I had to drop health forms off at school today because I got a letter in the mail stating my daughter would not be allowed to attend school next week without them. They were due two weeks ago. Story of my life…
Anyway, walking into the school I was struck by the utter lack of decor in the place. The buildings themselves need help, and it’s too big of a project to even scratch the surface, but what about the rooms themselves?
I mean, we all know that schools have no budgets for this stuff, but classrooms are filled with ugly decor. Does it need to be ugly? Research proves that people thrive in visually stimulating environments. Can’t it be, well…. better looking? I went online in search of some classroom inspiration and here’s where I landed.
Images via Pinterest
3 Responses to “Old School is the Best School…”
How fitting! I teach grade school as do my sisters and nieces. I am forwarding this to all! I’ve always had the design bug and try to incorporate as much stimulating visuals as possible. In my district, art classes are confined to my classroom so I have double duty! In our geometric shape unit I have the kids make pieces that I string together for wallpapers. Another good idea is potted plants. They are a little extra work, but certainly bring the outdoors into an otherwise sterile, boring environment. I also have them make larger scale drawings and paintings which I frame with cheapo and wacky frames. A couple of the other teachers on our floor make curtains… cheap but it does transform the space. So happy you wrote about this, I hope it inspires others! I am thinking about trying the Chinese lantern idea… I am setting up the classroom this week!
Michelle
Ramsey, NJ
Wow! What a treat to have an “end-user” be inspired. So true though! A little thought, ingenuity and creativity can transform a classroom form fugly to fabulous, right?
The vintage classroom is so beautiful! I went to a parent meeting in my kids classrooms this year… the whiteboard and smart projectors are all well and good… but there’s something to be said about practicing penmanship on the blackboard!