Classroom Decorations: A Teacher's Dilemma
Maintaining classroom decorations can be a real tug of war-throughout the school year. Schools often have strict rules on what can be displayed and how it can be attached to the walls. For us teachers, keeping our materials up for most of the year is a small victory. But as the school year draws to a close, the challenge of dealing with falling decorations becomes a fascinating dilemma. The decision to rehang decorative items that serve more aesthetic purposes than educational ones can be a real struggle, a dilemma many of us can relate to.
Picture this: It’s May, and your library backdrop drop, drops off the wall. What do you do? Do you put it back up or take it down and start thinking about next school year?
To provide some context, I've always been passionate about creating a welcoming classroom, and, for me, my library is key. It's a space where students can immerse themselves in literature, engage in imaginative play, or simply unwind amidst the books. Setting up my classroom library is one of my priorities at the beginning of the school year, and it remains a cherished feature until the very end. It's not just a physical space but an integral part of our learning environment, where I teach students the importance of respecting books and fostering a love for reading.
At the start of every school year, one of my favorite tasks is creating the perfect corner for our classroom library. For the library in question, I meticulously covered the wall with Better than Paper bulletin board paper, carefully chose a border that complements the paper, and gave the library a title. In the past, I've gone with themed titles like 'Hats Off to Reading' or 'Reading Around the World. However, I opted for simplicity for the library pictured here and went with 'Room 125 Library.'
I attached the background paper using Velcro strips and masking tape with Elmer's glue on the back (this is an old teacher trick; do not use it on new walls, ever, lol). Despite using my tried and true extra sticky method of keeping the decor in place, the paper came down in May with six weeks of school remaining. If you have ever been in this situation, I am sure you know that May whispers, “Leave it down; better luck next year.” But I decided to put it back up. Here is why…
When the backdrop paper for my classroom library unexpectedly fell, I made the impromptu decision to close the area while I figured out what I wanted to do. To my surprise, my students seemed unfazed by my closure announcement and moved the fallen paper aside to access the books. It was a moment of realization for me. While I had prioritized creating a visually appealing space, my students saw the true heart of the library in the books themselves. Their actions spoke volumes about what truly matters in our classroom environment. That said, I could have just moved that paper, reopened the library, and kept moving until the last bell in June.
While I acknowledge that creating a homey classroom extends beyond aesthetics, focusing on fostering a sense of belonging, comfort, and safety for our students, I ultimately decided to put the paper back up in my classroom library because I realized that my happiness as a teacher also matters. Seeing the backdrop paper in place brought me joy and contributed to my overall well-being in the classroom. Just as we strive to create a nurturing environment for our students, teachers deserve a space that uplifts and inspires them. So, I chose to rehang the paper, knowing that a positive environment benefits educators and students alike.
