2013-2014 High School Math Classroom Decorations

Today I want to share pictures of my 2013-2014 high school math classroom decorations.  If you’ve seen my pictures from last year, you will notice many of the same elements in different places.  I tried to reuse as much of last year’s stuff as possible while still creating all new bulletin board designs.

High School Math Classroom Decorations

high school math classroom decorations

My goal is to create a welcoming, colorful, and organized math classroom.  One of my students from last year came by to visit earlier this week.  When she walked into my room, she exclaimed, “You redid your room!  And you made it even MORE colorful.  I didn’t even think that was possible!”

high school math classroom decorations

My Problem Solving Posters from last year have found a new home underneath my Smart Board!

Problem Solving Strategy Posters.

This bulletin board is right outside my classroom door.  The poster at the top is from the dollar section at Target!

Bulletin board outside high school math classroom.

I reused my When you enter this classroom… door decoration from last year, but I added a cute polka-dot border window cling that I found at Dollar Tree.

door decoration in high school math classroom.

The Wall of Pride bulletin board is based on a photo I saw on pinterest.  The idea behind this bulletin board is that students are allowed to post anything that they are proud of.  Last year, I had lots of students bring me pictures they had drawn.  This year, I wanted to have a designated place to hang these.  And, I’m hoping that students will post other things that they are proud of as well.

wall of pride bulletin board in high school math classroom.

 Of course, my room would not be complete without my University of Tulsa flag!  

high school math classroom decorations

Aren’t these the cutest magnetic hall passes?

magnetic hall passes

I’m pretty excited about this pink cart!  I picked it up at a yard sale this summer for $10.00.  If you look closely, you will see that it still has the labels from the previous owner.  I haven’t exactly got around to changing them yet.  This cart holds notebook paper, graph paper, protractors, bingo chips, index cards, and other random stuff that needs a home in my classroom.  

pink multi-drawer cart.

I also picked up these two basketball net shaped trashcans this summer.  My students were very quick to notice these and get excited!   

basketball trashcans

Mini-Trash Cans to use when we are cutting lots of little things out.  I’m hoping that if I set these on the tables, students will throw their trash in these instead of the floor.  

mini trashcans in high school math classroom.

I’m trying out a new system for absent work this year.

absent work station in high school math classroom.

Handy Dandy Magnetic Holders for My Dry Erase Board

magnetic wall pouches in high school math classroom.

New and Improved Dry Erase Grid.  I did a terrible job of keeping last year’s grid updated.  I’m hoping that since this one has less information, I will be more apt to change it on a daily basis.  

Whiteboard in high school math classroom with date written as a math problem, daily holiday, and quote of the week.

Every day, I write the date as a math problem.  My students HATE this.  This year, I am also posting a holiday each day.  I found an Internet site that lists all of the crazy, wacky holidays and what day they are on.  So, each day, I pick the most interesting one and post it for my students.  I’m still not sure how many students have actually noticed this.  I have had a few conversations with students who were extremely confused about why the board said “Sneak some zucchini onto your neighbor’s porch” day.  

writing today's date as a math problem on dry erase board.

For the Quote of the Week, I am using quotes I have already printed and laminated!  These quotes are stored in the back of my absent work box for easy access.  I’ve learned that there are never enough hours to get everything done in your classroom so it is important to make things as easy as possible on yourself.  

quote of the week poster in high school math classroom.

Here’s a look at my right hand wall upon entering my classroom. You can download the number line poster I have hanging on the wall here.

high school math classroom decorations

I downloaded and printed these great posters of the Standards of Mathematical Practice in kid-friendly language from Everybody is a Genius

mathematical practice posters in high school math classroom.

Supply Table at Back of Classroom with Wire Organizer

table with cube organizers in high school math classroom.

Mini Dry Erase Boards – These are the most used item in my classroom!

dry erase boards with x y coordinate grid.

Dry Erase Markers and Erasers (The foam hair rollers work remarkably well!)  

dry erase markers and erasers in tubs.

Glue Sticks and Scissors

glue sticks and scissors in tubs.

Highlighters and Markers

highlighters and markers in tubs.

Rulers

rulers in plastic tub.

A box of colored pencils for each set of desks

pencil cases of colored pencils.

Pascal’s Triangle Bulletin Board – Last year, my college algebra students searched for patterns in Pascal’s Triangle and attempted to design their own triangle.  I laminated their results.  

pascal's triangle bulletin board

You can download these Truth Signs posters from my blog.

truth signs posters on cabinet in high school math classroom.

Bookshelf at Back of Classroom

bookshelf in high school math classroom.

Filing Cabinets

filing cabinets in high school math classroom.

The Window of Calculators

calculator station in high school math classroom.

Projects from last year that I couldn’t bear to throw away

student work displayed in high school math classroom.

My Wall of Windows

wall of windows in classroom with white curtains.

My Mom started this plant for me.  I wonder how long it will take me to kill it???  Let’s just say gardening and plant-tending is not one of my skills.  

plant in classroom.

Assignment Turn In Tray

assignment turn in tray with high school math classroom.

One of the free posters I got in the mail this summer

mona lisa smile pass it on poster.

More Math Posters. I wrote a post about places that will send you free math posters for your classroom.

math posters from American mathematical society hanging in high school math classroom.

Calculators Bulletin Board

calculators bulletin board in high school math classroom.

My Growing Collection of Mathematical Toys

arithmetic manipulative toys in high school math classroom.

Welcome Sign Above Smart Board (And a reminder of which way is left and which way is right…)

welcome to class poster and left/right signs hanging above smartboard in high school math classroom.

Star Students Bulletin Board – Students will have their name written on a star if they score an 85 percent or above on a chapter test.  Their name will remain up there until their next chapter test.

star students bulletin board in high school math classroom.

 Here’s one last picture to show you the view from the front of my classroom.

high school math classroom decorations

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13 Comments

  1. These are inspiring pictures. My class room is much smaller than this but i believe i can snag many of your setup ideas. I'll grab the out of pocket materials from bulkofficesupply.com

  2. This gets me excited about getting back into my classroom – we're not allowed back in them until next Thursday. I can't wait to rearrange and decorate. Also, I LOVE that you write the date as a math problem; I'm going to have to borrow that idea.

  3. What is the website where you found the crazy, wacky holidays? I absolutely love your blog!! I look forward to reading it daily. Confession- I have already stolen several ideas and have received a lot of good remarks on them from my coworkers (I do tell them where the ideas came from). I can only wish I was this creative.

  4. Your classroom looks fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing and giving me some great ideas. I love your blog and look forward to your posts. Good luck with the new school year.

  5. I love that you write the date as a math problem–I'm definitely going to start doing that. Where did you get those basketball trashcans? My students love playing "trashketball" and those would be perfect!

  6. Beautiful! My favorite is the pi on the filing cabinet…gotta do that…have the numbers left over from the Die Cut alphabet from the dollar store…

    Love the date as math problem…stealing that…thanks!

    Best for a brilliant year. Did you take Jo Boaler's Stanford class? It is fabulous!

  7. Your classroom is awesome! Reminds me a lot of my favorite math teacher's room (: I recently started blogging myself – I have equal passions for math and art and I love creating things that combine the two. If you're interested, I'd love for you to check out my work: http://coffeecupcardioids.blogspot.com Any feedback is much appreciated!

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