Bulletin boards: the teacher’s best friend and worst enemy. Bulletin boards make classrooms inviting and happy, but also involve planning and creativity. Keeping your classroom or homeschool bulletin board fresh and unique can be a challenge!

To make things easier for you, I’ve put together interesting themes and easy hack ideas you can use to get inspired to put your bulletin board together for the upcoming school year!

BULLETIN BOARD THEME IDEAS

NO THEME

Is a theme for your bulletin board really necessary? More and more, teachers are opting to go without a theme for their board … or not to use a bulletin board at all!

Keep it simple, classic, and understated. Hang the work or ideas of your students throughout the school year. Don’t feel the need to run to ten different stores and five websites to accomplish a theme. Be neat, minimalistic, and uncomplicated. You will feel less stress and anxiety as the first day approaches, and your room will have a personal, welcoming touch.

INTERACTIVE BULLETIN BOARD

An interactive bulletin board engages your students to manipulate content and reinforce already taught skills. For example, after Career Day, have a “Would You Rather” board and a leading question … “Would you rather be a Dentist or a Firefighter when you grow up?” Students will write their names in the corresponding space, and at the end of the day, the class will have a discussion about the decisions. Each day, the career options would change, leading to a weeklong study of the careers that were presented. I love this bulletin board idea from @rainbowsandconfetto.

Another idea for an interactive bulletin board comes from @msdavid_myteacherlife. By using dry erase markers and laminating the mazes, children can try again and again to solve the puzzles and mazes.

AFFIRMATION BOARD

This bulletin board idea by @kirstenskaboodle brings positivity into your classroom by making sure all students know they are welcomed and loved. It includes affirmations that can be read at the beginning of the morning to motivate your students and boost their confidence throughout the day.

KEEP IT SIMPLE … WELCOME TO …

Keep your bulletin board simple this year with this design idea by @ms_harmon_in_color. This idea is so clear and concise, and it can be used for any grade level. This easy design will add pizazz to your classroom while keeping you sane.

PERSONAL TOUCH

This board by @itiselementarymydear adds a personal touch to your classroom by including student’s pictures. You can either have students bring in a fun shot of themselves, or you can take a picture of them in the classroom on the first day of school and hang the pictures on the board. Pictures can be easily changed for the season or holiday!

EASY BULLETIN BOARD BACKGROUNDS

PLASTIC TABLECLOTHS

Using a plastic tablecloth on your bulletin board gives an instant pop of color or design!

Plastic tablecloths are cheap (grab one from your local Target or Walmart), they’re durable, and they don’t fade. Plastic tablecloths provide a great background for any design theme you may decide to use!

FABRIC

Using fabric as a background for your bulletin board is another idea to give you an instant exciting background! Run to the clearance section of your local fabric store or Hobby Lobby and grab a large piece of fabric that you can put up and be done. You can even get use black felt to give you the look of a chalkboard.

LAYER BORDERS

Layering a border for a bulletin board accomplishes multiple goals. It creates a unique look and personalized touch that is different from anyone else’s. Second, and perhaps most beneficial, it takes up space, leaving you less room to try to figure out how to fill. Using the same border can create a beautiful uniform look, and using different, complimenting patterns can create interesting patterns.

I hope these back-to-school bulletin board ideas get you excited about decorating your classroom for the upcoming school year. Remember … designs do not have to be elaborate or stressful … and less is more! Children learn better in an environment with less distractions than an overcrowded, overdecorated area.

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