Classroom Displays - theory and practice October 18, 2008
Posted by Linda in : classroom display , add a commentClassroom displays advice to students
I am occasionally contacted by students, teachers or TAs, who want to read about some of the theories that underpin our use of classroom displays in schools. These are books that explore the reasons behind our use of displays rather than give us ideas for making them. There isn’t a massive amount of current research available but I have some standard advice I hand out to students and I thought the start of the new academic year might be a good moment to share it.
Classroom Displays Books
First, great, but you could struggle to find it as it’s out of print:
Display in the Classroom: Principles, Practice and Learning Theory (Paperback)
by Hilary Cooper (Author), Phil Hegarty (Author), Penny Hegarty (Author), Neil Simco (Author)
Publisher: David Fulton Publishers Ltd (23 May 1996)ISBN-10: 185346404 ISBN-13: 978-1853464041
This one actually looks at the theories but be aware it’s 10 years out of date!
Also:
Primary Practicals for CPD: Rules of Display - The Essential Guide to Nursery and Primary Classroom Displays (The Completely Practical Development Series)
By Lynn Taylor
These mention displays in passing:
Chambers, A (1995). The reading environment: How adults help children enjoy books.. York: Stenhouse.
Johnstone (1994). Teaching Modern Languages at Primary School Approaches and Implications . Scotland: SCRE.
Pgs 34-6
Smith, A & Call, N (2002) The ALPS Approach, Bodmin, MPG Books LTD.
Pgs 194 -199
Anything by Reggio Emilia
but you’ll have to really root around to find some direct relevance.
Lella Gandini, just about anything she’s written - she is cited in Tarr’s paper but she’s really talking about the Reggio approach.
Papers
Tarr,P (2004). Consider the Walls. Journal of the National Association for the Education of Young Children
Theory Into Practice
2007, Vol. 46, No. 1, Pages 40-47
(doi:10.1207/s15430421tip4601_6)
Teresa Strong-Wilson
Department of Integrated Studies in Education, McGill University
Julia Ellis, Faculty of Education, University of Alberta.
My best advice is to join the Classroom Displays flickr group, look at other people’s displays, decide what you like and try to analyse what’s good and bad about it, post your own efforts and ask for feedback. Get involved!!!
There’s also my usefulwiki site classroom displays workshop
And of course the Classroom Displays bookshop
Your favourite classroom displays theory books
If you know of any other good theory books please add them in the comments. Let’s see if we can put together a really comprehensive list of classroom displays books.
Quick Autumn Displays - The Thinking Tree September 28, 2008
Posted by Linda in : classroom display, pshe, quick display , add a comment
66/365 - 9/26/2008, originally uploaded by snelly23.
I couldn’t resist this great quick display for Autumn! The maker says:
I was looking for real fall leaves to photograph on Monday, the first day of fall, and I failed. Our class used “glue paint” over and under tissue squares on construction paper to make these shiny fall leaves.
I love the tree with its ‘glue paint’ leaves and it’s wonderful affirmative messages. I’d love to add some photos of class members caught doing and being all of these great things, and to add some affirmations of their own, perhaps on more leaves building up at the base of the display, over this term.
People are always looking for 3d tree displays and I think this is a simple but excellent example.
Everything you always wanted to know about making classroom displays August 27, 2008
Posted by Linda in : displays advice , 3comments
Everything you always wanted to know about making classroom displays?
Everything about classroom displays?
That’s a huge claim isn’t it? I think we can start to build something like it though if we all put our heads together. This blog has a large readership and I’m convinced that between us we could answer most questions people can come up with so that’s what this post is all about.
It’s a funny time of year for classroom displays. Most people in the UK are either just back, or just about to go back to school. Boards are empty and if you are very organised you’ve backed them and got up something to welcome the new class.
Filling Your Empty Classroom Displays Boards
Lots of you will have spent time, usually in the ’so-called’ holidays getting your classroom just the way you want it and now you have a blank canvas.
- How can we help you fill it up?
- What do you want to know about?
- Are you stuck for design ideas?
- Do you need practical tips?
- Are there some subjects that you just can’t think of an interesting way to display?
What to do next and where
Ask your questions in the comments of this post and let’s see if we can come up with some great classroom displays solutions.
While you’re there, if you see a question about classroom displays that you know how to solve please feel free to add your own answers.
Language of the month displays July 17, 2008
Posted by Linda in : Family learning, Languages, children's voice , 3comments
These wonderful language displays are courtesy of Joe Debono and his school Newbury Primary in Ilford, Redbridge in London.
There are over 40 languages spoken in the school and Language of the Month was introduced to help the children to learn a little about and share each other’s languages.
As well as displays the initiative includes online audio visual resources and specially designed simple games.
I think the initiative is fantastic and it will give a real sense of validation and respect to children and their families for whom English is not their first language.
Online Resources and Downloads
The school hasn’t stopped there though. They’ve made all these resources freely available via their web site. You can hear children speaking simple words in their own languages, download the activity booklet which has suggestions for over a 100 games and other pdf files to help you put up your own language of the month displays.
I’m going to use it myself to try to master a few simple words from languages I might encounter amongst my students next year. How about you?
On safari - a jungle in the classroom June 27, 2008
Posted by Linda in : Art, KS1 , 4comments 
On safari through the jungle - in the classroom, originally uploaded by LindaH.
Transformational classroom displays are particularly popular in early years and key stage 1 settings. This reading area has become a jungle, complete with an elephant,lion and tiger. Most of the animals have been made and painted by the children, with some adult assistance. The result is a high interest area with lots to talk about.
Making displays like this can be a huge stimulus for speaking and listening but once the display is up staff often need to make an effort to remember to keep referring to elements in the display. Adding labels and other text can re-vitalise a display. A favourite addition is laminated speech bubbles so that asking questions like “How does the elephant feel today?” can give the children even more opportunity for expression and contribute to a text rich environment.
Once children and staff get used to the display and it looses its “wow” factor it has to go. There’s a great temptation with displays like this to forget their purpose and treat them like pretty wallpaper.
Displays like this need to be treated with a little caution. Whilst it can be great fun to transform a whole classroom too much stimulation can be very challenging for some children. Keeping some areas visually quiet and uncluttered is also a consideration.
