In Fall 2018, I decided to update my classroom decor because I need a change, just a refresh.
I’ve had a neutral classroom (loved it!), a rainbow color scheme, and a beach decor theme. I’ve loved them all.
This time I wasn’t really going for a theme. I decided to use black and white gingham with some colorful accents. Even though I wasn’t aiming for a theme, I added some nature to the room. So, if it is a theme, it would be a “Colorful Nature” theme.
“Pre-K is an Adventure”
I wanted to add color to the room with some large letters. The kind of wooden letters that can be painted were too expensive, so these were cut from scrapbook paper with a Cricut machine.
I use my bulletin boards to post children’s work. I do not decorate bulletin boards. This is how they will look all year with children’s artwork changed out through the year.
Colorful Frames with Positive Character Traits
These colorful frames were added to the wall. I painted these frames from Michaels in colors that matched the scrapbook paper I used on the big letters. The animals in the frames are just clipart that I printed on cardstock. Then below them, I printed a cardstock “wooden” sign with positive character traits.
Owl: Be Wise
Fox: Be Clever
Bear: Be Brave
Deer: Be Kind
Hedgehog: Be Curious
Black Gingham Curtains for Storage
This classroom has big open shelves for storage that needs to be covered up. Previously, everything was in boxes on the shelves so the items being stored would be hidden, but this time, I decided to use the black and white gingham curtains to cover the storage shelves.
I later found these
House Center
In the House Center, I already had these mirrors, wall planters, and a white lace curtain. This year, I added the black and white gingham curtain.
“Create” Letters in the Art Center
Using card stock paper and a Cricut machine, I made big letters
Reading Center
This is pretty much how my Reading Center already looked. I added the black and white gingham curtain and big “Read” letters cut from card stock paper. A very inexpensive curtain rod is attached to the wall with Scotch 3M hooks.
Table Signs
Since I wanted to nature things in my room, I bought small wreaths for table signs. I painted a wooden bird for each wreath to hang from the wreath with clear string. The wreath is supposed to be like a “nest” for the bird. Then I tied black and white gingham ribbon to the wreath. Each wreath hung over each small group table in my classroom
Fox Puppet: Our Class Mascot
This is our class mascot, Felix, a fox puppet. Felix watches the children through the day and he loves to give compliments. The kids love him! I’m not hugely talented with puppets, so Felix whispers in my ear, and then I tell the kids what he said. š It works well.
He sits up on this wreath, out of reach. The children are free to play with all other puppets, but Felix is special. He serves a very special purpose in the classroom. When my classroom had a Beach decor theme, our class mascot was a puppet named Sharky.
Circle Time Area
This is pretty much how my Circle Time Area looked before. Magnetic letters (on the board) from the Target Dollar Spot were added, as well as a black and white gingham basket from Hobby Lobby.
I hope you enjoyed my classroom tour! Maybe it will give you some ideas to use in your own room if this matches your style. I didn’t get too elaborate with colors and themes, but I didn’t want to. A lot of things in the room are things I already had.
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Karen, thank you for sharing your classroom, I really enjoy it!
It gave me some great ideas.š¤
I do enjoy bright colors in my classroom and since Im also a crafter, I enjoy decorating by seasons and special occasions!
Again, thank you! š
Looks great!!!
Your classroom is gorgeous. Very inviting.
What a beautiful and well-organised classroom you have! You are amazing!
Thank you so much for sharing.
Looks very clean, and fresh! Very inviting and engaging!!! Love the animals as the characteristics, so cute! My kids too would love the clever fox puppet.
Very beautiful class room. Thank you for sharing.
I love your classroom, specially the dramatic area and the library. The library looks very cozy.
Thank you for sharing your woodland room refresh! I love how you used small wreaths for defining group tables. I might have to borrow that idea.š
Love the animals and the messages they convey!!
Thanks so much for sharing your classroom decor. I am moving classroom spaces over this summer into a blank slate kind of room. I need inspiration!
Lols wonderful! Thanks for sharing . What did you use on the wall near the easel?
Thanks Anne, it’s a shower curtain. It protects the wall from paint. I hung it up with 3M hooks.
thanks for sharing, your classroom looks beautiful.
I love the colorful ideas and the nature vibe…thanks for sharing. Cool ideas for summer planning!
Such a beautiful environmentā¤ļø Thank you so much for sharing
Thanks you for sharing pictures of you class. I love seeing new ideas. It is so helpful.
You have created a beautiful place for learning! I hope you are appreciated for all your hard work and great ideas and your willingness to put so much time and money into your classroom and the children who will enjoy it!!!
Hi Karen,
I love everything you share. Can you please tell me what you use to get items to stick on your cinder block walls. I have similar walls and even specialty tapes don’t seem to work.
Thanks!
I use the Scotch 3M products. To hang the frames, I used a roll of double sided Scotch 3M tape. The curtain rods are just sitting on 3M hooks.
Wow!! This is beautiful Karen. I wish I was in your class. I am sure the children will lovce it and the parents too. Your such an insipratio. Thank you for sharing.
Greetings Karen, I love your room . Your room is very warm and inviting!
Love, love your class mascot, Felix! Your room is very well organize.
Thanks for sharing!!!!!
Thank you so much for sharing! I love your classroom. Iām glad we are not the only ones that uses curtains for the storage area! I did like the big letters and how bright your classroom is. Itās so enjoyable I wanted to come and play š.
You are so creative! Thank you for sharing all your ideas and hard work! It almost made me want to teach Pre-K. I teach K-12 Spanish and need lots of simple ideas for the early grades especially.
Thank you for sharing š
Thank you SO much for these pictures! How big are the letters you created using the Cricut? Iāve never used a Cricut before, but I may try to rent one, as those letters are perfect.
Also, how big are your animal pictures? Thank you ~ Happy Summer!
Hi Emily, The letters are the size of a piece of cardstock, which I think is 12 inches tall. You might want to ask around and see if you can pay someone to cut the letters for you. The animal pictures were just printed on a regular piece of cardstock paper, 8.5×11.
Thank you – they look ginormous! š
You are so creative thank you for sharing such wonderful ideas
Thanks for sharing Karen! Nice to see what others are doing. Our classroom has a puppet, Dixie the Duck, but she is usually hidden away so the kids don’t use her. But I love the idea of putting her in a ‘nest’ and hanging her so she can watch over the group! Thank you!
I always love to visit your page before school starts. you always have such great ideas that inspire me on how to make my classroom better. Thank you for sharing.
You have a lovely classroom! I would love to make the character posters, but canāt find your clip art or the wood signs.
Thank you, Clare! I’ll email you the links to the clipart.
Thank you for sharing this! I am about to begin my very first year teaching pre-school. So much to do and it’s hard to know where to start! How to eat an elephant? I suppose I better pick my first bite. I overspent on Lakeshore materials for my Circle Time area -and I am going to stop there, and slow it down. š