish a test early. It's wonderful for organizing my manipulatives."