Classroom bulletin boards not only make the learning environment more interesting and colorful, they serve functions as well. Some give a great visual display of important information, others, such as ones displaying a shapes or a number poster, reinforce learning and review important concepts and skills.
As well as displaying student artwork and seasonal decorations, use them:
- to let your students make decisions about what work they want to display
- to communicate with the children and encourage them to write
- to add print to your learning centers
1. Student choice bulletin board
- A student choice classroom bulletin board is divided into equal spaces with a name in each space. I like to use a solid color or a black background as it unifies a variety of work.
- Staple brightly colored paper strips or ribbon to the board to divide the spaces and add student names.
- Each child decides what they want to display. I had to let go here as my tendency was to display what I thought was the children’s best work.
- Some kids will want to staple a new picture or “Imagination Station” creation up every few days and others will have to be prompted to change their creations.
- Teach classroom bulletin board display skills without referring to any child’s specific work. What is easier to see? A picture drawn with a yellow felt marker or a brown felt marker? A tiny drawing of your family or a larger drawing of your family?
2. Communication bulletin boards
- I call this classroom bulletin board the “Mailbox”
- Library card pockets (yes they are still available!!) stapled to the board make a great message mailbox for students.
- Place another pocket card with index cards that fit in the library cards close by for kids to write on. They also slide into the pockets easily .
- Leave notes for all the students over the course of a week
- Keep a checklist of student names posted near the top of the board to keep track of the students you’ve given notes to
- Students post notes back for their teacher or peers
- One or two sentence comments such as, “I like your bee drawing” or ” I noticed that you were kind to Susan when she hurt her knee”, are sufficient
- Add a sticker or quick picture to your notes to delight the kids
- Children ask the teacher, classmates, buddies and older kids to read their notes
- Many children will make scribbles or little pictures at first, but as they gain confidence copying or sounding out words they will attempt to put words on their notes
- Post a list of the children’s names and your name on the board for students to copy
This mailbox activity encourages the children to write with a purpose. Children help each other spell words or show them where to find the word in the classroom. Conversations such as, “How do I spell _____ name?” or “How do I print _____?” are common.
If you have buddies with older children, post their names on the bulletin board too, as the kindergarten students like to give notes to their buddies. The buddies write notes back to their little buddies and place them in their library pockets.
3. To display print and pictures in learning areas
Screw bulletin boards to the back of shelving, tables or desks or arrange the room with an area for a small bulletin board on the wall to create mini-bulletin boards for specific center learning information.
Display commonly used words in the writing center: To, from, Mommy, Daddy, sister, brother, names of students. Put simple maps in the science center and labeled posters in the dramatic play center.