Summer Classroom Makeover – Part 1

April 27, 2015

Many times when families decide to do a large-scale home renovation they temporary move out while the work is being completed.  What better time to execute a classroom makeover than during the summer, while your students have “moved out” for the time-being?

This week we’ve brought you the first installment of our two-part blog series, providing you with tips to follow when planning your extreme classroom makeover.

1. Get Creative. It’s sometimes hard to imagine new possibilities for a space that you’ve come accustomed to looking at day-in and day-out, and it can be even more overwhelming to configure a space that you’re seeing for the very first time. Whether you’re the new kid on the block, moved classrooms within your school or just seek a fresh perspective in your current classroom, use your imagination to see the space’s full potential.  Experiment with different furniture positioning and use the architecture of the classroom to your advantage.  Maybe that seemingly unusable corner nook would be the perfect place for story time!

2. Clean and scrub. Scrub and clean. Start your renovation with a clean slate and a fresh start.  Give everything a good cleaning and be sure to scrape away any leftover adhesive residue.  Disinfect desks, tables, chairs, cabinets and anything else those sticky little fingers likely touched.  Do you have damaged furniture and unused items? Get rid of anything that is unusable or will likely not be used in the near future, and ask your custodian to make any necessary repairs.

3. Lay the groundwork. Brighten the room with a fresh coat of paint and nice new backdrops for your bulletin boards. Lindsey Petlak dished in her article at Scholastic.com that “keeping the background color and border paper of every bulletin board consistent has a major impact on your room.”  She recommends keeping your borders and backdrops simple and solid, which can help students stay focused in the classroom.

4. Don’t forget functionality.  Make that you are thinking about functionality of a space during your makeover.  Create a classroom library and reading nook, a writing center and maybe even a space for mailboxes depending on how you choose to distribute homework and other notices.  Avoid clutter wherever possible and make sure that furniture is arranged to facilitate free-flowing movement throughout the room.

5. Decide on decor. Petlak suggests “establishing a year-long theme in [your] classroom and weaving those design elements throughout [the] entire space.”  This will allow you to incorporate key lessons, ideas and student work onto your bulletin boards throughout the year, without having to redesign the entire classroom each season.

Maybe thinking about this renovation has made you noticed that you’re due for a new bulletin board, or you found that your classroom desks are not as sturdy as they used to be.  Give us a call at 631-666-0200 and let Nickerson Corporation help make your extreme classroom makeover a success this summer!

Don’t forget to stay tuned for part-two of our summer classroom makeover blog series later this week!