Choosing a Classroom Theme

I am so thrilled to be going back to my Prep teaching job in just a few weeks.  It was a HUGE decision for me to resign to come to Canada when the option for unpaid leave wasn't available for me - so I was thrilled to be re-hired by the school that I love so much... and even more excited when another wonderful teacher felt like a year level change and left the Prep spot free for me!  When I left at the end of 2011 I packed up everything that belonged to me and it's currently in storage at my Mum and Dad's.  I also left a heap of stuff in the Prep block, partly because I didn't have room for it, and partly because I knew the other teachers could use it.  Now that it's only two weeks until the new school year I need to get my act into gear and think about how I will arrange stuff and decorate my room again when I get there.

I work in a beautiful block that was custom built for Prep classrooms.  We have large rooms with vaulted ceilings, shared storage and a kitchen, a big undercover play area, a separate room for the teacher aides to work in and bathrooms for the kidlets attached to each classroom.  There's also secure outside storage, and BIG sandpit and grassed area and a playground.  I am VERY fortunate to work in such a great space. (As soon as I'm there I'll post some photos!)

Since I'm dealing with a room that will be stripped of all it's finery I'm faced with the tough choice of choosing a classroom theme - or if I should choose one at all.  I've read a few amazing blogs with details of how other teachers theme their rooms (most recently Casey over at adoring lilly) and I have a few ideas of my own that I'm yet to decide between.  In the past I've done a garden theme that integrated cute bugs and butterflies.  I'd love to do some sort of 'Around the World' travel theme, or use beautiful colours for a rainbow room.  This year though, I'm leaning towards a Dr. Seuss inspired space!

I'm thinking that I can use characters from his books as my small group names, decorate with truffula trees, use a positive quote as my behaviour management catch-cry... and illustrations from Dr. Seuss' books lend themselves nicely to bright colour blocking on my bulletin boards and wall spaces.  

I found this print at Balancing Home.

Mrs. Lodge made these beautiful truffula trees.

Dr. Seuss canvas art from Pottery Barn Kids.

Do you have a classroom theme? Better yet, do you have a Dr. Seuss inspired room? I'd love to hear what other amazing ideas are out there for classroom themes. :)

Lauren