Am I the only one without a classroom theme?

I feel like many teachers in the online world do themes but I have never actually seen a theme in "real life".:lol:

I know many teachers color coordinate and during the summer when I got my first job I considered it but once I thought about it I did not see the point. One teacher told me it was a waste of money and it was only for a cute factor.

My classroom is somewhat color coordinated but am I the only one without a theme?

And what is the reason teachers have themes?

 

I've never had a theme; it's not something I've ever seen here. My bulletin boards always have black backgrounds (I use vinyl tablecloths) and bright border; it's the closest I get to coordination.

 

I don't have a theme and I don't know of any teachers at my school who have one either. I do have all of my bb the same color with a similar color border.

I think that most people who have a theme just have coordinating accent pieces so maybe we don't even notice their theme.

 

No theme here - and I don't know anybody with one. I just like to use lots of bright colors.

 

I guess. No one at my school has a theme. I've observed in many classes and have never noticed a theme. Yes matching borders and boards but thats about all.

I just like my room to be colorful. Even if the colors are not exactly matching it just looks nice with a lot of color. My bulletins and border do not match.

 

Teachers in my area are about half and half. I use a theme because I like to tie everything together. I don't go overboard though.

 

For me...

I like to change things up and I like things to coordinate. A theme is a good way to do that. About 50% of the teachers in my school do themes so that also makes it fun.

With that being said, I'm taking a break from the themes this year and going with color-coordinated instead. I did find myself in theme-withdrawal so I've been doing a classroom theme series to get my fix. I really think it's just a personality thing.

 

I'm not a theme person either... That stuff just does not excite me in the least!

 

I've always done a theme. Now that I'm in high school, my theme has to do with the content I teach.

 

I've never had a theme and the teachers at my school do not either. Everyone has very colorful bulletin boards outside of their classrooms. Our classrooms do not have bulletin boards. They were taken down so cubbies could be placed in the room. Also in the front of each classroom there's a very large white board and smartboard.

 

I'm going to be teaching 5th grade this coming year and I will not be having a theme in my classroom. None of the other 5th grade teachers have them either. In the building I student taught in I only recall one room with a theme. I'm not saying I'll never have one, but I have no plans for this year at least.

 

At least now I see I'm not the only one.

 

If red, yellow, and blue is a theme - then I have one. That's about it.

I don't have time or money to spend on "cute" things. I just try to buy in those colors so everything seems to fit in the long run.

 

I've never had a theme. This year I'm going for the "color co-ordinated" theme. Everything I had pretty well matches, so I just went out and bought fabric for my bulletin boards and borders to match. I do love it!

 

I don't do a whole classroom theme. My classrooms have always been happy, bright, cheerful environments but never have had an encompassing overall theme...truthfully, I don't think anyone in my K-4 school does.

 

I never had a real theme until this past year when our new principal strongly encouraged us to use the school wide theme.

 

I don't have a theme and I don't think any of the other teachers in my past two schools had them either.

 

Exactly!

 

The only reason I have a theme in my classroom is to keep things coordinated and looking put together as well as to look inviting to the kids. You can definitely do that without having a theme! Some people like things to be more random, and that works as well! Do what you want to do and what feels good to you!

 

I've never had a theme. I just try to make the room inviting to learners.

 

my "theme" is polka dots/bright colors, but it's been an inexpensive one. When I purchase something I choose a polka dotted option if there is one. Otherwise, I go with a neon color (usually green.)

 

I like to do a theme but many teachers don't. A lot of teachers seem to like to do bright colors. I don't overdo the theme though. I try to take something from the curriculum, so it is not just based on being "cute". Last year I taught 5th and did astronomy and I was going to keep the same theme this year, but I found out I was moving to 4th. Explorers is a big unit for social studies so I am using that as my theme and I plan on keeping it next year. Our whole 4th grade team does a theme, but in 5th we all did our own thing.

 

No, no theme in my classroom, nor in any of the other rooms in my school. We put up lots of pictures, posters, etc., that have to do with our current studies, as well as lots of student work.

 

Now this I understand. A theme that goes with curriculum. Thats a good idea.

 

I like for my room to look attractive, fun, and organized. Themes are not that important to me. I teach third grade and I feel like I have a million other things to focus on. However I think themes would be fun if you have the time and creativity to incorporate themes into your lessons.

 

I agree with you! My 'theme' just means all my bulletin borders will match! Some teachers in my school use a theme, and it always ties in with something they will be spending a lot of time studying, but most don't. Generally the rooms have a color-coordinated thing going, but sometimes there is SO much on those bulletin boards that I wonder how the kids concentrate in their rooms! Less is more in my opinion, but I do want it to match.

 

For my first year, I am doing a 'frog' theme just because I really like frogs. I may or may not continue to do themes because it does cost quite a bit to keep changing things year after year. Though I was debating on just keeping the frog theme until I got tired of it, as one teacher I know (who retired this year) has had a bear theme going for 25 or so years now!

 

I don't have a theme and never have. My room is more or less color coordinated with a majority of things in bright green or blue- but I have plenty of things in other colors. Basically I have tried to keep to light wod, and bright colors.

 

It gives me direction--otherwise I would just buy a bunch of borders that I thought were cute. I've done places lately NYC, China. I don't know what I'm going to do this year yet. It's fun for the kids. When I did the beach they had a little pool in their library center. Hollywood-our word wall was a Word Hall of Fame. It's certainly not necessary but it's fun!

 

Okay, I did do a theme last year. It was "Under the Sea." It started out with a door decoration that said "Catch a Wave into Second Grade" with surfboards with each students name on it.. I may do it again because the kids seemed to enjoy it, or I'll use some little fish die-cuts I found with some other phrase-- haven't totally decided yet. My bulletin board in my classroom has a blue background with a fish border and then my library corner is called "Reading Reef." I made a hook coming down from the ceiling and I used a blue vinyl tablecloth to look like the corner was under water. Next to it is a sign that says "Get hooked on a book." There's also some cutesy fish decor in the library corner. Now that may seem like a lot, but that's as far as it goes. I didn't make any effort throughout the year to keep up with the theme and I'll probably leave it all up for this year too. It's just a little extra splash of color without going overboard. Now our kindergarten teachers are fully committed to their theme. One did monkeys and the other did cutesy monsters. Our fourth grade teacher did a nautical theme that turned out great as well. For me, having a theme just gives me a way to anchor my decorating ideas without going in 50 different directions.

 

I never have used a theme, but have considered it, and am actually considering it for next year.

 

I just talked to a friend of mine who is a teacher who told me that she wanted to change her color scheme to only be 2-3 colors. I would try to do that but even that can get expensive.

 

I have always had a bee/garden theme but I don't know anyone at my school who has one.

 

Same here! I have never actually seen a classroom with a theme, other than pictures online.

I thought about doing a theme, but decided to do a common color theme instead (just to make my room look more clean and calm).

 

Also, I work part-time at a teacher store, and there are MANY teachers who come in looking for theme ideas. The most popular, by far, is frogs.

 

Ive done themes for the past three years. I did Hollywood, Jungle, Under the Sea. It lasts for about a quarter. I decorate the room that way, their nametags, beginning of year letters etc.

This year Im trying to make it simple and just do my blues and greens that I used last year and do a monster theme. Who knows how it will work.

 

Most in our school do a theme, though it's not required. It helps to tie in consistency throughout the room, and it's fun. There are many different themes (frogs, polka dots, Raggedy Ann & Andy, Crayons, specific color themes, sports, etc...). My theme is Dr. Seuss. I tie in bright colors, but am beginning to slowly transfer my theme to neon blue and green colors.

 

I use a theme. I did not always do so. I find that the theme helps me tie things together. For me, it is not so much decorative (although I do decorate) but more a structural thing. For example, my most recent theme was detective. Each child was named a detective, given a cover story and cover name and was encouraged to "solve cases" through good grades and good behavior. We had clues (points) that could be earned by certain behaviors and achievements. We had bulletin boards written in secret codes. We had agency cards (used to record points) and dead drops (used to turn in homework). Additionally, we had classroom privileges awarded as you reached each promotion level. So, for me, the decor is secondary, though it always adds to the ambiance of the theme. All of my awards, incentives, behavior plan and class procedures tie into my theme. I have done many variations and all have been successful. Kids love themes and buy in to the concept. However, you can be successful without a theme as well. I really gravitate to them now because I find it a great way to motivate students and encourage and reward their efforts.

 

I don't have a "decorative theme." But a slight theme based upone what I'm teaching that week. I find that I need flexibility if its something that I don't want to continue doing the entire school year. Especially since I have so many other things going on...

 

I have done a theme nearly every year. Last year was a jungle, this year is a kindergarten camp. I find that it helps me tie everything together visually, and I have always enjoyed doing themes. I guess it really just comes down to a teacher's personal preference. :0)