Nancy | 2012/09/03

Each time I visit a National Park or State Park or a National Monument, I ask for all the free posters or materials that they have for teachers. The rangers are happy to oblige any teacher. Then, I buy a poster that exhibits the National Park and use a poster frame for my classroom. It brings a pleasant atmosphere for the students and me. And the students love learning more about each place and sharing their experience.

Mrs. Q | 2012/08/31

I do a lot of the things other people have mentioned, unusual furniture, student art, plants, etc. I also put up maps, funny quotes, comics (related to what we're studying), pictures I've taken of the students working on projects, and seasonal nature pictures cut out of magazines. The room is very lively (busy) but everyone seems to like it, and students say that it makes them feel very comfortable.

C. Rhodes, Wm. Tennent HS | 2012/08/25

Try this great websit & resource from values.com...free poster and DVD.. http://www.values.com/about-us/request-posters-dvds

FM Le Roy | 2012/08/24

If you teach history, you can get great age-appropriate posters from a free Educator's Kit about Human Rights as founded by the Declaration for Human Rights in the 1940's from www.youthforhumanrights.org/ I have it all over the walls of my classroom & kids read it.

John in NJ | 2012/08/24

For a homework assignment I ask students to bring in something from home (safe, not expensive, approp. for school) that they can leave in the classroom to make our space more interesting. They bring old toys, posters, all sorts of unusual trinkets. You will be amazed.

Terry Phelps | 2012/08/03

I set up areas in my classroom for students to use. I have a couch in my high school classroom and my students love getting to sit there during free reading time. I also have bean bags scattered about. I decorate my bulletin board with fabric where I showcase student work and special announcements. High School students love the inviting environment. I like the idea of adding plants. Thanks for all the great suggestions.

Amy | 2012/06/23

I decorate my high school classroom like I would decorate my home- no educational or preachy posters. This year I used 2 by 2's, cheap bed sheets, "oops" housepaint, and my overhead projector (the only time it came out of the closet all year)to replicate (and personalize) some of my favorite works of modern art found on the internet, copied onto transparancy sheets, projected onto the sheets, traced in chalk, and painted with paintbrushes and even dollar-store brooms. I also buy throw pillows from Goodwill. Students who arrive early get to use them (incentive to get to class on time). I also stock up on Renuzit odor-eliminator air-fresheners to combat gym bags and other strange teenage odors. Students always say that they feel relaxed and comforable in my room and that it smells good. We spend more time there then at home during the school year, so we should feel happy too!

Mrs. J | 2012/04/14

I taught beginning Spanish for a time. It was just a 10 week "exploratory" class. On the first day, the students made small paper (3-D) sombreros. I attached a long ribbon to each one and then hung them on the wall. As each student mastered a set of vocabulary words or reached a particular goal -- I gave him or her a paper symbol for that goal or achievement to staple to the ribbon. (Example: I gave out a paper 10 when the student learned to count from 0 to 10 in Spanish without help and a paper 20, 30 etc. to 100 as he/she managed to count to those numbers. I gave a very small calendar page when he/she learned the months; etc.) The kids had fun with watching their award ribbons grow heavy with markers. This also helped visually reienforce (to anyone else) what we'd accomplished thoughout the 10 weeks.

Mr.Robert | 2011/08/29

How about putting posters of the right values that lead to right thinking and behavior on the walls of every class room.You could put a border around each poster showing the type of thinking and behavior caused by the use of these values every day.

Akshaj | 2011/08/07

I like this article you ***.

gerry magpantay, tanauan city hs, philippines | 2011/07/29

i enjoy decorating my clsaaroom too, one time i decided to decorate the corner of a blackboard, but instead of just putting a colorful construction paper i also made it informative and useful for my students. i made it a "blacktionary" its me combination of dictionary and blackboard. Aside from being enchanted with the design of the blackboard border my students were also amazed how this blactionary can help in getting the meaning of unfamiliar word. try it guys.

? | 2011/03/16

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? | 2010/12/03

All of these are great tips. I am excited to decorate my first classroom! I am a bit on the cautious side as I do not want to do too "elementary", but it is difficult to find items for a high school math classroom! I think the student's work will be a wonderful addition!

E Webb | 2009/08/28

I had a paper "crazy quilt" created by my 10th grade students last year that included their poems, drawings, favorite quotes, and favorite photos. This was an alternative lesson to writing an autobiography. The students constructed the entire quilt, pieced it together on the bulletin board, and then had to present their "story" orally. They had so much fun they wanted to leave it up the entire year.

Casilda | 2009/08/25

I set up a mural with my last year graduating students on their graduating day, students love to see their friends wonderful day!

Linda Phipps, Parkview Middle School, Ankeny, Iowa | 2009/08/25

When I made the move to middle school from teaching elementary, the first thing my two high school age daughters said to me was, "Mom, promise us you'll take the fun and color from your elementary classroom and put it in your middle school classroom! Kids still like lots of color and fun things to look at in middle and high school. Plain rooms are so boring and uninviting."

Kathy | 2009/08/23

I teach American Lit and a Film class. I used an elementary level border of the history of the US. My kids liked it because it helped them place what we were reading in context. I also use movie posters which (aside from film class use) I use to teach reading strategies and literary elements. For the bulletin board itself, I open the year with the kids tracing their feet on construction paper. They write their name and for each leter write an adjective about themselves. The kids love to see this - I title it "Going Places."

Amy | 2009/08/23

I have to start setting up tomorrow! This tip comes at the right time.

Monica Swift | 2009/08/15

I teach American Literature at the HS level. I paste pictures from old books depicting historical events to plain (straight) borders, purchased from my local school supply store, and then trim them up. I also buy wig heads and manniquins and dress them in period dress. A great way to create Puritan dress (The Crucible) is to use your own graduation gown and a white towel with a hole in the center for a collar. You can also find cheap straw hats (for Huck Finn) at local party stores.

Kathleen | 2009/08/15

I teach high school and middle school ESL. The best thing I display is a current world map. The students love to find their countries and cities. I have flags from around the world that I display next to the map and the students love to attach a string from their flag to their country. I found posters from around the world (free!) by writing to airline companies and travel agencies. These make great displays, too.

Margaret | 2009/08/15

Being a world language teacher, I used posters from Teacher's Discovery, some were just decorative, but some have important grammar points on them. All were in vibrant colors. Each quarter we did some special art work ie skeletons for "Day of the Dead" which we added to the tack strips on all four walls of my room. When we learned colors, the pictures were posted. To change my boards, I just invented a new project and had each student take down an old one and replace it with their new one. They not only enjoyed the activities and displaying their work, but could place their work wherever they chose. I taught in 10 different school districts and everyone always commented on my inviting looking classrooms. And all with very little work on my part.

Dave | 2009/08/15

As a high school math teacher, I have students build polyhedrons using straws, string and origami paper. We discuss the math behind the shapes and then hang them from the ceiling. Polyhedrons are always a huge hit with students.

SMS | 2009/08/14

I teach grades 7-12 (chorus, music theory, AP, and music appreciation) and I do two things with my HS classes. I ALWAYS post work, especially if it is a 100%, then encourage students to try to get at least one item on the board by the end of the term. I also ask the students to make posters in HS just for their pieces, and then ask the MS to do the same. It encourages a friendly rivalry, and they often comment on the good things about the posters between the grades.

Ava De George | 2009/08/14

I do similar things with my bulletin boards. Students still like to see there work posted whether they are 5 or 15.

Betty | 2009/08/14

Since I teach Spanish as well as being the literacy coach for the school, I stick to photos of Spain.Then during the first weeks each student makes a flag of a spanish speaking country.Those go up too. Keep it simple but classy!

Susan | 2009/08/14

The last few years that I taught in high school (27 years total) I had a beta fish in a large vase with rocks at the bottom and a plant at the top growing into the water. We named him "Cujo" as that was our football team's fighting motto. The kids loved the fish, and at the end of each year I gave it to a student assistant who was graduating. It was lots of fun. High school students love anything unique. My last year was the year of 9/11. We filled the halls with poems and stories as I taught computer applications. The students got to illustrate and write their feelings after the tragedy. It helped them to share their feelings. We had so many posters that we had to go down the hallway in our wing of the school.

Luann Smith | 2009/08/14

I have the students do "bulletin boards" for extra credit. I tell them what topic I want and then they have the creative power (with my right to veto if necessary). They show me a mock up of what they want to do, then I provide the materials. This has worked very well to review, instruct and encourage students who are struggling with some aspect of the Spanish class.

Suzanne | 2009/08/14

I created a bulletin board "borders" using the "page-a-day" calendar pages. One year it was Gary Larsen, the next it was a word a day. The kids always liked looking at the border as much as they looked at the student work I posted on the bulletin board. I taught both English and history, so the border worked for both subjects. Also, high school students rarely see their work posted in classrooms and they loved bringing their friends in during pass time or lunch to see their work!

Selena | 2009/08/14

I, too, moved from middle school English to high school. It used to take me forever to move into my classroom with all of my posters, etc. Now, I only use a few instructional and poetic posters. The students appreciate it when I display their writings with illustrations.

Karen Kurtz | 2009/08/14

I love putting things in my middle school room that students don't expect. I have hung two room sized decorative rugs on my walls. One is a giant tree. The kids love it and it softens the room. Terrific impact!!

Robin | 2009/08/14

I enjoy decorating my classroom with things I like. It's like decorating another room in my house. I want to feel comfortable there, as this is where I spend most of my waking hours! The students seem to enjoy seeing this side of me.

Julie | 2009/08/14

I like to use unusual items in my classroom that spark some type of conversation. From my Hamlet poster to my flock of beenie baby flamingos, there's something for every end of the middle school spectrum. The kids bring items as well and the learning environment becomes theirs as the year progresses

Tina D | 2009/08/14

I love comics and find that I can find many parodies, retellings, and literary examples within them. So when a good example comes along I copy and laminate them and attach them to my bulletin board. The students love to read them and often ask why they are there which prompts a "teachable" moment.

Con | 2009/08/14

When I walk into a classroom, I like to be able to look around and be able to tell whether the subject is science, history, English, or whatever. As a history teacher, I used just about anything I could get my hands on, and I changed the walls every several weeks. And the items I put on the walls weren't just decorations; they were teaching tools. Posters from state parks, national parks, and historic sites are inexpensive and usable for any subject. I have even cut out the photos of senic calendars and stapled them to the walls.

Jackie | 2009/08/13

One cool thing we did at one school is to make a very large U.S. map and each kid put his/her name within the state in which they were born.If the student was born in Europe or Asia (or anywhere else)their name would be written inside a picture of that country's flag.This would all be done by the students in that homeroom.It is a great way to "break the ice"and everyone gets to know each other a little bit.

Fritz | 2009/08/13

One of my favorite wall decorations is a toilet paper holder purchased from a garage sale. I fill it with quality tissue-on-the-roll and avoid purchasing the pull-up tissues for my students. They love it!

Karen Korenowski | 2009/08/13

I try to use a variety of items: posters, postcards, bumper stickers. As the yearbook advisor, my students printed off a variety of photos of our seniors and we place them randomly around Congrats Class of 09! Everyone loved it...maybe too much because I found the students staring at my board instead of me when I was teaching!

Kari | 2009/08/13

I put a lot of student group work on the walls, from collages to body biographies. I leave them up from the previous year, so the new students can see what is in store for them. The love looking at them and asking about some of the projects in store.

Vickie | 2009/08/13

I put grasscloth on my boards as a backdrop years ago, which doesn't fade and remains in place for years. As an AP Literature teacher I decorate my room with momentos that I have collected from my travels over the years: a poster from the John Steinbeck museum in Salinas, California, one from the Hemingway house in Key West, Florida as well as brass rubbings from Stratford on Avon, and a supermarket bag advertising a local production of King Lear. In these decorations the students see aspects of my life and how literature is alive in the "real" world.

Debbie | 2009/08/13

I beg to differ. There are many curricular posters and decoratives to use in a high school setting that can be found at educational stores. The worst high school classrooms are those that have nothing up, or as another poster mentioned, raggedy-old decor and fading construction paper instead of fadeless bulletin board paper. This sends a negative message to students and makes the classroom dull and boring. My high school classroom is full of colorful content-related decor and posters that reinforce learning and encourage students to use them as a reference. I purchased 2/3 of them in an educational store. The other third, I made, and are professional looking and laminated.

Jackie | 2009/08/13

I disagree that students think it's too childish to decorate with youthful items. I teach 12th grade and much of my room is decorated with Suzy Zoo (a personal favorite of mine) and students always comment on how cute they are and how colorful my room is. I think they enjoy remebering when school was more warm and fuzzy and they say they get that feeling again in their final year in my classroom.

Pegeen | 2009/08/13

I also dislike using the same old "young" posters for my middle school students. Instead, I bought a round mirror to mimic the eyeball and then curved words around the mirror to represent the eye lids and eye lashes. The wording is as follows: LOOK AT THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR GRADE! It seems to be a big hit with the kids. After all, what 7th or 8th grader doesn't like to look at themselves.

Kathy | 2009/08/13

Your classroom should not just be decorated. Everything on the walls, windows, or doors should teach a concept.

Tise | 2009/08/12

I do a profile with my HS kids at the beginning of school and decorate the room with them. I give out 5 X 7 index cards and they have to decorate the card with a picture and 10 facts about themselves. They then introduce themselves to the class and submit for a homework grade. The kids love it.

Peggy | 2009/08/12

I love your idea. Actually, Maria Montessori used the least amount to decorate. Whatever she did use was more about the arts, paintings rendered by artists that would be discussed during the year. I love your idea. It is a more adaptive environment.

connie | 2009/08/12

I work in a school for girls with behavior issues. I find that posters of women with positive attitudes (like Rosie the riveter) help to channel both their imaginations and their great energy. Many have no positive role models. I especially like to focus on inventive women or thoose who are not in the news currently.

Kristine | 2009/08/12

It was suggested to me that I leave things relatively blank, and on the first day spend time having the students work together making "Who Am I" posters. I'm going to try this and use those for my decor! Also, instead of fabric on the bulletin boards, some in my school have PAINTED them. It lasts forever and looks great. Choose colors that will work with any season, and that you will not get tired of. (Oh, and maybe ask permission first!)

Earle | 2009/08/12

After President Obama won the election, I made a $5.00 purchase of a large full color poster picture of the new president. I teach African American History, and I felt this would be great for the classroom. The students love it; however, the principal, a republican, stares at the poster, and he is now trying to fire this tenured teacher. So, be careful when you put something on your wall. I still love my picture of the president, and it will go up again this year.

Susan | 2009/08/12

I used to use fabric as a background on my bulletin boards. However, when I moved to a room with enormous boards, that became too expensive. Now I use plastic tablecloths instead. They come in a multitude of colors and they're affordable! You can even buy them at some of the "dollar" stores. They don't fade like fabric or paper can. Try it!

K | 2009/08/12

Suggestion: I have been in a few elementary as well as high school classrooms, and it would probably be better to leave the walls bare than to leave up the same old ragged-edged cartoons, articles and posters from year to year to year to year! Change it up! Ask art students to lend you some of their recently done work from art class, and keep the display fresh.

Carol | 2009/08/12

My son is a High School History teacher who started his career in Forks, WA. He displays his former ID card and other misc. items from that time. Last year the students noticed them and suddenly he was much more interesting to them.

Laurie | 2009/08/12

Each year I put up a colorful bulletin board with a collage of my life and interests complete with pictures. In this way the students can see me as a real, and perhaps interesting, person. I do another bulletin board of student and school news. Students never tire of reading about themselves.

Mel | 2009/08/08

I agree! Middle school students love the atmosphere of plants and I even purchase small sample rugs. One time these were donated. Yeah! I have many students choosing to sit on the floor instead of sitting at a desk. It is great for writing and I keep even the most reluctant student engaged.

08/07/09 Lucy | 2009/08/07

Its difficult to put up pertinent room decor that has to be covered before EOCs so I have a theme...Dinosaurs! Lots of room to wiggle w/in this broad theme and high school students still love to imagine their length, color, habitat, etc. Go for a theme - it opens many doors.

Karen | 2009/07/31

After reading the elementary school recommendations I believe it is important to have comfort in every age group. I have a comfy chair in my room and kind of a cool down corner for students to relax or do their work. The students love it and so do I when I need a break!

1SG Williams | 2009/07/29

I teach JROTC therefore we get a lot of posters to put up, but I still add a little personal touch. I do a lot of my own poster and quotes. I always do a photo collage of my classe from the previous year. The kids get a kick out of looking at their and friends doing some crazy stuff. Also take a personal photo and put it in a 8x10 frame with your credentials and piece on your background. The thing that works the best for me is at the end of each grading period I give the top male and female cadets certificates and place a 5x8 photo of them and their certificates on the BB. This inspires the others to do better. I hope that some of these suggestions will of use to some of you.

Karyn | 2009/07/29

I teach Government. After the 4th of July I hit the fabric stores for my bulletin board background. I can find several varieties to use. My fabvorite happens to have all the presidents on it. I have found some with monuments, flags, money, historical document and the list goes on. I have found enough to have different backgrounds for every unit. The best time to buy is after the season has ended, the great deals come into play and it is easier on your wallet.

Mrs. C | 2009/07/26

In addition to the fabric boards, I also do the border in ribbon. It avoids the accidental rip when the staple goes through it and lasts all year. I choose very vivid colors and the students (and guests) are always looking at student work because the boards draw them to it.

A.P. | 2009/07/26

I went to Home Depot and had them cut some boards, painted them (black, because I like it!). I found a women who makes letter vinaling (word stickers). Placed the stickers on the boards with quotes and major units we cover in health. I place student work underneath each topic covered.

Pete | 2009/07/25

Posters are available from the government; state and federal, EPA, Agriculture, Fish and Wildlife. California has booklets on otters for example. Check locally but check out of state also. Washington has Embassies of different countries. Write and ask. The military. Ask also for keychains, stickers. Some are in spanish. Look in the back of textbooks for their sources. Give students postcards to write to places for information for reports. Posters of musicians of various groups and types of music make the room feel inclusive. Students will comment on seeing faces that look like them or seeing words they are familiar with. The internet has anti smoking posters that are excellent. Ask a doctor for the number of a medical representative who may provide biological charts and models for free. PBS, NatGeo are your friend. Teachers beg.

Frances | 2009/07/25

I operate a computer lab and have used around the world scenes from old calendars mounted on large sheets of white paper. Students enjoy looking at other countries. Also post samples of student work.

Ms. A | 2009/07/24

I use fabric for my bulletin boards. It's economic and "green" since you can just wash the fabric at the end of the year and re use it as many times as you want unlike butcher paper. I think this year I'm going to get some plants in my classroom. But I happen to have a tiny classroom so it's hard to work with the environment.

Gail | 2009/07/24

rather than using paper on the bulletin boards which can fade - I buy fabric and use it - colorful and can be "customized" depending on your subject area - so many choices - I can even leave it up at the end of the year if I want - a quick "dust removal" is all that is needed. Most stores have remnant bins that are perfect

May | 2009/07/24

You are right so hard to find nice HS posters, I am not good at making my own, I am going to try this year but student work helps a lot.

D | 2009/07/24

AS A NEW TEACHER WHO IS OBVIOUSLY NERVOUS, THESE IDEAS ARE GREAT...THANK YOU

Cindy | 2009/07/23

Great idea! I actually keep distractions and clutter to a minimum...students tell me they appreciate a neat, clean lined room in high school.

Mrs. A | 2009/07/23

These creative ideas for middle-high school classrooms are super! I'm eager to use the wrapping paper on my bulletin boards. Yes, the plants idea works well ... I insert plastic flowers to reflect the season or holiday, etc.! One of my favorite thing to do is put up black/white photos of students working. First, I include photos that reflect the posted students' samples. Or, second, I like to show a step-by-step process on how to accomplish a particular task/s. If you have a digital camera you can use a text book to incorporae the student's words right on the actual photo. For example, to show how to respond to a BCR (Brief Constructed Response) question, a student can show how he/she (1) use keywords to begin answering the question, (2) revisit the text to look for examples, and (3) apply his/her own ideas for drawing conclusions, etc. Students love to see themselves, as well as their peers, working in the classroom.

Karen | 2009/07/23

These are great ideas. Please consider taking some photos of your classroom and posting them on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/groups/1200668@N22/

Denise | 2009/07/23

I am a biology/ecology high school teacher. I have year round display of fabrics pieces related to biomes, animals, plants, fossils, and general science attached to the dropped ceiling tiles throughout the room. It is easy to do, just lift up the tile and allow the weight of the fabric to hold it with an occasional staple to keep the fabric from dropping. Once panel of cloth has alot of frogs on it and when a student gets disruptive in class I ask them to try to guess how many frogs are pictured. It really works--even for high school seniors!

Mrs. D. | 2009/07/23

Another idea, I hang the best work from the previous year - students love it. I had a senior almost cry when she was her freshmen Personificaion Project on the wall!

Mrs. D. | 2009/07/23

Plants are great for the high school classroom. Behind my whiteboard (which locks) are shelves. Above the board is a three foot deep by four foot high area for plants-it is nearly twenty feet long. With a wall that was made up entirely of windows, I found my plants graduating (getting too tall) from high school. My neighbor simply cuts a hole, sitting the plants on the top shelf of the cupboard. Students are anxious to water the plants - the kids get a free bottle of water for their work.

Kathy | 2009/07/23

This past year was the first that I had plants in my HS math classroom. One of my most difficult students (16 yrs old) took it upon himself to care for and water the plants. He now had a sense of purpose and it really helped him focus more in class. The plants are resting at home for the summer. But they'll definitely be back in the fall!

Wendy | 2009/07/23

I totally agree with your classroom set-up tactics. This past year I included pieces of art, paper lanterns, vases with flowers and I also decorated the whiteboard for each holiday. I consistently received comments from students saying they felt comfortable in my room, that it was a great place to be, and I also received thanks for putting so much thought into my room. On another note, a great place to buy classroom decorations is at Target, when they sell their college dorm room decor; it is pretty cheap, and it is also very chic!!

Patty Gameroz | 2009/07/23

I use LRM's for my English classroom. These are literary response modes. After students read a book they write a summary with a reading strategy that I have taught them. They put it together on a small poster and they create masterpieces. I use these to put all over the walls.

Jennifer | 2009/07/23

Wow! All of these are really creative ways to let high school students know that they can be treated as "almost adults." Buying scrapbook paper to use as bulletin board backgrounds is a great idea, especially when the 12"x12" papers go on sale for 4/$1.00 or 6/$1.00.

Amy | 2009/07/23

Thanks for the High School tips. I am going to buy plants. I have old typewrites that I found at garage sales. The students love them. They always want to type, I never imagined they would actually try to use them!

Judy | 2009/07/23

I like to use Wrapping paper as the background for my display boards. I try to find something with a print that matches the colors in my room. I usually look at flea markets for rolls of gift wrap so it isn't to expensive.

Marilyn | 2009/07/23

I'm a high school Business Ed teacher, and I decorate my computer lab with vintage/antique business machines (cheap ones I find that are not in complete working order.) I came up with the idea thinking about a banker I once worked for who collected all sorts of coin banks. On my walls I have a mix of artwork/posters: from an old 1970s poster series on the history of the typewriter to career and college-related items, and even a few of those middle school "words of wisdom" posters. I also love garage sales and think I could find items related to any subject. One idea I have for you is to frame (or laminate) pages from vintage books, magazines and really old newspapers (don't forget flea markets and thrift stores :-) Over time you'll build a collection and start piecing together items that relate to themes in literature you are covering. Just use your imagination and have fun with it.

Lily | 2009/07/22

What a great idea!! I often cruise garage sales with my husband. I never thought to look for classroom decorations. Thanks!!!

Amy | 2009/07/22

I love your ideas about using art work and especially student work! One thing that I have done in my classroom, is to use different printed 12x12 scrapbooking papers instead of large roll paper to cover bulletin boards. I then display calendars, maps or posters.

Mary | 2009/07/22

Good tips- it's nice to hear how high school teachers decorate for once!

Bree | 2009/07/22

I like the idea of plants. It makes a place feel more comfortable and it also can give students something help care for in the class.

Margie | 2009/07/22

Great tip. Thanks