"I was thoroughly loving being a career beginning grade teacher," Jessica told us. "Then, when I establish out that after seven years of teaching first grade that I was moving to tertiary grade, I was absolutely crushed, dislocated, devastated, dumbfounded, angry and heartbroken. I was, and still am, very shut to my first course colleagues, and so it was a very hard adjustment for me. After coming dwelling in tears, night after night, and crying in my husband's arms, he brought up how 3rd grade would be perfect. Perfect!?!? I couldn't even begin to recall about how tertiary grade would be perfect. He explained that I would now have the chance of having my dream classroom. I could do a Harry Potter Classroom Theme and do and so many fun and engaging things with my students."

Comforted by that idea (Jessica is a MAJOR Harry Potter fan), she got to work. Check out the beautiful fruits of her labor, a real Harry Potter classroom theme. Maybe something similar this would work for your classroom, too! (If you're not nuts near Harry Potter, consider how using some other favorite book might translate into a classroom theme.)

Are Your Ready for a Wonderful Yr?

Magic wand poster

I got the clip art for the wands from a seller on Etsy named Lepaperhouse. I enlarged, printed, laminated and cut each wand out for my bulletin board. It was definitely worth all of the time spent cutting out laminating!

Wall of Quotations

Inspirational Harry Potter quotes

I idea most the quotes from various Harry Potter books that not simply spoke to me, but that I knew could speak to my students. J.K. Rowling created words that every time I read them, I fall in dearest with them all over again.

I created the quotes posters by choosing a fun, crinkled paper background. I then institute the pages that each of the quotes was located on. I used that as a slightly transparent background, which is i of my favorite aspects. I and then set about creating how I wanted the quotes to actually look and feel. I chose fonts that were whimsical, night, wispy, strong, scary, etc. and I just got to work, doing what I enjoy doing 🙂

The photo collage is from our five-year wedding anniversary trip. We took a three-twenty-four hours trip to Universal Studios in Orlando to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It was one of the best things we've done together and just seeing Hogsmeade, the Hogwarts Express and Diagon Alley was an experience nosotros won't ever forget.

Classroom Jobs, Harry Potter Style

class duties in Harry Potter themed classroom

The caboose has the job of being at the finish of the line, clicking off the lights and pulling the door airtight.

Hogwarts Houses

hogwarts house guidons

For first quarter, they drew a number ane-4, which sorted them into the house I had already assigned that number. I read the sorting hat poem to them, and we discussed the dissimilar houses a little flake every bit we went forth. We so watched a clip from "Harry Potter and the Magician's Stone" of Professor McGonagall calling the Hogwarts students upwards and then they can get sorted. They were enthralled and excited when I began calling their proper noun. They came up, sat in my teacher chair and put on the lid. They patiently awaited the name of their firm. I played a pre-recorded sound clips of the sorting lid saying the name of their firm. They thought it was and so magical! They all clapped for each other and were genuinely excited to find our who their housemates would be.

Over the rest of the year, as I get to know them more, kids tin move in and out of houses each quarter. After the sorting of the students, they got into their houses (pods of desks) and I gave them a printout of words that represent their business firm. They discussed the word meanings and chose a word that described them. Overall, each pupil was really excited almost their house, peculiarly after they realized that many of the characteristics fit them. They colored their house crests, which are currently hanging above their houses (pods). It was seriously and so wonderful!

How practice kids feel virtually being in Slytherin? Honestly, the kids that were sorted into Slytherin were very excited near it. We talked a lot about how Slytherin firm is all about existence adamant and accomplished. We talked about how cunning is not a bad thing. Information technology is more about existence able to get the things we desire in ways that others may non think most.

house points

These are the house points that I tin can advantage the students with. I have been giving them out when an unabridged business firm (pod) cleans upward quickly, finishes their piece of work get-go, or is lined up quietly kickoff. For example, we had

These are the house points that I tin can reward the students with. I have been giving them out when an unabridged house (pod) cleans upwardly quickly, finishes their work first, or is lined up quietly first. For case, we had a fire drill today and my grade absolutely rocked it! I chose one student from each house to reward their house with a point.

I'm using information technology more than as a reward organisation/motivator to help them piece of work together to follow the proper routines/expectations in our classroom. I effort and remember to inquire a student to reward their house with a betoken as often as I tin can. At the end of the quarter, whichever business firm has the nearly points volition have an end of the quarter surprise. I haven't quite decided what it will be though. Maybe a pizza party or maybe something special having to practise with Harry Potter.

How's the Harry Potter Classroom Theme Going So Far?

I am loving the Harry Potter classroom theme and the kiddos are engaged. The best thing I heard from a student was, "I started reading Harry Potter with my family last night". My heart straight outburst out of my chest and I know my smile reached from ear to ear. That is my one goal for my kids. I want them to autumn in dearest with J.1000. Rowling's words . . . merely like I did so many years agone.