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Creating a vibrant and stimulating classroom environment is a crucial element of the teaching and learning process. It's not enough to have posters in the classrooms. Displays must promote Assessment for Learning.
Tips for Better Displays
Here are some tips to help assess and spruce up classroom displays:
Include everyone. Are all students represented in some way? All students need to know that their efforts are valued, so display work from every child, not just the "best" students.
Display drafts and polished pieces. Showcasing drafts and finished work side by side tells children that we value the process of learning as much as we value the products. It's a great way to teach children that mistakes are an important part of learning, not something to be ashamed of or to hide. Teach children that a polished piece of writing next to a marked-up, crossed-out draft says, "Look how much I've grown!"
Ask for input from students. Giving students a say about what you showcase makes displays more interesting to them, reinforces their efforts, and fosters a feeling of community as they see that the classroom is something they create together.
Put pieces at eye level. That is, put pieces at the children's eye level. They can't enjoy looking at something they have to strain to see.
Choose the right space. Display paintings, writing samples, and other two-dimensional pieces on bulletin boards and other wall spaces. Keep the tops of bookshelves clear for three-dimensional work such as dioramas and models. If you can, create a little more display space with simple wire shelving (either freestanding or wall-mountable) from a hardware store.
Control clutter. Leave ample blank space around everything you display. If you have no room for blank space, put up fewer displays or put fewer pieces in each display. You can always post items in rotation. Remember, too, that less is always more where displays are concerned. Overdoing displays, even those of students' work, can overstimulate children and interfere with your efforts to create a calm classroom environment.
Keep displays fresh. After displays have been up for a couple of weeks, students generally stop looking at them. Be vigilant about taking down work that's no longer relevant.
Remember that less is more. Covering every possible space will make the room seem cluttered and overstimulating. Leave a good amount of wall space and shelf tops clear, and leave ample borders around bulletin boards.
Give students their own space. If you can, create a display square for each student and let each student decide what to display there.
-- The Responsive Classroom Blog
Sending a Message with Displays
Displaying student work sends several important messages to students, staff, and visitors:
As teachers, we value what students do.
This is the students' classroom as much as the teacher's.
In this classroom, students share their work and learning with one another.
-- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Web Links for Displays
Google Sites
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