Classroom Walls: We Don't Need No Thought Control

The most engaging bulletin board I've ever crafted was pretty much effortless, however. Teachers in my building rotated responsibility for the front hall showcase, and when it was my turn, I asked teachers to share photos of themselves when they were young. Teachers contributed baby pictures, graduation pictures, snapshots of themselves shooting baskets, cheerleading and diving off the high board. One chunky gray-haired special ed teacher provided a formal wedding portrait, in which she was blond and sylph-like.

I printed up the words to Crosby, Stills & Nash's Teach Your Children Well, then arranged the unlabeled photos around the lyrics. That bulletin board was a kid magnet, every day-- a visual meditation on becoming yourself, because the past is just a goodbye.

So it goes.

via blogs.edweek.org

Lovely idea for a shared areas display and a fascinating & thought provoking article.

Leave a display blank #classroomdisplays

via in30seconds.posterous.com

Do you start with blank walls?

Perhaps not for everyone but then artists start with a blank canvas which they fill with art. I see displays in the classroom the same way. Ownership belongs to my class not just me.

Dog Sled Race Displays #classroomdisplays

/ For Teachers / Creating an Enriched Iditarod Classroom Environment

Creating an Enriched Iditarod Classroom Environment

Iditarod is an incredible teaching tool that teachers incorporate into all content areas of teaching.

A teacher knows that creating bulletin boards that teach and display areas that spark the imagination and interest of students is essential to setting the stage for learning.  The environment a teacher creates can make or break the lessons taught within the walls of the classroom.

Books, maps, posters, and other items can be put on display to create an interest in the subjects being taught.  As you go about creating the perfect Iditarod classroom environment, remember in order to achieve maximum academic success in your Iditarod enriched atmosphere in your classroom, create your displays based on what research says about teaching and learning and be sure your displays are aligned with the standards that you teach.

*  Remember: Meaningful, purposeful displays will help your students meet the goals and objectives of the curriculum.

Iditarod should not be the ‘clutter’ in your classroom, but the purposeful blueprint for your students to be engaged in learning their curriculum and standards.

Focus on ways to decrease clutter and frame the educational messages for the students.

via iditarodblogs.com

Great ideas for using a famous dog sled race as a starting point for classroom displays.

'Symmetrical' Clogs

via flickr.com