Bulletin+Boards

//__Getting the Students Involved__// · At the end of the school year whenever students have some free time, let them create a bulletin board for you. It will be ready for the fall, welcoming the new class back to school. You might want to have them cover it with newspaper to protect it during the summer. · Give your students time and materials to cut out bulletin board letters of various styles and sizes. Store these in envelopes for future use. · Reserve one section of a bulletin board for students to use to post interesting articles, invitations, unusual quotations, pictures, cartoons, and other items of interest. · Develop interactive bulletin boards. Use pockets and flaps to hide answers to questions displayed on the board. Post a daily question, riddle, or puzzle for students to explore when they enter the room. Some displays might pose a question to which students write their answers or estimate in a block on the bulletin board. These are especially valuable if they relate to a topic to be studied that day. · To help maintain interest, alter some part of a bulletin board every day or once a week. Changing a featured quotation or startling statistic each day keeps the students motivated to keep looking at it. Remember, a bulletin board is more than just wall decoration. It can be a great motivational device and instructional aid. · I use pictures from the year before as a border so children have an idea of activities that they will be doing this year. Students become excited about upcoming lessons. I make certain that I keep a camera with me and shoot any moments of excitable teaching. Students from the year before come back to look at their pictures and remember when those activities took place. · If you have a hot topic in the news that’s discussed quite a bit in your classroom, post a newspaper article from the local paper on the board and surround it with brief op-ed pieces from your students written on large index cards. This is a fantastic opportunity to introduce that type of work, as well as work in a critical thinking assignment.
 * Bulletin board topics that require students to bring something in from home, particularly cultural things, is sure to get students involved. For example, students could bring in food their family typically eats, and pictures and recipe cards could be displayed on the bulletin board.

//__Use of Materials Border Ideas:__// · Use wide ribbon from a craft store as a border for your bulletin board. Ribbon can be solid color or printed with any type of pattern that could match the theme of your bulletin board. · Use sentence strips as borders. You can write praise words on the sentence strips or choose to write student names on the sentence strips to instill a sense of community within the classroom. · You can laminate fabric strips to use as borders. · You can “marble paint” or finger paint white sentence strips with students to use as borders for your bulletin board. · You can tack rope, CD covers, photographs (even students' head shots), published or student written poetry, famous quotes, or school spirited images to your bulletin board to heighten student interest in the content on the board.  · Think of creative materials and ideas to incorporate into unique borders. Discarded fabric, game pieces, silk flowers, ribbons, leaves, greeting cards, or photographs can all be incorporated into attractive borders. - A fun addition that can be used is a string of lights. They can often be purchased at many places in a community around the holidays. They should be used on boards involving some type and to bring positive attention to students' works.
 * Laminated sentence strips can be used at a writing-themed bulletin board for students to add ideas to and can be written on using dry erase markers.

//__Background Ideas and Graphics:__// · From a roll of colored paper, tear a piece to the approximate size of the bulletin board. Mold to the bulletin board by hand and temporarily pin it to the board. With a small pin or razor knife, tear or cut along edges to remove the excess paper. You are ready to place objects and letters on the board. · Project coloring book images onto large sheets of paper taped to the wall. Trace and color the images to make large characters to include in your bulletin boards. · You can use wrapping paper, fabric or butcher paper as your bulletin board background! · Attaching Velcro to posters and fabric will make your life easier if you do not have the traditional bulletin boards. The one warning with Velcro is to make sure that you are consistent with hard or soft sides to the wall and to your poster. · A really inexpensive way to cover and create colorful bulletin board backgrounds is to use rectangular, plastic tablecloths. These usually cost about 1 dollar and they can be used over and over again. · I have used wrapping paper for bulletin boards. Buy a roll at a dollar store and just throw it away at the end of the year! ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Color Xeroxed (and possibly enlarged, depending on the original size) copies of book covers and news magazines are great for literature studies, theme units or current event projects. Even book covers for younger readers will provide a more grown up feel than snowman cutouts. So if it’s midyear and your third graders are starting to request more sophisticated bulletin boards in the classroom, this idea is a great way to start. ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Instead of animated cartoon-style drawings, consider photographs or color prints as your graphic illustrative element. Some examples could include travel and nature images for geography and science studies, volcano shots, Hubble images, mountain range photos, tribal action shots from remote villages, etc. Another great way to go is with action shots of your students themselves involved with various stages of the writing process, math games, lab experiments, etc. Post cards also rock as a way to get professional quality bulletin board images on the cheap. Tried all of that and still can’t find what you need? Check out online image databases of postage stamps from around the world. If you have a color printer, these can make great download solutions. Remember, national governments pay artists big bucks to come up with fantastic stamps. This is professional quality work you are able to snag for less than a song. ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> These things come in about as many size and color options as index cards, and are great for adding bold color and graphic elements if you don’t have access to a large supply of construction paper. My favorite use for them is as a replacement for the primary grade level calendar pieces. Instead of cutesy tree ornament pieces in December, go with green and red squares from peel off desk pads. Not only will this look more appropriate for the older grades, it’ll also make for a cheaper classroom calendar. Just make sure you match the Post It size to the calendar squares. ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Many traditional periodicals have freebies that come along with the monthly copies. Nat Geo is known for their killer maps, and various news magazines have charts and fold out center articles that make fantastic fodder for bulletin board themes. Bonus? Professionally published materials always look more grown up than basic kiddy charts.
 * If you happen to have extra wallpaper at home, you can use that as a background.

//__Letter Ideas__// · <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9.9pt;"> You can use pre-printed letters cut out of magazines and newspapers as letters on your bulletin board. · You can draw letters with glue and sprinkle glue, colored sand, or confetti on top to create a neat design and texture. · You can create a shadow effect with your letters by stapling two of the same letter together, in different colors, on your bulletin board. · You can create cursive letters with yarn or string and glue. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">· Aim to use bright colors for lettering, and try to leave space around each letter to avoid a cluttered look. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Generate graphics and letters with computers. Special software is readily available in most schools for printing banners and posters. Use letters of various sizes. Large ones grab the students' attention and get them to read the rest. · You can use scraps of material and cut out the letters, it adds a texture affect and a creative touch to the lettering. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> //__Bulletin Board Content Ideas__// You can make your bulletin boards interactive: add lift flaps, turn dials, suggestion boxes, puzzles and brain teasers to your bulletin boards. Interactive bulletin boards are more worth the time if the students can actually use them and learn actively with them. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9.9pt;">· <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Make sure that your bulletin boards are connected to what your students are learning so that students can use the information to push their thinking. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Experiment with three-dimensional bulletin boards. Objects such as feathers, dried flowers, discarded ties, masks, hats, and costume jewelry can all be incorporated into your bulletin boards. Strive to use multiple textures to make the bulletin boards more attractive. (Just be careful, you do not want your bulletin board rotting for falling apart after a few days.) ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Velcro or flannel boards can be incorporated into manipulative boards that invite students to experiment. Bulletin boards can be dynamic, inviting students to interact and reform the display. Self-checking questions can be displayed with answers covered by flaps. //__Use of Space__// ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Make two to three covers for bulletin boards at once, placing one on top of the other. When it is time to change displays, simply pull off the top display, revealing the next one beneath it. ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> You need not decorate every bulletin board. Use blank ones for announcements, posters, student work, newspapers, magazine articles, etc. Use some class time to have students brainstorm ideas for bulletin boards. ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Use some bulletin boards to teach or reinforce a skill or concept ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Overwhelmed by all those notices, book club handouts and forms from the office? Consider making at least one of your bulletin boards an information distribution center. Choose a title such as “Command Center” or “Central Command” if you are teaching at a DODDS school. Include a sedate classroom calendar in the center and perhaps a news clipping or two regarding the school. Then attach some acrylic document holders for handouts, returned documents with signatures, a homework slot, attendance and lunch count. This takes at least one bulletin board slot from a full time chore and puts it firmly in the category of management tool, leaving you with a smoother running classroom. You can even use some of the space for reinforcement charts and other low cost student reward programs. · Be sure you do not make the bulletin board too busy and jumbled. Students should be able to understand and navigate it on their own.
 * Cut letters out of sponges or thin pieces of wood if it jives with the theme. Also, putting something end-to-end, spelling out words with paper clips or matches or even paper shapes you've cut out, like crayons or pencils.
 * Bulletin boards can be used similarly to learning centers. They can incorporate current instructional content just like learning centers. For example, one bulletin board could be used for math practice throughout the year, and small whiteboards could be attached. Throughout the year, the teacher can change the content from single digit times tables, to two-digit, all the way through long division, but the same whiteboards can be used for students to work out the new problems.
 * Students may not be tall enough to reach the top parts of the bulletin board, so to maximize student work space, keep the directions at the top and manipulative materials nearer to the middle and bottom.

__//Themes//__ -There are several themes that can be used to create bulletin boards. For instance, create themes that will last throughout the year or you can change themes as you see fit. -Bulletin boards can really be used for any subject, (ecosystems, elections, money, plants, around-the-world, back to school, and more!) -Many teachers create bulletin boards with pictures from last year's class. The picture get students excited about upcoming lessons and allow them to know the activities scheduled before hand. -Find fabrics or other materials to cover the board that match the theme of a unit or topic you are teaching. After holidays, fabric stores sell decorative fabric very cheap that is durable for several uses.
 * Seasons are a good theme to choose if you plan for the bulletin board to be able to be used through each quarter.

__//Don't forget...//__ Before creating your bulletin boards, make sure you check with the Fire Marshal to see what the fire regulations are about flammable materials posted in your classroom and throughout the school.

//__Additional Websites__// [|Bulletin Boards for School Classrooms: Kinderart] [|Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators: Bulletin Boards] http://atozteacherstuff.com/Tips/Bulletin_Boards/index.shtml http://usefulwiki.com/displays/

//__References__// Associated Content, Inc. (2010). // Bulletin board tips for teen classrooms. // Retrieved February 1, 2010, from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article /2646899/bulletin _board_tips_for_teen_classrooms.html?singlepage =true&cat=4 A to Z Teacher Stuff, L.L.C. (2010). // Bulletin boards: teacher tested tips. // Retrieved February 1, 2010, from http://atozteacherstuff.com/Tips/Bulletin_Boards/ Hume, H.D. (2000). //A Survival kit for the elementary/middle school art teacher//. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. ProTeacher. (2009). //Bulletin boards.// Retrieved February 5, 2010, from http://www.proteacher.com/030004.shtml# Scholastic, Inc. (2010). // Interactive bulletin boards //. Retrieved February 1, 2010, from http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3746785 The Teacher's Corner- Teacher Resources and Lesson Plans. //Bulletin Boards.// Retrieved February 5, 2010 from http://www.t heteacherscorner.net Theriault, M. (2009, April 7). //Bulletin boards: twelve ideas for older classrooms//. Retrieved from http://mtheriault.lessonmag.com/2009/04/07/bulletin-boards-twelve-ideas-for-older classrooms/

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Tips/bulletin boards //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. (2007). Retrieved from http://atozteacherstuff.com/Tips/Bulletin_Boards/ University of Northern Iowa Marketing & Public Relations. (2009). // Bulletin boards tips // .Retrieved February 2, 2010 from [|www.uni.edu/dor/community/resources/] Bulletin%20%Board%Tips.pdf