Classroom Theme Posters

Theme posters are one of my MUST HAVES!

I printed the theme posters below from Beth Newingham. But there are TONS of free theme posters floating around on TeachersPayTeachers!

In the past, I always had theme posters hanging on my wall. I had them blank in the beginning of the year, and as we read books as a class, we added pictures of the book covers to the theme we thought it matched up with. I would print the book cover and when we finished the book, we would talk about the evidence to support various themes, always understanding that a book really can fit many themes, but that we were going to choose the one we felt it fit in with BEST.

Now that our school is using a new program, Collaborative Classroom, for all things ELA (Seriously, everything. If you are looking for new curriculum, this is it.) I still wanted to do theme posters but make it work for that program. So, since I work with grades 2-4, I printed some freebie theme posters for each of them. Then I printed and laminated the book covers that the teachers will be reading to their students for the comprehension piece of the curriculum. Now, as teachers read a book aloud, they can connect it to the common themes. And anyone who teaches at a state testing grade knows, theme will be tested. Oh yes, theme will be tested.

Bonus? Talking about theme is a great conversation. It teaches kids how to provide evidence to support their opinion and to respect the opinions of others!

Mentor Text Alert: Jabari Jumps

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall is an amazing picture book! It is great for teaching skills such as persevering through a challenge, facing your fears, and supporting each other. The text will lend itself well to discussions around fears that kids may have and how they can overcome those fears either on their own or with support.

In this book, the boy is so excited to jump off the diving board, but then he realizes that he is quite frightened. The book explores how he overcomes this fear and ultimately has success. It really does demonstrate to kids that they can do anything.

Common themes include: courage, perseverance, supportiveness, and so on. Remember, any theme can work as long as you have evidence from the text to support it!

Included below is a sampling from this text. I highly recommend adding it to your library ASAP! (Also, my version is from First Book marketplace. Check it out for discounted texts for teachers in Title 1 schools. It is the best!)

Favorite Things

I'm linking up with The Teaching Trio for Favorite Things. This is my first time joining this link party!

There are gorgeous illustrations in this book! Really beautiful and great for students to generate a retelling of this classic tale.

I love this book! I love all of David Wiesner's wordless picture books, but this one really gets the kiddos thinking!

I like to use Tuesday to introduce my second graders to the comprehension strategy of questioning because it can be a puzzling(and hilarious) book!

Class Photo Show!

Just a medley of classroom photographs for fun! Personally, I looooove ogling pictures of classrooms online and getting sweet ideas to implement in my own classroom, so, enjoy!

CRAFT by Ladybug's Teacher Files

Theme Charts by Beth Newingham

VOICES by Ladybug's Teacher Files

Really Good Stuff, Grades 4/5

Listening Center

Writing Center

Meeting Area

Turn vertical shelves sideways to create benches. Add a cushion covered with fabric, and you have a nifty meeting area ideal for read alouds and the Daily Five!