All summer, teachers prepare for students to return to the classroom. One of the biggest undertakings is how to decorate and stock supplies for their students. Some classrooms have trendy themes, while others are designed with diverse elements and fun ideas.
In honor of a new school year beginning at Mt. Lebanon School District, let’s take a behind-the-scenes look at how these teachers created their classrooms.
Adam Humes—Markham Elementary School
This marks Adam Humes’s 17th year teaching third grade, in a career spanning two decades. The classroom is filled with tidbits of Humes’s personality and special interests, from Pittsburgh sports to The Simpsons.
Humes created most of the decor for his classroom. “Luckily for me I have a little bit of an art background, so I am able to make many of my own decor in my room and around the school building. It’s not challenging, it just takes a lot of time,” he noted.
Whether students are there for homeroom, English or science class, Humes said, “I want them to feel comfortable and carefree. It’s their classroom and I want it to be the place they want to be.”
Regina Sandora—Jefferson Elementary School
This fourth grade classroom is designed with cohesive colors and happiness in mind. Sixth-year teacher Regina Sandora said this classroom is very different from her home, which is decorated with lots of neutral colors. “I also use a color-coding system to organize materials and subjects so my room reflects that,” she added.
Sandora found supplies and decorations for the room in a variety of places. Facebook Marketplace and thrift shops are where Sandora makes most of her purchases, but for specific items in mind, she places orders on Amazon or Target.
Above all, she wants students to feel confident and comfortable in their classroom. “I wanted to create a space that will be engaging and provide a safe space to make mistakes and grow,” she said. “The space clearly communicates that all are respected, welcome and belong.”
Chrissa Sullivan—Jefferson Middle School
The Family Consumer Sciences classroom has an inherent theme, because of the curriculum focused on cooking, nutrition, sewing and more. Entering her 13th year teaching at Jefferson Middle School, Chrissa Sullivan funds and curates the decorations in the classroom, while the school district provides essential equipment, such as the mixers.
She’s added her own cookbooks and decals to the room over the years, as well as organization elements. “The color-coding and labeling of the six kitchen labs were best practices to keep all students organized and accountable for their lab spaces, while adding interest and personality to each space” said Sullivan.
When students enter the kitchen labs, Sullivan wants them to feel welcome. “In keeping with my teaching philosophy, I want my classroom to be a student’s home away from home.”
Kaitlin Morris—Jefferson Elementary School
Taylor Swift, Barbie and bright pink are the standout features of this fifth grade classroom at Jefferson Elementary. Morris, who is entering her fifth year of teaching, said Jefferson is the first school to give her full creative freedom to decorate her classroom. “Because of that, I really embraced what makes me happy—bright colors and positive messages,” said Morris. “I feel like my room really represents my personality.”
Morris created a Teacher Wishlist on Amazon, where friends and family contributed to her classroom vision. She also used the popular local Facebook group, FreeBo, to find repurposed items from neighbors. “With a fresh coat of paint, a lot of older items have turned out to be really beautiful features of my room,” Morris said.
She hopes the positive messages and sunny decor both welcomes and inspires students when they enter the classroom. Morris hopes her students “recognize right away the love and effort that I have put into my classroom, because I want it to be a place they really enjoy.”
Take a look at some other classrooms and school decor in the slideshow below.
