[shopaholic94]

i just got a new job at a daycare, and my classroom is just so drab. anyone have some cheap/free ideas or websites to get great decor and posters to brighten the place up
thanks!

[Lorax]

I have ideas on my blog: http://preschool-mommy.blogspot.com/...%20Environment

Some cheap things I did that, I think, made a big difference were:
1. I cut stars from tinfoil and hung them with fishing wire from the ceiling of my room
2. I got wall stickers to liven up the walls
3. I used clip art to make my center signs
4. I put out some nice plants

Check out the books Designs for living and learning, and Environments that work. They're really great!

[learntogether]

Hang up the kids' own work! If you are allowed to hang a laundry line just below the ceiling, it makes it easy to use clothespins to hang art and change it frequently. I have also made a look-like bulletin board by attaching a rectangle of bulletin board paper to the wall, putting border around it and then attaching clothespins to the bulletin board paper for the same purpose.

As far as free printables google:
Sparklebox
Makinglearningfun
day care resource

If your school gets Weekly Reader or Clifford Magazine, some of the big teacher editions make great posters (laminate them). They often have things like butterfly or frog life cycles for your science area. Also, the Dollar Tree sometimes has great classroom posters for a dollar.

[shopaholic94]

thanks! sounds great!

[Bertie]

Dollar Store calendars; cheap source of 12 "posters" about animals, flowers, kids, cartoons

Kites; Kites are an inexpensive and colorful way to brighten ceilings and walls

Fabric; if you can't afford Walmart fabric to cover your bulletin boards, buy inexpensive sheets. Cut and staple onto boards then add trim to hide your staples. Lasts forever, doesn't fade, doesn't show holes.

More Dollar Store ideas; my local store has large bedroom wall stickers on the themes of princess, vehicles, outer space and dinosaur.

Kids own work; Of course, plan a large scale art project, trace the kids bodies and help them paint them up or use construction paper clothes. If you help with the faces, they could add yarn hair and it could be really cute.

Ask Parents to donate; They might have picture frames, fabric, kites, mirrors, seasonal decor, plants, maybe a rocking chair, rug & lamp for your reading nook.

Tidiness always looks better. Put small clutter away in the boxes that your copy paper came in. When all the small stuff is put away in matching size boxes the room looks more organized and streamlined.
If you want, you could always cover the exposed side with a piece of colored paper and/or put a colorful label so you know what's inside. I cover the exposed side of the lid with a piece of bulletin board trim.

[harminygrits]

I decorate shelves/walls with lots of photos of the children working in the classroom- I take a digital photo and then add dictation and print it out on my computer-laminate it...It shows that our classroom community is important to me--and the children (and parents) love seeing themselves (also adds opportunity for language/literacy--the children discuss what they are doing in the photos). I'm not really fond of cartoon type posters and such--I try to keep it real.

[IA11]

I used garden flags -- the largers ones. You can also buy 'center ones' at Discount School supply. And -- of course, kiddo work!

Good luck -- decorating is fun! :-)

Take a look at two recently published books:

Inspiring Spaces for Young Children
Rating Observation Scale for Inspiring Spaces (ROSIE)

There are many ideas to help you create inspiring spaces for young children.

[cath]

I know its not necessarily cheap- but I painted my room. For the price of a tin of paint, it really made a difference. Got lots of comments on how cheery the room looks now!