But don’t forget to take down ones that are no longer helpful ( Carney & Levin, 2002 Bui & McDaniel, 2015).
Posters that reinforce a lesson, rather than distract from it, can boost student learning. Resist the temptation to keep adding decorations-it’s better to swap them out than to keep adding more (Barrett et al., 2015). Keep at least 20 percent of your wall space clear, and leave ample space between displays so they don’t look disorganized. Strive for inclusion, but avoid token or stereotypical representations-they can be damaging to students’ self-esteem ( Cheryan et al., 2014).
Putting up images-and short stories or quotes-featuring heroes and leaders can help students gain a greater sense of belonging and aspiration, especially when their backgrounds and interests are represented. Students not only feel a greater sense of responsibility for their learning but are also more likely to remember the material ( Barrett et al., 2015).
