Displays
Policy: Having interactive and current displays in the classrooms and around the building help to support children’s learning, development and reflect positive self-images by displaying their work, photos of the children and their families and provide a space to celebrate achievements.
Display boards in all rooms should be changed and updated monthly. Where possible each room should have a board with children’s work on which is updated daily to reflect what the children have been doing, and this should be visible to parents at pick up.
Guidance:
Displays of children’s work is one of the most important things you can have in your classroom. It promotes a sense of pride in their work and creations and show that you value them. Displays should also be nicely backed and presented. Here are the full range of displays you should have in your classroom. It is your responsibility, as team leader, to ensure that these are fully maintained.
Inspirational quotes for the staff
These can remind them why we do what we do! It can also help staff to be positive, and to give them a positive mindset about the work. We would recommend having up to 5 inspirational quotes around your classroom, which you change from time to time, for example every 6 weeks.
Behaviour rules relevant to the children
Some of your behaviour expectations and rules should be displayed in the classroom. These could be a set of ‘golden rules’ if you are in the older classrooms; or reminders (with signs) of expected behaviour, such as
- Put books back after you use them
- We use our gentle hands at gan
- Sleep time is quiet time
Children’s work and creations
Lots of displays boards full of the work that you have been doing in the classroom; from ‘free drawing or mark making’ to specific types of painting or projects you have been working on. Children’s work should be clearly named so they can be proud of their work, and clear explanations in Hebrew and English should be added. For example “We dipped string in paint and made pictures by using the wet string on our paper”
The alphabet and a number line
All classrooms should have an alphabet in English and Hebrew displayed, and a number line from 0 – 20 or more. These might be painted directly onto the wall or have another fun and funky style to display them. As the team leader it is your responsibility to make sure these are in place and renewed if required.
Family Photos
A family picture should be displayed for every child in the class. This shows we value all children, from all backgrounds. It is also a good idea to invite the staff to bring photos to include of their families also. When new children join the class part way through the year, you need to ensure that the display stays updated
Birthday board
There should be a birthday board, that shows the birthday of all the children in the classroom, again you could also add the staff. There are many ways of displaying birthdays, try to make sure yours is fun and exciting, but easy to read and follow. Click here for some visual ideas! Feel free to change or re-do your birthday board during the year if you feel if needs updating or you get some new inspiration!
Photos of the children at work and play
It is good practice to have photos of children playing, eating, sleeping, learning and using the space displayed in the classroom. Photo displays could also include things that children have made or built, such as a Lego model or a train track. This inspires children and makes them proud of their achievements. Photo displays can also be used to demonstrate to children how certain areas of the classroom or resources should be used.
Resources and further reading:
Creating Interactive Child Led Wall displays
Making displays work for children – A GOOD article
A learning journey approach to displays