Bulletin boards are an essential component of classrooms. They provide a way to introduce new material or display student work. Educators should create boards that are equally engaging and educational. Using interactive bulletin boards in the classroom ensures that students recognize the importance of the posted materials. It should be changed frequently and relate to concepts currently covered in class.
Provide Clear Directions On Bulletin Board
Interactive bulletin boards should have clear, concise directions that are easy for your students to read and understand. If some of your students need extra help with reading, consider recording the rules and allowing students to play them back as needed. Ideally, an interactive bulletin board will be an independent workstation for students, so consider their ability levels when planning activities and interaction requirements.
Add Color
Visual interest is the key to keeping children engaged in interactive bulletin boards. Plain, boring boards with little color or visual appeal will not hold students’ interest. Even if the topic is interesting, students will quickly become bored and uninterested. Take the time to add coordinated colors and visual appeal to your presentation.
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Make It Durable
If students are manipulating items on the bulletin board (i.e., matching pictures of their classmates to hobbies they enjoy), make sure that the material you use is sturdy enough to withstand a lot of handling. Laminate materials that students will be touching and use the strongest Velcro or adhesive that you have available. By creating the bulletin board with sturdy materials at the beginning, you will save time having to repair it throughout its display.
Put It At Eye Level
An interactive bulletin board does students no good if they cannot reach it. When planning such a board, ensure it is at their eye level and easily accessible for young hands. Since most bulletin board frames are at an adult’s eye level, you may need to paper the area below the regular board section to make it work.
Use What You Have On Hand
Make an inventory of what you already have on hand that could be used for your bulletin boards. Mix and match some borders and backgrounds you have used in the past to create new and creative bulletin boards. Or try using your old resources in a new way. By stapling on the border so that it makes waves, you can create a 3D effect that will make your board pop.
Choose a Classroom Theme
You can keep the background, border, and theme decorations all year. Just switch out the student’s work or area of focus as needed. That means less of your precious time is required to change or update a classroom display.
Choosing a theme for your classroom will help it feel more organized and inviting for you and your students.
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What Stays And What Changes?
Using fabric for your background means you only have to put it up once. You will never have to worry about those pesky staple marks or sun bleaching that can happen with butcher paper.
Fabric is so versatile and can be used year after year. It takes up very little storage space when not in use. Plus, material comes in so many different colors and patterns. You will indeed find something you will be happy to keep up all year.
Organization Is Key For A Perfect Bulletin Board
As you put up and take down bulletin boards throughout the year, think about saving the decorations in labeled bags or totes for easy access in years to come. Then, keep all your the supplies in a designated area for easy access.
Start Before You End
Don’t be afraid to start planning your bulletin boards for the new school year before the current year has even ended.
If your school allows it, consider putting up your bulletin boards for the new school year on the last teacher workday. Then, cover them with big pieces of butcher paper to protect them from the summer cleaning.
Let’s Sum Up
In addition to adding color to a classroom, defining classroom goals and policies, and showcasing students’ work, bulletin boards can be interactive teaching tools. Bulletin boards can be another teacher in your classroom. Bulletin board displays that change periodically to reflect new lessons help visual learners better understand new material, reinforce new words and concepts, and challenge students to participate in new ways.Here Classsplus can help a teacher with a customized online class if any teacher is passionate about teaching and earns extra money through a new online coaching business. You can access your personalized app and expand your business worldwide.
