Classroom Decor

My classroom theme each year is "Trip Around the World". We visit a new continent every month or so, and the classroom decor changes with the location.  So, when we study South America, the whole classroom becomes a jungle! 

This picture below is taken looking down through the streamers and tissue leaves that made the canopy over our carpet area. It was so filled with snakes and monkeys that it eventually drooped low enough to reach up and touch it.
                                      

 In the spring, the class turns into a rainbow room with bright colors and flowers everywhere. 

Our class turns into an ice castle when we study the arctic, and here is a mural we made to decorate the walls. Love the expressions on these guys!

I think it's important to have a class that is inviting and colorful, but not too busy and visually overwhelming for kids. The reference posters should visible from all areas of the class, big enough to see clearly, and easy to reference. This is tricky when you're like me, and enjoy lots of giant things hanging from the ceiling!

One solution to the problem of things hanging from the ceiling and blocking views: bringing things down low. My word wall and number lines are up high, but I also have versions that are lower and much more "hands on". For example, the letters on these word lists have been traced with clear glue so students can trace over the letters with their fingers as they read. As they trace, they whisper the letter sound - it's the cutest! They also love to announce when they can read "all the words on the blue list!"
                       


Group carpet area: 
We usually read aloud up to 20 Magic Treehouse novels each year, so we have a paper tree with the little magic treehouse above where I sit. The rope ladder sways a bit when the fan system is on, and little photocopies of the main characters, (Jack and Annie) are looking out the treehouse window. I love to turn the lights down while reading from those books, and watch the students gazing up at them as I read. 

                               
We use word families every week during literacy centers, so one corner of the room is dedicated to the word family posters. So essential for isolating that first sound/letter in words. They spend a lot of time hunting through those words!

My class is quite small, and one entire wall is taken up with windows. I love that, but sometimes I run out of space and have to use the windows as a bulletin board.

The rest of the wall space in the class is used for posters that the students have made themselves. I like them to feel ownership in the decor of their own room, and remember the lessons that came from making them!

Last tip: I recommend having your name somewhere on the wall. 
Then you won't be asked a gazillion times how to spell your name when they're making little surprise presents to leave on your desk, like this:

Thanks for stopping  by today!