My first classroom was a riot of primary colours. Laminated borders, a different theme on every wall, baskets in every shade of plastic. And my children were wired.
These days my room is softer, emptier and much, much calmer.
Less on the walls
I keep one display per wall at most, and backing paper in hessian, cream or soft green. Children's work goes up at their eye level, not mine.
Lower, fewer, simpler
- Shelves at child height, so everything can be reached without asking
- About half the resources I think I need
- Wooden and natural materials where the budget allows
- Labels with a photo and a word
The difference is noticeable within a fortnight. Tidy up takes five minutes instead of fifteen, and children actually use the resources rather than tipping them out.
Labels for a calm classroom
Written by Laura
Reception teacher and EYFS lead. Everything here has been tried in my own classroom first. More about me
