19 July 2014
Classroom Theme
Ok, I need some help bloggy friends. I am looking for a new theme for my classroom! For the last couple years I have done the ever-popular owls.
Super cute, right?? I only meant to keep it for a year, but I got pretty carried away buying things the first year. I had owl EVERYTHING... pencils, bulletin boards, calendars, you name it. After that, it just kind of spiraled out of control. My kids kind of assumed that I loved owls and started buying me things, so I had even more owls. Then, even more people assumed I loved owls, so they bought me owl things too. It got really out of control. I'm gonna confess something here... I have no strong feelings toward owls. To be honest, I'm just tired of looking at the same old stuff. It's time for a change! I've got serious mental block going on though. So, here's where I ask for your help. What is your theme? How do you incorporate it into your classroom? What sorts of things do you include in your theme? Let me know in the comments!
Since I teach in the Philippines, my themes usually revolve around patterns and colors. We don't have cool teacher stores like in the US to give us pre-made borders or decor. My decor for this year will be mostly bright colors in green, blue and white with interesting patterns like chevron, polka dots and stripes. I teach grade 4 so the colors are enough to be interesting but not overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteNo teacher stores?! AHH! I would be so sad. It must be incredible teaching in the Philippines, though.
DeleteThere's a million diff. themes I can think of. I'm doing a new theme this year: fuchsia, black, white and punches of lime. I'm dying to do turquoise, red, and white (Dr. Suess colors). Think Lilly Pulitzer: citrus colors! Tangerine, lime, raspberry, turq., lemon. I think purple and lime is cute, or pink and navy blue. Go to schoolgirlstyle.com and check the maven of classroom decor. She's got a bunch of NEAT inspiration rooms on her site to peruse. Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteAli
Teaching Powered by Caffeine
I did my owls theme last year with fuschia and lime green. It was SO cute! I love Lily Pulitzer, too. Last year for Christmas I personalized lime green cups with fuschia letters for all the teachers. So cute! I was hanging out around Schoolgirl Style's website earlier. There are SO MANY adorable things there! Hope to see pics of your classroom later on this summer! :)
DeleteMan, my theme is a mix of themes! This year I'm throwing Superheroes into the mix! But my theme is a mix of things I love because if I'm in my classroom majority of the day, I wanna see things I like ;) So, bright colors, teal, pink, black, chevron, zebra, and leopard print :) It sounds crazy, but becomes a bit cohesive in the end lol
ReplyDeleteAnisa @ Creative Undertakings
Superheroes are adorable! I was looking at some of those. I think we may be decoration soul mates because I LOVE all of the things you mentioned- zebra, leopard, chevron, and hot pink. :)
DeleteI tend to steer clear of themes and mascots as, like you said, people start buying them for you thinking you LOVE them! I have been doing color schemes for the past 5 years or so and love it! I have done yellow/black/grey, brights, and even turquoise/lime/orange/coral. This year I am going with a soothing lavender, mint green, pale aqua and gray. This way everything can coordinate and I can incorporate any thematic items I like without devoting the whole room to a particular character or style. Hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteI love the new color palette! Those colors will look fantastic together. You definitely have to post pictures!!
DeleteI totally hear you- I was actually thinking of ditching the theme this year, but decided I enojy doing the decorating. I totally love the black background idea! I bet they really pop. I usually use tablecloths for bulletin boards, I will totally have to grab some black ones!
ReplyDeleteThis is funny because I went through the same thing with zebra print! This year, I am converting to a color theme - purple, turquoise, and lime green. I also added a few pops of hot pink for some variety. I love it so far, but I am bound to get some questions about what happened to all the zebra print!
ReplyDeleteMary
Fit to be Fourth
Oh my gosh...its as if you write this for me! I have done owls too the last two years. Like you I don't love them near as much as people believed me to. I am switching this year to as pink, navy blue, and turquoise nautical theme. People think I'm nuts, but I love decorating my classroom. Its one of my favorite things to do.
ReplyDeleteLori
www.learningbytheseashore I blogspot.com
Last year I returned to the classroom after years in an ESL office. I chose a color theme of black and white with bright blue for a pop of color. It's easy to find things in black and white, and then I can add the blue as needed with ribbons, bows, labels, accents, etc. (I debated black and white with yellow, too. Maybe stars or bees for the yellow. I like the blue better for me, but I still think about the yellow sometimes.)
ReplyDeleteI got the idea from a teacher who moved away. She used black with polka dots in bright pink, green, blue, and purple. It was so cute!
I've got some pictures of some of my stuff on my blog. Feel free to come take a peek to get some ideas.
Heather Q
My Clever Endeavors
One year I had a sports theme, which was nice because we focused on us as a TEAM.
ReplyDeleteI decided a few years ago that I would rather stick to certain colors, rather than a theme. It's definitely made it a lot easier decorating. Basically anything bright - I'm all for it! :) I mainly use pink, blue, and green!
Girl, look at your blog, and take it from there! You don't need a theme, just colors and patterns that you love, and your blog is a.dor.a.ble! I visited a teacher supply store today, although I make most everything I use myself, and there were tons of chevron, polka dots, stripes, ric-rac-looking, and more borders, blank posters, etc. I'd be so happy to not have a theme...I have to come up with something that starts with "Nothing Could Be Finer..." (it's because I live in S. Carolina and our third grade teachers wanted to be able to say Nothing Could be Finer Than to Be in Carolina (a song). I'm in second grade. We don't teach SC history in second. I have ZERO ideas!!! Good luck, and have a great year!
ReplyDeleteBrooke