Classroom decor influences student learning. It can affect the learning of students with visual and sensory needs. The student environment sets the tone for learning. It affects both students’ motivation to learn and their feelings.
Summer is when teachers begin planning and purchasing classroom decorations. They spend time and money to create a learning environment that supports students’ goals, behavior, and standards-based content.
Classroom Decor is Important
It’s important to think about how the classroom will be used in the new school year. Most teachers instruct in large groups, small groups, and individual students. The room needs to accommodate all types of student-to-student and teacher-to-student interactions.
Educators must consider students with visual needs and how they safely move about the room. They also need to consider inclusion students with learning support teachers.
Colors Affect Moods
Many students are motivated by textures and colors for background visuals. Too many colors may overstimulate students. Decorating with reference posters from wall to wall causes brain overload. On the other hand, barren walls do not give students any stimulation. However, a study from the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology shows that students who completed cognitive tasks in a room with blank walls did better than students in a highly decorated classroom. Thus, too many visual aids can cause brain overload.
Classroom Walls
Classrooms that are heavily decorated with information can interfere with a student’s memory and ability to focus. Classroom walls should not be a distraction. Keep the classroom basic.
- Student work is important to display. It conveys that the work is important and that the context is more likely to be remembered. All students need to be equally represented and decide which of their work to display.
- Role models that inspire students can give students a sense of belonging. Role models that share student interests are especially important.
- Include multicultural material to represent diversity so all students feel valued.
- Specific areas of the room can be used for various learning activities.
Choose soft colors when decorating the classroom. It shapes how students behave, their mood, and their focus. Warm colors (red, orange, yellow) stimulate energy and excitement. Cool colors (blue and green) promote focus and calm. Color coding enhances recall and helps students to organize.
Strategically choose colors that improve student well-being and academic performance. Colors play an important role in emotional reactions and focus. Colors have different meanings in different cultures.
Classroom decor should allow students to move easily and enable them to collaborate with each other. They should contain few distractions. The colors should be warm, and visuals should not overcrowd the environment. The classroom must be a safe environment to promote learning for all students.
