I know there are scores of YouTube videos on classroom decorations, but there doesn't seem to be much for the teacher who won't have access to a Dollar Tree or other discount store while teaching (not to mention having to haul supplies across the globe).
What do you bring with you? What do you wish you had with you? I'm trying to buy little bits and pieces before I go, because I do not want to spend a fortune, and I have no idea what they will provide me with. Teacher supply stores abroad tend to be...bland and expensive.
Please, give me your suggestions and ideas.
Fun Question--Decorating your IS Classroom? What to bring?
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yoganinja77
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Wed May 10, 2017 7:01 am
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Thames Pirate
- Posts: 1150
- Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 8:06 am
Re: Fun Question--Decorating your IS Classroom? What to brin
I have one large poster tube FULL of posters of all sizes and types, including several personalised ones. Beyond that I decorate with student work or things I make in the location (print and laminate). Keep it simple IMO. I do, however, bring a few items that are harder to find--silver sharpies for labelling dark items, a pack or two of mechanical pencils and ballpoint pens (amazing how expensive those can be in some places), my curriculum materials (working on getting them digitised, but not done yet--did give a few binders to student teachers, though!), and a few personal items. So a small box and a poster tube is plenty.
Response
You dont. A couple observations:
1) If there is one continuity in IE regardless of where you go, there is some kind of "discount" store that sells cheap stuff just about everywhere.
2) You will probably find a lot of stuff needs to be ordered through your IS supplier, or other purchasing process.
3) You have no idea what your ISs policies are going to be. Some ISs let ITs decorate how they want. Some want almost utility sterilized classrooms. In Denmark ITs werent allowed to hang anything up that wasnt approved and stamped by the HOD, and it was a very small list. IB posters and things like a periodical table of elements.
4) No idea where you are going, but you may very well not actually have your own room. You could be in an IS that has a IT coral or faculty offices and you share classrooms, meaning each classroom doesnt get much individualization. In departmentalized primary ITs may move between rooms with carts/baskets, or you may be a specialist IT who teaches from a cart.
5) What you think is appropriate may be absolutely inappropriate in another culture. One IT was arrested and released soon after for having a poster of the worlds different religions on their wall.
6) You need to start thinking of living and working on the economy. If you cant get something in your location, youll just be frustrated when you run out, it goes missing, is lost or breaks.
7) You may have to pay duty if you bring to much and it no longer falls under the definition of personal use.
8) Youre going to be the one lugging that stuff around, and you may very well be inheriting a fully stocked classroom.
9) You may find that things are incompatible between where you are and where your going. For example in JP dry erase/white board markers, are refillable, and some one on the staff or you will find that you are supposed to refill them, and the ink used in the markers you bring with you doesnt erase very well from the boards in the country you are in.
10) There is a certain degree of neediness that opens the purses of parents, etc. If parents want more decorations and stuff, its amazing what the PTA will come up with as a "new IT welcome special classroom gift", then you can spend their money and not yours. If you bring everything and spend your own money, no ones going to see a need to give you anything, and you probably wont be reimbursed.
1) If there is one continuity in IE regardless of where you go, there is some kind of "discount" store that sells cheap stuff just about everywhere.
2) You will probably find a lot of stuff needs to be ordered through your IS supplier, or other purchasing process.
3) You have no idea what your ISs policies are going to be. Some ISs let ITs decorate how they want. Some want almost utility sterilized classrooms. In Denmark ITs werent allowed to hang anything up that wasnt approved and stamped by the HOD, and it was a very small list. IB posters and things like a periodical table of elements.
4) No idea where you are going, but you may very well not actually have your own room. You could be in an IS that has a IT coral or faculty offices and you share classrooms, meaning each classroom doesnt get much individualization. In departmentalized primary ITs may move between rooms with carts/baskets, or you may be a specialist IT who teaches from a cart.
5) What you think is appropriate may be absolutely inappropriate in another culture. One IT was arrested and released soon after for having a poster of the worlds different religions on their wall.
6) You need to start thinking of living and working on the economy. If you cant get something in your location, youll just be frustrated when you run out, it goes missing, is lost or breaks.
7) You may have to pay duty if you bring to much and it no longer falls under the definition of personal use.
8) Youre going to be the one lugging that stuff around, and you may very well be inheriting a fully stocked classroom.
9) You may find that things are incompatible between where you are and where your going. For example in JP dry erase/white board markers, are refillable, and some one on the staff or you will find that you are supposed to refill them, and the ink used in the markers you bring with you doesnt erase very well from the boards in the country you are in.
10) There is a certain degree of neediness that opens the purses of parents, etc. If parents want more decorations and stuff, its amazing what the PTA will come up with as a "new IT welcome special classroom gift", then you can spend their money and not yours. If you bring everything and spend your own money, no ones going to see a need to give you anything, and you probably wont be reimbursed.
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yoganinja77
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Wed May 10, 2017 7:01 am
Re: Fun Question--Decorating your IS Classroom? What to brin
PsyGuy:
My last post was in a rich country, private school that barely doled out pens and paper, printers never worked, we were expected to decorate our classrooms to the nines, none of the tape or post-its would stick to anything, and the teacher supply stores were expensive and fully of downright garish items. Dry erase markers were like gold and constantly "disappeared." This go around, I'll keep mine in my teacher bag.
Laminating? LOL. Getting items printed locally? You kill me, PsyGuy. Ask the parents for simple items like tissues and sanitizer? If you want your head on a platter with admin, have at it.
I'll buy my stickers and pencils in bulk at the Dollar Tree and Target $1 bin. There are so many great items available here, and easy enough to stash with my baggage allowance. I won't make the same mistake twice. I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
If you go to certain countries and put up a world religions poster, you need to have your head examined.
So color me jaded, but I'm bringing my own bag of tricks, with great suggestions from the ISR community. Love the idea of a poster tube. Just bought a few metallic pens.
*Double-sided tape (that actually sticks)
*Patterned scrapbooking paper
*Hanging paper lanterns
*Rubber cement or tacky glue
Tell me more...
My last post was in a rich country, private school that barely doled out pens and paper, printers never worked, we were expected to decorate our classrooms to the nines, none of the tape or post-its would stick to anything, and the teacher supply stores were expensive and fully of downright garish items. Dry erase markers were like gold and constantly "disappeared." This go around, I'll keep mine in my teacher bag.
Laminating? LOL. Getting items printed locally? You kill me, PsyGuy. Ask the parents for simple items like tissues and sanitizer? If you want your head on a platter with admin, have at it.
I'll buy my stickers and pencils in bulk at the Dollar Tree and Target $1 bin. There are so many great items available here, and easy enough to stash with my baggage allowance. I won't make the same mistake twice. I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
If you go to certain countries and put up a world religions poster, you need to have your head examined.
So color me jaded, but I'm bringing my own bag of tricks, with great suggestions from the ISR community. Love the idea of a poster tube. Just bought a few metallic pens.
*Double-sided tape (that actually sticks)
*Patterned scrapbooking paper
*Hanging paper lanterns
*Rubber cement or tacky glue
Tell me more...
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Thames Pirate
- Posts: 1150
- Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 8:06 am
Re: Fun Question--Decorating your IS Classroom? What to brin
Obviously I don't use it all, but that poster tube fits a ton! That way I can find posters that work for what/where I am teaching and simply store the rest (possibly even in the classroom). And I am a mechanical pencil junkie with a tendency to lose or break them, so yes, I buy several multi-packs and put them in a suitcase.
I think those items you have learned you use a lot and you aren't sure you can buy elsewhere, you bring. But also economize and prioritize. You may or may not use it, but a small box of common items is not unreasonable. Beyond that, a bit of research might also be helpful--Amazon in your new country, average price of X, looking at pictures on the school website to get a sense of how classrooms look, and a decision on what's allowable for your shipping situation is easy enough.
Remember that you can always get a care package from home, have a visitor bring stuff, or pick something up on holiday if you find you need it.
I think those items you have learned you use a lot and you aren't sure you can buy elsewhere, you bring. But also economize and prioritize. You may or may not use it, but a small box of common items is not unreasonable. Beyond that, a bit of research might also be helpful--Amazon in your new country, average price of X, looking at pictures on the school website to get a sense of how classrooms look, and a decision on what's allowable for your shipping situation is easy enough.
Remember that you can always get a care package from home, have a visitor bring stuff, or pick something up on holiday if you find you need it.
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jbiersteker
- Posts: 121
- Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2012 10:38 am
Re: Fun Question--Decorating your IS Classroom? What to brin
I find that I pick up posters at the tourist spots that I visit. Pretty easy to carry with you and its nice to hang "stories" on your walls.
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peachestotulips
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2015 6:24 am
Re: Fun Question--Decorating your IS Classroom? What to brin
The way my classroom is decorated and set-up means a lot to my piece of mind! I've learned that it's worth bringing up the school's policies, the logistics about the classroom's operations, and the availability of the supplies before signing a contract for all the reasons Psyguy stated above. I can't work for a school that won't allow me and my students to make it our own learning space in terms of the decor. I worked for a school like that before and it was so creatively stifling I almost died. I absolutely need to have visual cohesiveness and organization in my room.
I have a tremendous disdain for Comic Sans so my antipathy for this horrid, ugly font led me to start designing my own posters, lesson planner, and anything else I need. As long as I have access to (or can purchase my own once in the country) an inkjet printer I make everything in Powerpoint or Google Slides. Whatever I make from Teachers Pay Teachers sales goes right back into my personal materials and with the vast amount of resources there, I don't need to lug paper decor around from country to country. Creating and prepping the resources is time consuming at the beginning of the year, but I actually like that part. I'm that one teacher who owns a personal laminator. Fight me.
What you bring really depends on which country you're going to. If there is an Ikea within a drivable distance I wouldn't worry too much about storage containers and organizational materials. A few years ago I created an exhaustive 'master checklist' of the basic supplies that I use faithfully and frequently. It's pertinent to research about the stability of a country's postal system, and when I'm in contact with a current employee I will ask about the availability of certain items or reliable online shops similar to Amazon there. If I can't find it there, I bring it.
I hate it when teachers leave behind their old, decrepit materials for me to sort through unless we've previously made arrangements about an item. "Yes I'll take that 1-120s pocket chart! No I don't want that days of the week/months of the year/weather chart you made 5 years ago."
I avoid shopping at those teachers' stores for decorations without knowing the color scheme of the room beforehand. I've learned that hanging fabric on bulletin boards looks better and lasts longer than using butcher paper. Many of the book publishers like Heinemann and Scholastic sell ebook versions of just about everything I need curriculum wise so I've reduced the number of personal teacher books I actually carry.
Until I know how secure my room is I won't leave any of the little things there that I deem valuable. At one school, the TAs stayed an hour later than the teachers and the doors were always open with people drifting in and out. Teachers reported small things missing all the time.
Yeah, nobody is touching my flair pens, Scento markers, and metallic Sharpies. Nobody.
Basic utility items were more valuable than the decor at this school. Things such as a paper trimmer, velcro, duct tape, Goo-Gone, zip ties, batteries, Modge Podge, and/or Command hooks are a few of the items that I must have before I begin to think about decorating. A variety of dice, playing cards, and loose leaf rings are also necessary for me. In one school, staplers and staples were difficult to find anywhere in the city. As soon as my stapler went kaput I was completely out of luck.
My personal classroom library is the biggest piece of 'decor' that I have so a decent shipping allowance is vital for me. Missing books used to bother me, but I've learned that as long as my kids love a book, I don't mind if it somehow ends up permanently in their hands because that's the entire point anyways.
Also, depending on the country keep in mind that materials for activities might not be available if you care about student birthday gifts, family holiday crafts, or even cards. I knew last year that I wanted to use Astrobrights paper for this year's Mother's and Father's Day crafts so I brought them with me.
Definitely bring a hefty supply of those writing utensils that make your teacher heart happy and hoard them at home. But teachers...just say NO to Comic Sans.
I have a tremendous disdain for Comic Sans so my antipathy for this horrid, ugly font led me to start designing my own posters, lesson planner, and anything else I need. As long as I have access to (or can purchase my own once in the country) an inkjet printer I make everything in Powerpoint or Google Slides. Whatever I make from Teachers Pay Teachers sales goes right back into my personal materials and with the vast amount of resources there, I don't need to lug paper decor around from country to country. Creating and prepping the resources is time consuming at the beginning of the year, but I actually like that part. I'm that one teacher who owns a personal laminator. Fight me.
What you bring really depends on which country you're going to. If there is an Ikea within a drivable distance I wouldn't worry too much about storage containers and organizational materials. A few years ago I created an exhaustive 'master checklist' of the basic supplies that I use faithfully and frequently. It's pertinent to research about the stability of a country's postal system, and when I'm in contact with a current employee I will ask about the availability of certain items or reliable online shops similar to Amazon there. If I can't find it there, I bring it.
I hate it when teachers leave behind their old, decrepit materials for me to sort through unless we've previously made arrangements about an item. "Yes I'll take that 1-120s pocket chart! No I don't want that days of the week/months of the year/weather chart you made 5 years ago."
I avoid shopping at those teachers' stores for decorations without knowing the color scheme of the room beforehand. I've learned that hanging fabric on bulletin boards looks better and lasts longer than using butcher paper. Many of the book publishers like Heinemann and Scholastic sell ebook versions of just about everything I need curriculum wise so I've reduced the number of personal teacher books I actually carry.
Until I know how secure my room is I won't leave any of the little things there that I deem valuable. At one school, the TAs stayed an hour later than the teachers and the doors were always open with people drifting in and out. Teachers reported small things missing all the time.
Yeah, nobody is touching my flair pens, Scento markers, and metallic Sharpies. Nobody.
Basic utility items were more valuable than the decor at this school. Things such as a paper trimmer, velcro, duct tape, Goo-Gone, zip ties, batteries, Modge Podge, and/or Command hooks are a few of the items that I must have before I begin to think about decorating. A variety of dice, playing cards, and loose leaf rings are also necessary for me. In one school, staplers and staples were difficult to find anywhere in the city. As soon as my stapler went kaput I was completely out of luck.
My personal classroom library is the biggest piece of 'decor' that I have so a decent shipping allowance is vital for me. Missing books used to bother me, but I've learned that as long as my kids love a book, I don't mind if it somehow ends up permanently in their hands because that's the entire point anyways.
Also, depending on the country keep in mind that materials for activities might not be available if you care about student birthday gifts, family holiday crafts, or even cards. I knew last year that I wanted to use Astrobrights paper for this year's Mother's and Father's Day crafts so I brought them with me.
Definitely bring a hefty supply of those writing utensils that make your teacher heart happy and hoard them at home. But teachers...just say NO to Comic Sans.
Reply
@yoganinja77
Sounds like the type of IS to pull a runner from sooner rather than later. My "expectation" is not to use my salary as a supplemental resourcing budget.
I generally dont shop at IT/DT supply stores. They always seem to be more focused on the home/community schooling or tutoring groups.
Ive had post its that dont stick to anything, imperfect world I suppose.
I dont use dry erase markers, I use a smart board. Take that back I do use dry erase markers, sometimes, but its not a huge deal for me.
I dont ask them for those things, I simply dont provide them. Want hand sanitizer and tissue, bring your own, i do.
I dont use stickers, stickers arent learning, theyre stickers. Pencils, Ive found them pretty cheap everywhere in the world.
Id rather not have it. full stop. Ive taught with a stick in the dirt.
Id rather use my baggage space for an extra pair of shoes, than a poster tube.
This IT didnt get their head examined, but it was a learning experience.
Problem with your list:
Double sided sticky tape might not be allowed, and some leadership will blow a blood vessel if you stick something to their preciously newly painted walls or cabinets. Thats just one possible outcome.
I dont scrapbook, I use a blog.
Students can make their own lanterns.
Rubber cement/glue buy locally.
I do like my metallic sharpies, and I bring my own, as well as my kitchen knife.
@peachestotulips
I like Comic Sans, its probably my favorite font for printables. Its a cute font.
I do not own a personal laminator, and cant imagine a reason why I would want to, there is enough plastic already in the world.
I agree with the decrepit junk previous ITs leave behind. Its never good stuff, and is often little more than junk they didnt have time to or didnt care to throw away.
I didnt leave my favorites in my classroom either, I shuttled them back and forth in my knapsack, but I only had a few items.
i dont understand why things like staples are so hard for an IS to figure out. My belief is that leadership feels they can save some coin, knowing that ITs will spend their own coin on certain basics, that they just have to have.
I dont maintain a personal classroom library anymore.
I dont do cards for birthdays or parents days or other holidays.
Things dont make my teacher heart happy.
Sounds like the type of IS to pull a runner from sooner rather than later. My "expectation" is not to use my salary as a supplemental resourcing budget.
I generally dont shop at IT/DT supply stores. They always seem to be more focused on the home/community schooling or tutoring groups.
Ive had post its that dont stick to anything, imperfect world I suppose.
I dont use dry erase markers, I use a smart board. Take that back I do use dry erase markers, sometimes, but its not a huge deal for me.
I dont ask them for those things, I simply dont provide them. Want hand sanitizer and tissue, bring your own, i do.
I dont use stickers, stickers arent learning, theyre stickers. Pencils, Ive found them pretty cheap everywhere in the world.
Id rather not have it. full stop. Ive taught with a stick in the dirt.
Id rather use my baggage space for an extra pair of shoes, than a poster tube.
This IT didnt get their head examined, but it was a learning experience.
Problem with your list:
Double sided sticky tape might not be allowed, and some leadership will blow a blood vessel if you stick something to their preciously newly painted walls or cabinets. Thats just one possible outcome.
I dont scrapbook, I use a blog.
Students can make their own lanterns.
Rubber cement/glue buy locally.
I do like my metallic sharpies, and I bring my own, as well as my kitchen knife.
@peachestotulips
I like Comic Sans, its probably my favorite font for printables. Its a cute font.
I do not own a personal laminator, and cant imagine a reason why I would want to, there is enough plastic already in the world.
I agree with the decrepit junk previous ITs leave behind. Its never good stuff, and is often little more than junk they didnt have time to or didnt care to throw away.
I didnt leave my favorites in my classroom either, I shuttled them back and forth in my knapsack, but I only had a few items.
i dont understand why things like staples are so hard for an IS to figure out. My belief is that leadership feels they can save some coin, knowing that ITs will spend their own coin on certain basics, that they just have to have.
I dont maintain a personal classroom library anymore.
I dont do cards for birthdays or parents days or other holidays.
Things dont make my teacher heart happy.
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Thames Pirate
- Posts: 1150
- Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 8:06 am
Re: Fun Question--Decorating your IS Classroom? What to brin
Blah blah self-aggrandizement and selfish disdain for the profession. As if he had a teacher heart.
Bring things you think you might want or need based on your style, shipping allowance, and school. Ignore the negativity from PsyGuy. There isn't a "right" answer here.
Bring things you think you might want or need based on your style, shipping allowance, and school. Ignore the negativity from PsyGuy. There isn't a "right" answer here.
Reply
@Thames Pirate
Which doesnt make it less and untrue. No more than you and your poster tube, a symptom of a traveler who cant leave their home behind. Those who must bring everything with them because every other country must be so horrible without western post it notes and dry erase markers.
Which doesnt make it less and untrue. No more than you and your poster tube, a symptom of a traveler who cant leave their home behind. Those who must bring everything with them because every other country must be so horrible without western post it notes and dry erase markers.
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Thames Pirate
- Posts: 1150
- Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 8:06 am
Re: Fun Question--Decorating your IS Classroom? What to brin
There is no "true," just preference. And apparently ironic ad hominem from you. Way to bring negativity into a "fun" thread.
Back to the topic:
I like reading what other people like. I hate double sided tape, for example, and I don't have a font passion for posters or signs as long as I can read them. I haven't heard of half the stuff mentioned, but I teach secondary, where things are different. I did finally part with the last of my classroom library, but I can easily get books here and am enjoying finding new ones.
I find my posters adequate for almost anything--I own a range, and they are a simple way to brighten almost any place I end up while being curriculum appropriate and reflective of my style and preferences. The metallic sharpies and mechanical pencils are split between home and school. And yes, I have found staplers to be an issue in some places; I own two and a box of staples. Binder clips for sorting stacks of work are also lightweight, so I have a box of those. That's pretty much it, and it all fits in that tube or a small box. Well, and the not yet digitized curriculum materials in another box for now.
Back to the topic:
I like reading what other people like. I hate double sided tape, for example, and I don't have a font passion for posters or signs as long as I can read them. I haven't heard of half the stuff mentioned, but I teach secondary, where things are different. I did finally part with the last of my classroom library, but I can easily get books here and am enjoying finding new ones.
I find my posters adequate for almost anything--I own a range, and they are a simple way to brighten almost any place I end up while being curriculum appropriate and reflective of my style and preferences. The metallic sharpies and mechanical pencils are split between home and school. And yes, I have found staplers to be an issue in some places; I own two and a box of staples. Binder clips for sorting stacks of work are also lightweight, so I have a box of those. That's pretty much it, and it all fits in that tube or a small box. Well, and the not yet digitized curriculum materials in another box for now.
Reply
@Thames Pirate
There is absolutely truth. Gravity exists is true. Water is wet is true. There are many things that have a state of "true".
Nor is it "negativity" because my preference does not share your preference. I prefer a more zen approach to "stuff", that less is more, and good teaching isnt about the tools but the artist behind them.
The only things that go on my walls are those that students have produced.
There is absolutely truth. Gravity exists is true. Water is wet is true. There are many things that have a state of "true".
Nor is it "negativity" because my preference does not share your preference. I prefer a more zen approach to "stuff", that less is more, and good teaching isnt about the tools but the artist behind them.
The only things that go on my walls are those that students have produced.
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wntriscoming
- Posts: 114
- Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2012 3:44 am
Re: Fun Question--Decorating your IS Classroom? What to brin
Flair pens
Expo dry erase markers
2-3 packs of bulletin board trim (same kind, cause you have no clue the size of the boards you'll have, but they'll really brighten up your room)
2 packs of 4" bulletin board letters cut-outs
My own stapler and tape dispenser (the ones in Asia have wicked-sharp teeth that constantly cut me)
A desk organizer for my pens and whatnot
Books I love and want to read to the kids
A framed picture of my family
One postcards from each of the places I've lived
Expo dry erase markers
2-3 packs of bulletin board trim (same kind, cause you have no clue the size of the boards you'll have, but they'll really brighten up your room)
2 packs of 4" bulletin board letters cut-outs
My own stapler and tape dispenser (the ones in Asia have wicked-sharp teeth that constantly cut me)
A desk organizer for my pens and whatnot
Books I love and want to read to the kids
A framed picture of my family
One postcards from each of the places I've lived
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Thames Pirate
- Posts: 1150
- Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 8:06 am
Re: Reply
PsyGuy wrote:
> good teaching isnt about the tools but the artist behind them.
>
Says the man who advocated students designing lessons and prepping materials, not marking, not reading (much less implementing) IEPs, not helping kids outside of class, not answering emails, not doing assigned duties, not collaborating with colleagues, and many other evasions of work. Sounds like true art . . . .
Sorry, it was just funny. Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.
I hadn't considered tape dispensers, but honestly I should bring one next time. If you get one at all here it's garbage!
> good teaching isnt about the tools but the artist behind them.
>
Says the man who advocated students designing lessons and prepping materials, not marking, not reading (much less implementing) IEPs, not helping kids outside of class, not answering emails, not doing assigned duties, not collaborating with colleagues, and many other evasions of work. Sounds like true art . . . .
Sorry, it was just funny. Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.
I hadn't considered tape dispensers, but honestly I should bring one next time. If you get one at all here it's garbage!
Re: Fun Question--Decorating your IS Classroom? What to brin
I love my big electric pencil sharpener! I bring my own Expo markers and I disagree that bringing stuff from home that I could get locally means I can't "let go." The local whiteboard markers here stain the board really quickly and nothing takes the stains off (probably because the boards aren't top quality). I like having lots of different colors, too. Plus, I can get things that are available here so much cheaper in the States and with a generous baggage allowance, I get more for my buck when it's time to order. A spiral notebook that costs $2 in the US might go for $5-7 here, so notebooks for my personal use for planning and notes I bring. I also bring my own Sharpies and I use the washi tape to segment off sections of my board. I teach MS but my kids always comment on how my room feels comfortable because there's some color in it. I have black bulletin boards so this summer I'm bringing back borders because they're hard to get here (or impossible).