what do you do to make your classroom feel more "inviting"

just wanted to see if anyone had any ideas to make their classroom feel more "homey" and inviting....I teach reading (elementary) and my classroom this year is rather big....so I was trying to think of ways to make it feel more inviting....thanks!

Re: what do you do to make your classroom feel more "inviting"

You could set up a reading corner with couches or bean bag charis..a little carpet and a nice lamp. I got really cute couches donated from the site donorschoose.org. You should check it out..i think all NYC schools can use the site. I acutally got many things donated for my classroom from that site!!

Re: what do you do to make your classroom feel more "inviting"

i put fabric in rich colors and ribbon or ruffle trim on the bulletin boards. it makes it feel more like a library than a classroom, which works for my purposes because it gives it a warm but sophisticated ambiance that lets my middle-schoolers know that it's a friendly place, but it's no elementary school. i also don't have to replace it year after year.

Re: what do you do to make your classroom feel more "inviting"

Make sure if you use fabric or bring in furniture or anything that you clear it with your custodian and that it's fire-safe to your district's standards. When we had fire inspection at the end of the year they made me get rid of my nice chair b/c it only met California's safety requirements, lol... sigh

Re: what do you do to make your classroom feel more "inviting"

if I see a poster or some other decoration that we like, I try and make it by hand. When I worked in the city we weren't allowed to have store made posters, everything had to be teacher made. I know it sounds silly, but I feel like it looks more inviting to have teacher made stuff decorating (not that posters looks bad!)

Re: what do you do to make your classroom feel more "inviting"

I made these wavy curtains out of bulletin board paper and stuck them on the shades. Then I trimmed it with my border and it looked really cute!

Ive seen another teacher in my building use lights from ikea, she bought a candy machine, an old looking pop corn maker (a mini size one), lamps, bean bags,
she made a computer hut and used these two small palm looking trees as chairs... i LOVED her classroom!

Re: what do you do to make your classroom feel more "inviting"

This year I am putting a nice rug and a big comfy "dorm room type" chair in the reading area....... I think it will look very nice!

I also plan on making the room look a lot more organized. Last year I wasn't as organized as I could have been but it was my first year, so that's my excuse!

I feel like when a room is VERY organized, it automatically looks more inviting because it looks like a place u can function in and easily be able to find things.

I really liked the other suggestions too from precious posters!

Message edited 8/23/2009 7:33:42 PM.

Re: what do you do to make your classroom feel more "inviting"

I just bought to "dorm room" butterfly chairs- they were $18 at Target!