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Back to School
Grades:
Middle School
Welcome kids to your classroom in style!
ByWe Are Teachers Staff
Jul 16, 2024
Ready to deck the school halls and welcome everyone to your classroom? These back-to-school bulletin board ideas are exactly what you need, including displays created by teachers in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE Facebook group. There’s something here to match every teacher personality, and lots of them are easy enough for anyone to do.Make this your best back to schoolever!
1. Hispanic Heritage
Hispanic Heritage Month starts in September so we think this is the perfect back-to-school bulletin board idea. It would work especially well in an art class since it features famous Hispanic artist Frida Kahlo. Have each of your students create their own self-portrait to display as well.
2. Bienvenidos
We absolutely adore this cute idea for a Spanish teacher’s classroom. Create this bright and happy bulletin board using little more than some card stock and your imagination. The best part? The sun’s rays with each of the students’ Spanish and English names on them.
3. Amazing Authors
This would be a clever bulletin board to welcome students back to a library or an ELA classroom.
4. Book Recommendations
This bulletin board or case cover idea is a great way to merge summer reading with an ELA curriculum for the new school year. Use books on the left side that your students might have read over the break and match them up with some awesome suggestions.
ADVERTIsem*nT
5. Writing Center
It can be hard for students to get back into the groove of going to school all day, especially with all the extra reading and writing required of little brains. This cute and homey writing center setup can make the transition back to school easier.
6. Math Center
Similar to the writing center, we love this math center idea for welcoming students back to the classroom. Teacher Hilary Statum utilizes some great Ikea hacks in addition to the cute bulletin board.
7. Tell Me Something Good
Teacher Nicole says, “If you have an extra bulletin board, I highly recommend this. Students share good things from their week, and I read a few on Fridays. They share the small stuff, from waking up on time to placing in a race or sharing they got to eat their favorite food. My students look forward to this every week!”
8. Reading Matters
Back-to-school bulletin boards that instill a love of reading are a great way to start off any school year. Create a bulletin board or label cabinet doors with the words “Reading Matters to Me Because …” and then have students create signs about why it does.
9. Reading Vibes
This is a cute way to assess how your students feel about reading throughout the year while teaching a statistics lesson as well! You can get the entire grade involved by sharing the stats for all of the classrooms.
10. Smart Cookies
This adorable bulletin board is the perfect way to welcome very young students, like pre-K or kindergarten, back to school with a friendly and silly face: Cookie Monster! Use a variety of cookie types for each of the students’ names.
11. Love Languages
This is a great way to welcome upper elementary all the way through high school students back to school. Let them know they are loved right off the bat while also giving them agency to decide which love language best applies to them.
12. Retro Gameplay
Even if students don’t recognize Pac-Man, teachers will certainly appreciate the dose of nostalgia.
13. A Good Message
This concept is so simple yet it conveys an important message to students. We love the idea of welcoming middle or high school students back to school with a reminder that things are going to be OK.
14. News Center
Set up a news bulletin board right from the beginning of school so students know exactly where to turn for updates. It’s also convenient for those days when parents visit your classroom.
15. Look Who’s Poppin’
Pop into the new school year with this delicious-looking board!
16. Everything Board
This is a perfect board to take center stage in an early elementary classroom and it really sets the tone for the year. We especially love that it contains so many important pieces of information like the days of the week and clocks showing what time each of the subjects will be taught. It also reinforces how to spell various words as well as how to read analog clocks.
17. Score With a Book
If you have sports lovers in your classroom, then you have to try this cute display case that will hopefully inspire some good old-fashioned page-turning. It’s perfect for fall when football season is kicking into high gear.
18. Dive Into Learning
If you’d rather be under the sea, try this board and invite students to dive in. Just swap out the word “summer” for “learning” instead.
19. Up, Up, and Away
This bulletin board takes a cue from the beloved Pixar movie Up. The actual balloons are the real icing on the cake, but make sure little hands aren’t tempted to pop them!
20. The Sky Is the Limit
Up and away! These paper lantern hot-air balloons will definitely raise spirits in your classroom.
21. A Positive Message
Turn that negative self-talk into something positive! Perfect for students who need a little encouragement.
22. Sprinkle Possibilities
Everyone’s favorite sweet treats make an easy and adorable back-to-school bulletin board. Write student names on the donuts and you’re good to go.
23. Solid Advice
Who better to give advice on middle school than outgoing middle schoolers? Have them write their best words of wisdom before the end of the school year and then use it to welcome your new class in the fall.
24. Shine Bright
Watch little faces light up when you welcome them to your classroom with this shining idea. Preprinted cutouts make this one an easy board to create in no time flat.
25. Flowers for Dimension
You can buy kits to make those large paper flowers, or just simplify things and cut 2D floral shapes out of colorful paper.
26. Superheroes in Training
If you can see it, you can be it. Invite kids to visualize themselves as superheroes with these cute caped crusaders. Put any inspirational message you like across the bottom.
27. Unleash Your Superpower
This bulletin board may take a little longer to re-create, but we think it will be well worth it. You could even update it depending on what subject you teach, so instead of saying “Reading,” say “Math” or “Science,” etc. We especially love the 3D cape.
28. Happy Campers
Bring in all the adventurous vibes to the school year with this camper bulletin board idea. The window planters are our favorite part! You can add kids’ names or photos to this blank canvas too.
29. Future Leaders
Every student can be a leader. Fill a bulletin board with sticky notes with students’ names and their own personal goals or ambitions.
30. Who Said It?
Interactive boards allow your students to feel included even on the very first day. This one will certainly get the attention of all the Swifties in your classroom!
31. Today’s News
Encourage kids, especially older ones, to keep up-to-date on current events. In doing so, you can help them better understand historical events.
32. Climate Change Awareness
This is the perfect bulletin board for a science or social studies classroom in middle or high school. Set the tone for the year by getting them involved in activism on an important topic like climate change right from the start.
33. Encourage Leadership
Teaching your students what makes a good leader/role model is so important to having a healthy classroom environment. A setup like this one will certainly promote a leadership mindset.
34. Study State History
If you’re a middle school social studies teacher, this is the perfect back-to-school bulletin board for you! Begin the year by learning about your home state, then work your way through all 50. Keep books about your state on display and for classroom reading.
35. A Hulking Display
How fun is this display case? We love the idea of using the Incredible Hulk to draw little readers into a good book, as well as using all green book covers!
36. Research, Register, Vote!
This is the perfect project/bulletin board to welcome a civics or social studies class back to school. You can hold a mock election and talk about the importance of voting (and becoming an informed voter at that)!
37. Go After Your Dreams
This dreamy lavender board is actually quite simple to make using colorful strands of paper and yarn.
38. Be … YOU!
This inspirational board provides lots of wonderful personality traits to inspire students to be their true and amazing selves every single day.
39. Welcome to the Flock!
This board is easy to do when you buy all the pre-cut pieces from Creative Teaching Press on Amazon. Use a large flamingo and several tiny ones alongside cutouts of the words “Welcome to the flock, sweet friends!” Throw in some pineapples for a tropical vibe.
40. Mirrors
Here’s a simple way to spread the message of responsibility. Find inexpensive mirrors at the dollar store or thrift store, and paint the frames in bright colors. In large lettering, spell out “Meet the person responsible for your …,” then, under each mirror, put words like words, actions, choices, grades, and success.
41. #firstday
Ready for some artwork or selfies for the first day of school? Design a bulletin board that looks like an Instagram grid, then fill it in with photos or even self-portraits.
42. Kindergarten Is Cool
And so is this bulletin board! We love the shades. In addition to the text “Kindergarten Is Cool,” include a photo of each of your adorable students in an oh-so cool pair of sunglasses!
43. 180 Opportunities
Set the stage for all the incredible experiences to come in the school days ahead. Text at the top of the bulletin board can read “180 School Days = 180 Opportunities.” Then, design a cute banner with each of the kids’ names. Finally, place different opportunities underneath such as “to teach others” and “to spread kindness.”
44. Share the Social Love
Even if kids aren’t on social media themselves, they can see the page update in real life. We really love the idea of creating back-to-school bulletin boards that look like Facebook or Instagram grids. We also love that it is a cute way to include photos of your students throughout the year. No one will accuse your classroom of being old-school!
45. Like Boom!
Give them something to believe in right from the start. Decorate a bulletin board with colorful sayings like “We never give up” and “We are a team.” At the bottom of the board, announce “We are …” and either put your grade or classroom.
46. Wanted Posters
Saddle up for a year of rootin’-tootin’ fun with this clever idea. Create Wanted posters in the style of the Old West with each of your students’ faces. In the middle, put a poster that says something like “Wanted: great kids who love learning!” and “Reward: a year full of fun!”
47. Rocking Shoes
Younger students will adore this Pete the Cat–inspired bulletin board idea. On the first day of school, each student can color the shoe with their name on it to be displayed throughout the board. In the middle, put a big pair of red sneakers like the ones Pete himself wears!
48. Fill a Bucket
This is such a sweet way to promote kindness in the classroom. You can make your own buckets out of foam, or buy inexpensive metal buckets instead. (Find more bucket-filler activities here.)
49. When You Enter This Classroom …
Let kids know that they’ve found a place where they are celebrated, they are accepted, and they are important. This idea is so simple but so important. Place a border at the top of the bulletin board that says “When you enter this classroom …,” then create posters with awesome messages like “you are important” and “you are a problem-solver.”
50. You Are …
Find a round mirror at the thrift store, then use it to emphasize that each and every kid is special and belongs in your classroom. Put “YOU” in big letters above the mirror and then place small messages like “are the future” and “are capable” all around it.
51. Guess Who?
Have kids draw a self-portrait and share some facts about themselves on the first day of school. Then post them for an easy back-to-school bulletin board.
52. Rainbow of Possibilities
If you are an art teacher looking for back-to-school bulletin board ideas, this is such a creative but surprisingly easy bulletin board. Paper plates make it a snap! Plus, you can switch out the message throughout the year.
53. Oh, Snap!
This board is great for the social media–obsessed teacher. Students will love seeing their faces displayed. Place photos of each student as the background to what look like cell phones spread around a bulletin board.
54. Wonder Wall
This Wonder Woman quote is absolutely perfect for the start of a new school year.
55. Ice Cream Truck
Keep those summer vibes going with this colorful ice cream truck bulletin board idea. You could use ice cream cones instead of Popsicles too.
56. This Year Will Be a Hoot
Owl of your students will adore this board! Make one large owl on a tree branch for yourself, then feature each student’s name on one of the little owls.
57. Forget Waldo
Have students (and teachers) draw themselves and fill up the board on the first day of school. Then, each week, post a new person to find in the style of a Where’s Waldo book!
58. Pirate’s Treasure
This board is inarrrguably super cute! The treasure chest can even hold goodies for you to give to your class.
59. Blooming Board
Colorful 3D flowers and a welcoming message in a lovely font make this board a pleasure to look at. Learn how to make the flowers here.
60. Watch Us Soar
What a gorgeous bulletin board! Students will love taking selfies in front of these beautiful wings, and parents will all want a shot too.
61. Hungry for Learning
This beloved book makes a fun bulletin board to welcome in new students.
62. LEGO Building
For LEGO-loving classes, this board will definitely build excitement! Use poster board to create stacks of LEGO blocks and then create little Minifigures to represent the students in your class.
63. Hunger Games Board
This board was originally created for a dorm, but wouldn’t it be great in an English classroom? Just replace “wing” with “room” or “class.”
64. Rockin’ School Year
Pete the Cat may be the coolest bus driver ever. Students will love seeing him welcome them to school. They can write their favorite summer reads on books to post on the board too.
65. Llama Welcome You
Llamas are just as trendy as ever, and they’re cute to boot! For a fun touch, use cotton balls to give the llama’s body some texture.
66. Tweety Birds
These simple birds are easy to cut from construction paper, and you can label each with a child’s name. Make bigger versions of the birds for teacher names too.
67. Practically Perfect
A spoonful of sugar helps the learning go down! This board really is supercali … well, you know.
68. Welcoming Creatures
This simple board full of cheery animals is sure to make little students feel right at home.
69. BUStin’ Into School
Need back-to-school bulletin board ideas to keep track of bus numbers? This simple board will definitely keep you organized and put smiles on all your students’ faces.
70. Gumball Board
You may not allow gum in the classroom, but you’ll want to make an exception for this charming board!
71. Butterfly Tree
This gorgeous option may take some time to make, but it’s worth it. Don’t be afraid to play around with the colors to match your classroom theme.
72. Ladybug Love
Seeing spots? That’s OK! This board is so adorable and just perfect for an elementary classroom.
73. Mighty Trees
Have kids color and cut out their apples as a fun first-day-of-school activity. Then, hang them on the board as a sign of great things to come!
74. Board With a Twist
Pick up an old Twister game at the thrift store for an easy bulletin board idea. All you need are some paper hands and feet to finish it off.
75. All Are Welcome
Inclusivity rocks, and so does this board! What a great way to start off the year for every single student.
76. Reading Colors Your World
Back-to-school time means fresh boxes of crayons, one of life’s greatest pleasures. That makes this the perfect bulletin board for the season.
77. A Minion Reasons
Every minion is a little unique, just like your students! You could also label the minions with your students’ names for another fun take.
78. Hungry Learners
Nemo is still popular after all these years. Embrace the little orange fish’s excitement about the first day of school with this ocean-themed board.
79. The Sharpest Bunch
The 3D cacti really make this board pop, but it would be cool with regular paper ones too.
80. Libraries Love You Too
Remind kids that all their favorite books have just been waiting to be read, all summer long!
81. Picture Yourself
Have students draw their own selfies or snap them with your camera. Decorate the board with colorful cameras and blank spots for each student’s photo.
82. A Latte Learning
Back to school means all the best parts of fall are back! Kids can each color their own pumpkin spice latte label to decorate this delicious board.
83. Nuts About Learning
This 3D tree is impressive but simple to make by rumpling up paper and stapling it to look like bark. Plus, that squirrel is adorable!
84. Swim Together
Every student is unique, but they can all get along. Spend the first day back making personalized paper fish, then put them together all in one “school”!
85. Who Am I?
Students will get to know each other in no time flat when you post this board with self-portraits and identifying clues.
86. Our Flock Rocks
Write each of your students’ names on birds to really personalize this board. A simple cloud background ties it all together.
87. Dino-Mite
You don’t need fancy dinosaurs to make this board stand out. Simple shapes will work just fine.
88. Buzzing With Excitement
We can’t bee-lieve how cute this bulletin board is! It’s easy to put together too.
89. Keys to Success
Make this board even more meaningful by leaving the labels blank. On the first day of school, ask students to help you brainstorm the best words to include.
90. Smiles Board
Encouraging kindness at the beginning of the year is always a good idea. This board will be an effective reminder in any classroom!
91. Imagination Station
Encourage students to talk about their summer reading with this imaginative back-to-school bulletin board idea.
92. Back to the Books
Back to school means back to the books! This board is perfect for an ELA teacher or a librarian.
93. The Adventure Begins
Get your students on the road to learning. Perfect for any teacher who wants a simple but inspiring bulletin board idea.
94. Falling Back to School
Put student names on the leaves to personalize this board. You could also put pictures of their faces in the school bus window.
95. Sharpen Your Minds
How clever is this board made using pencils? If you attach them using something like non-permanent adhesive dots, you can let students pull them off and use them if they don’t have one of their own.
96. Rly Lng Txts
Hilarious and perfect for texting-obsessed students (and teachers). Use texting bubbles for students to write about their favorite books and attach to the board.
97. Lights, Camera, Learn
Introduce teachers, staff, and students as the “cast” of the upcoming production. The 3D curtains make this board especially eye-catching.
98. Mirror Mirror
We have a couple of mirror-based boards on this list, but if you don’t want to use the real thing, foil is an excellent substitute.
99. All About Me
Your whole class will turn into artists with these adorable self-portraits. Have them add some fun facts so every student gets to know one another. What we love best is that the students are the ones doing the hard work of creating this bulletin board!
100. Welcome Back
Celebrate your students being back in the classroom. Add their names on the individual hearts, if you like.
101. Game On!
If you’re looking for interactive back-to-school bulletin board ideas, try this one. Model your back-to-school bulletin board after the board game Guess Who? Create a flap for each of the characters that will reveal one of your students.
We’d love to see your own back-to-school bulletin board ideas! Come share your photos in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
Plus, Fun and Simple Back-to-School Night Ideas for Teachers.
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