Bulletin+Board+Ideas

From Beth:
I use fabric and I leave it up all year. You can get a teacher discount at Joanne's Fabrics. Last year my theme was astronomy and I had different deep blues with stars and swirls I told the kids were nebulas and galaxies and star nurseries. To begin the year I had posters from NASA and astronomical terms with definitions along with procedures and schedules.This year my theme is anatomy and I have a shady black with dancing skeletons, a navy blue with vibrant hearts and a multicolored batik that I will tell the students has fossil prints in it. This year I got an anatomical chart from a friend who is a doctor and anatomical terms. The fabric holds up beautifully all year as I pull down and put up new posters, flyers, student work etc...I wash it, box and and keep it for another year. I see 6, 7 & 8 so I have a three year rotating plan.

From Tina:
I used aluminum foil for the background of my boards this time (I used rubber cement to seal the edges so you can not see all the seams). I wanted something that looked like the inside of the space shuttle..kinda metal/shiny- like. Looks pretty cool if I say so myself!!

From Teacher Dude:
I am going to do a relaxing asian inspired theme. I got some cool shower curtains that I'm going to use for actual curtains to cover both of my huge windows. They have cool bamboo patterns on them. My color scheme is going to be red, black, and light blue. I am going to have some plants, some solar powered bamboo lanterns in the corners, and a cool frog water fountain on my desk. My goal is to create a relaxing environment. I want to create a zen garden type feel with some plants and trees. I want to get a fake tree and have some white Christmas lights on it. That way, when the kids are gone, I will enjoy staying in my classroom and grading papers. It's sort of an escape. I'll turn off the lights, sit in my comfy chair and relax lol.

From Melissa:
I too use fabric, burlap being one of my favorites. I use butcher paper, but sort of tear it ala "scrapbooking" if anyone knows what that means. Gives it a rough edge and I combine several colors in layers. I have used newpaper, both black and white print, comic section, and sports section. (I use the local high school pics etc.) I hang seasonal wreaths on my door and have used flags in the past.

From Marilyn:
I usually just use paper otherwise plastic table cloths are cheap and easy to use. I just start stapling in one corner and then work my way down and across then cut the excess off. I start the year with a "Meet Ms. Niznik" board which the kids love. I put facts about myself and pictures. I went to the school I work at so they get a kick out of those old pictures. I always have a science news board where I also include cool pictures or cartoons/comics about science. Kids are welcome to add to it. I also set up a football themed board since football is pretty big at my school. It says something like "Kick off the school year" and then I have football cut outs with their names that they write their goal for the first quarter on. Then I have a paper goal post where they can move the football to once they have achieved their "goal". I also put up across the top of the chalkboard "Recipe for a Great School Year". I tacked up wooden spoons, hot pads, measuring cups, etc. Then I made different "ingredients: 2 tbsp good study skills, 1 tsp of integrity, 1 1/2 cups of compassion, 2 cups respect, etc. Then at the end I put 20 brilliant seventh graders and one Ms. Niznik.

From Tammy:
I always use fadeless paper. It is as vibrant and pretty on the last day of school as it was on the first. My "about your teacher" bulletin board has had the same paper for years and still looks great.

From Kelly M:
I use fabric for the backing of several bulletin boards. It holds up very well. Go to some place like wal-mart that has fabric and rummage thru the clearance bolts. The Math teacher and I have a bulletin board between our classrooms. To start the year this year I put up an ocean theme with ocean boarder and sealife cut-outs. I also put the ctuouts around and on our doors. The BB says: Welcome! Dive in to Math and Science. Usually at the end of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th qtr. We do a theme on the BB like a snow man and put cutouts of mittens up with the names of all the students who got As and Bs. Even our 8th graders will eagerly look for their names.