If you haven’t tried using fabric on your bulletin boards yet, what are you waiting for? I’m sharing lots of classroom bulletin board ideas and tips, PLUS some pictures of my favorite bulletin boards over the years!
Using Fabric on Bulletin Boards
There are several reasons I love using fabric on my bulletin boards, but here are a few of the top ones!
- So many more color options!
- Fabric goes on a lot smoother than paper and
- It doesn’t rip or tear like paper
- It doesn’t show holes from push pins or staples as much as paper does
- The color lasts so much longer and doesn’t fade as quickly!
I get most of my fabric from JoAnn Fabrics! Also, my local stores told me that if you have fabric cut but it doesn’t work out, you can still return it to the store for a full refund if you don’t make any cuts to it! Definitely check with your local store before purchasing, but I thought that was good to know and it gave me a little more peace of mind!
The downside of fabric is that it’s a little more expensive! I waited until they had sales to buy my fabric! A lot of places also offer a teacher discount, so you can check with your store about that before purchasing to save a little extra money!
Also, because you might be wondering about my classroom walls… I have two walls that are completely tackable! Which means I can staple into them anywhere! It has allowed me to create my own bulletin board sizes, which I definitely appreciate!
Bulletin Board Borders
I get asked about my bulletin board borders all the time over on Instagram! They are designed by Schoolgirl Style, and I bought them off Amazon! You can get the black and white scalloped border in regular bulletin board strips, or in a long roll!
BULLETIN BOARD LETTER IDEAS
Use a Cricut to cut your bulletin board letters
All of the black bulletin board letters you see in my classroom are cut using my Cricut! I have the Cricut Explore Air 2 and it is incredible! It is so easy to use and you can cut out letters in any font that is on your computer!
Print letters and put them in frames
Another bulletin board letter idea is printing large letters and then putting the in black frames! I got this idea from my friend Hannah! You can follow her on Instagram @misswestbest! I made the letters in PowerPoint and then used old IKEA picture frames! I hot glued a thumb tack to the corners of the frames and then just pushed them into my bulletin boards!
I used the frames for our school’s PBIS bulletin board as well as our GOALS bulletin board!
Paper mache letters
The last thing I have done with my bulletin board letters is spray paint paper mache letters! These are fun because they have a 3D effect! I hot glue thumb tacks to the back of these letters as well to get them to stay up on my bulletin boards!
I’ve had these paper mache letters for years! Here’s a picture of them on my old writing bulletin board!
Other Classroom Display Spaces
I love using the space above my bulletin boards for display too! I have student artwork and our Accountable Talk Posters hanging up above our bulletin boards!
Other Classroom Display Spaces
You can also use white boards as “bulletin board” space! This whiteboard is behind my projector screen most of the day, but I use it to hang up my calendar, pictures, and this magnetic shelf is where I keep our current read aloud!
I also recently redid my classroom door and I’m loving how this space looks now! I created this digital file and got it printed in a banner size! Check out my Positive Affirmation Classroom Door post to read more about it!
Classroom cupboard doors are also a great place for displays! I have our classroom jobs displayed on one of our cupboards, and our sticker display on another! You can read all about my sticker storage + display here!
Bulletin Board Ideas + Inspiration
These are some more of my favorite bulletin boards over the past few years!
Reading graffiti wall – read more about it here!
Class Photo Wall – I used this to display pictures throughout the year! I got the pictures printed from Foxprint and then my students wrote the captions on them!
Interested in seeing more pictures and ideas from my classroom? You can read all about my classroom library here or some classroom organization ideas here!
You can also follow me over on Pinterest for more classroom setup and classroom organization ideas!
I also have a YouTube video with more bulletin board ideas + tips! Click the video below to watch!
Question…where did you get the colorful USA map? I love your ideas! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much! I painted the map! You can find the tutorial here: https://lessonswithlaughter.com///colorful-united-states-map-tutorial/
Where did you get the metal finding strips for your writing wall?
I’m curious what brand of fabric you bought? absolutely love those colors!!
Love your classroom! Question, what fonts did you use for “Readers are Leaders”?
Thank you!
I love your bright pink water bottle with the straw lid! Where did you get it?!
I love this post! Curious… do you cut your bulletin letters on card stock? laminate for reuse or just recur letters as needed? Any tips for hanging them up quick and straight the first time lol First year teacher here and my bulletin letters are giving me a run for my money
Hi! What font did you use for the bulletin boards? I love it!
Do you have a blog about your readers become leaders board? I love the book recommendation stufff!
Thank you for sharing! Could you tell me what font you used for the reading recommendations wall?
Where did you get the RACE graphics? I love it!
Love your ideas so much! Are the RACE writing posters available for purchase somewhere? Love them!
Your room is so beautiful! I just love the bulletin board colors. Any chance you remember exactly with fabric colors you used?
I love your classroom! Can you please share what font you use for your boards? Thank you!
May I ask what size are your bulletin boards?? They look like they can hold everybody’s work on all your boards.
I am just finishing up my elementary ed degree and can’t wait to get into the classroom. However, decorating and organizing my classroom seems very daunting right now. After looking at your wonderful ideas, I am super excited to get started. Thank you so much for sharing.
Congrats on finishing up your elementary ed degree!!! And thank you so much!! I’m so glad they are helpful!!!
Thank you for sharing all of your wonderful and creative ideas. For your Writing Wall…what are the metal pieces called that your friend encouraged you to use to hold the writing?
Thank you for your kind comment!!! They are called prong paper fasteners! Here’s a link to some I found on Amazon! https://amzn.to/37qAws4 I absolutely love using these for my writing wall!!!
Where did you find the math multiples and decimal posters?
Great ideas! I love your white and black border! Where did you get it from?
I LOVE your classroom!!! I want to recreate the Reading Recommendation board in my classroom. I was wondering if you sell or can tell me where to find the multicolored Book Recommendation cards you have displayed on the board where students clip their response to.
I love all your boards!! Especially the readers are leaders with the book recommendations.. .Do you have this on teachers pay teachers?
Hey, thanks for sharing so many good ideas!!! I would like to ask: which fabric do you use? I am looking for fabrics at stores right now, but not sure which one to choose
Thank you for the great ideas! Your classroom is beautiful and welcoming! How large are the bulletin board letters that you printed on the Cricut?
Love your classroom! What font do you use on the cricut for your bulletin board headers and hashtags, both the cursive and the regular print ones?
What font do you use for the cricut writing on your focus walls?
Love your boards! What font did you use for the book recommendations board? Thank you
Where did you purchase your bright colored fabric?
Hi Jaycee! I got most of mine from JoAnn Fabrics!
Do you know what type/kind of fabric you used? There are so many options! Curious what you have found that works best!
I just went to the solid color fabric section and picked out my favorite colors! They are all cotton! One of the colors I think is some kind of cotton blend because it is a little different from the others and not as stretchy, but I think the others are just cotton!
Where did you get your colorful multiplication facts posters?
They are from Ladybug’s Teacher Files! I got them from her Teachers Pay Teachers store!
I am absolutely in love with the font you used on the bulletin boards! Can I ask which font it is? I would love to create a bulletin like this in my classroom.
I am wrestling with how to display student writing this year – I have 110 fifth graders this year, so the prong folders won’t work for me. Do you think it is too harsh for me to show work that is particularly good on one bulletin board, rather than hanging up everyone’s? Obviously it won’t result in the instant portfolio at the end of the year, but maybe it will be incentive to “make the board?”
I love your colorful classroom! Where did you get the RACE posters on the peach colored writing bulletin board? I could really use some like that!
Where did you get your readers are leaders cards for the kids to post on for your bulletin board?
Hi Leslie!
They are in my store! You can get them here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Interactive-Book-Recommendations-4041436
Thank you so much! Love them.
Hello! What font did you use for the 5th Grade Family bulletin board and the Readers are Leaders bulletin board? I love it!
Hi, do you iron your fabric first?
Are you able to share what font you used for your bulletin board letters? Thanks 🙂