What classroom themes have you used in your rooms?  I'm looking for preK-1st level ideas.  Do you use the same theme all year or change often? 

What type of behavior management system do you use? 

What type of Helper charts/bulletin boards have you used?

Lynn,

When you say classroom themes, do you mean decorating themes or teaching themes? 

This coming year for my decorating theme, I'll be doing star student, using lots of yellow star decorations with dark blue background.  In the past I have done a Mary Englebreit theme, but there isn't a whole lot out there...just the same stuff every year.  One teacher that I work with decorates with a bug theme,  Another does jungle animals.  One teacher does firetrucks.  Another does frogs.  One teacher does a red and blue cowboy/bandana theme that is so cute!  I saw a classroom done in a 50s soda shop theme and used old records hung from the ceiling.

For teaching themes in preschool, here are some suggestions:  All About Me, Families, School, Animals (Zoo, Farm, etc), Transportation, Community Helpers, Seasons/Weather, Dinosaurs, & Outerspace.  The possibilities are endless.

For a helper chart, I designed my own.  I just couldn't find what I liked in the teacher stores and catalogs.  I have a "clothesline" design, where each child has their own clothespin. Each job is printed on a die-cut T-shirt.   When we change jobs, each T-shirt moves ahead one clip, so that each child has an opportunity to do each job at some point in the school year. We change jobs every Monday.  I have 20 students and 10 jobs so each child has a job every other week.  Another way to do it is to buy the decorative paper pockets and paste them on to a poster board, write the each child's name on the pockets, then write the jobs on popsicle sticks, rotating jobs occasionally. 

Wow, thanks for the ideas. I was trying to think of what to do with the decorative library pockets...the helper chart idea is great.  I was also thinking they would be good for a behavior management system.

Guess I should have specified what themes I was looking for...I was looking for decorating ones, but the classroom themes are great. Thanks.

Lynn, Have you decided on a theme yet?  I'm interested to know how you end up decorating your class.  :)

I used to teach the little guys -- way too many years ago -- and used a Winnie the Pooh theme that eventually morphed into just Tigger.  When I moved up to 5th grade, I continued with the Tigger theme on the advice of a friend who had taught 5th grade for years.  Unfortunately I've had to make everything as Tigger just hasn't made it the mass markets yet but it's been worth it.  We have Tigger Bucks (token economy), Tiggerific Times (newsletter), etc.

A friend of mine who teachs K uses elephant whille her coteacher uses frogs.

My advice would be to find something you like because once you start with one, it takes a life of its own.  At last count (and I quit counting before I finished), I have received over 200 Tigger items from students.

Well I'm still waiting to see if I will be teaching, assisting or subbing this fall. But I was thinking if I do get a class, I am considering a generic primary color theme so I can keep it all year with minimal changes or perhaps Clifford the Big Red Dog.   No need to decide until I know.

Hi,

New here but I'm a teacher! I used to decorate based on themes but now it changes as my themes change throughout the year mostly on bulletin boards.  I love teaching thematically so let me know if i can help!

Check out Jan Brett's website.  She writes and illustrates the most wonderful books that you are probably aware of.  She has all sorts of things you can copy and use, based on her books, letter cards, calendars, coloring sheets,number cards, etc.