Why Middle School SLPs Still Need Bulletin Boards

As I write this, it is May...which means most of you are counting down until summer break, drowning in IEPs, and generally wrapping up your multiple roles as an employee.

Even though every "season" is busy, the last month of traditional school years takes that up another level for SLPs.

That's why I want to offer a topic to brighten your room and fill your cup this month. Let's talk bulletin boards. It is easy to put speech room decor at the bottom of your priorities when you work with older students.

The challenges include moving between school sites, using different spaces throughout the year, or being tucked away in a forgotten closet (been there, done all that).

Yet to your students, a bulletin board is like your front lawn. It is the first thing people see when they "pull up" and it sets the tone for your space...or closet.

Our students who are in middle and high school want a safe, aesthetically pleasing space to attend speech-language therapy. The colors and messages you put on a bulletin board help set the tone for positive, growth mindset.

If you are busy, using materials that are evergreen, or can be used year round, are key. Attending speech therapy as an older student requires vulnerability, so here are some middle school speech therapy bulletin board ideas you can use throughout the year that are easy to put up and use every year.

What makes a bulletin board high impact for an SLP?

If you want to create age-appropriate bulletin boards for older students, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Photographs

Cartoon characters are childish and more appropriate for younger elementary students. Clip art, likewise, can be so "babyish" that it turns off your students.

A great way to capture your students' interest is to use real photographs, or photographs of your students. Make sure you have permission to post their photos first!

Co-created bulletin boards, described here, are a great way to build community. If you use clip art, think about icons and symbols that you would use in the community or related to sports and hobbies, rather than childish graphics.

Colors

Also consider the colors you choose and have a consistent palate across your space. Whether you opt for neutrals, pastels, or bright, think about what colors you would see in an interior design space.

An occasional "pop" of color helps brighten a space, especially if you have a cinderblock and windowless room.

Examples include:

• Navy, White, Orange

• Taupe, Cream, Pink

• Grey, White, Aqua

• Black, White, Yellow

Avoid bright primary colors like red, blue, and yellow together because this combination is childish and elementary. Likewise, avoid color combinations that are overly feminine or masculine, like "Barbie Core" pink.

Positive Messages

For middle school speech students, seeing daily (or weekly) reminders of their worth, resilience, and character are extremely valuable.

Students may feel like the speech room is one of the few places they can let down their guard and not have to worry about "saving face."

Since students are developing social skills and pragmatic competence, or may be bullied, having consistent positive messages that speak to young adults is essential.

This can include quotes from famous people, or puns, but the emphasis is treating your middle school speech students like young adults rather than young children. A list of inspirational quotes for SLPs to use can be found here.

Below are 4 ideas for low-prep middle school speech therapy bulletin boards that busy SLPs can use throughout the year.

Rotate these ideas or expand them to meet the needs of your students. If you do, send me some pictures at info@ddvspeech.com so I can post them!

Try a Sensory Wall

Another idea that works well for neurodiverse students is a sensory wall as a bulletin board. There are lots of ideas on Pinterest, but these can include different textures or objects, like spinners, that are attached to the wall. Sequins, carpet squares, and sandpaper make tactile experiences that hold up well to touch.

Or include reminders about emotional regulation, like breathing and counting. No need to buy an expensive set, just DIY with items you already own!

Theme 1: Honey Bee Boards

A honey bee theme works year round, but is an easy way to freshen up your room in the spring or during extended school year (ESY) summer sessions. Possible titles or quotes to incorporate are:

1. Bee kind, bee curious, bee yourself

2. Bee the change you wish to see in the world

3. Bee-lieve in yourself: Hard work leads to sweet rewards

All of these options are motivational, positive, and age appropriate.

If you want a done for you set of honey bee decore and bulletin boards, check out my done-for-you room décor with two color options here.

Visually, this bulletin board theme works with color palates of traditional yellow, black, and white, or a softer yellow, grey, and aqua. For easiest printing, my set also includes plain black and white so you don't have to drain your ink!

This low prep set up works because it is gender neutral, aesthetically pleasing, and fresh. Bees are having a moment and home goods stores are filled with honey bee decor if you want to carryover the theme throughout your room!

Since it is derived from nature's color palate, the colors are cheerful without being overstimulating or overdone. Use with a black and white striped or polka dot border.

Theme 2: Nautical Boards

Nautical themes that include sailing, water, boats, or coasts, are another terrific bulletin board idea. I think nautical combos are the perfect blend of clean, preppy, and young adult. Here are some bulletin board titles or quotes I put together that you can order here for a no prep room decor option.

1. You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.

2. A voice is a voice no matter how small.

3. I can't change the wind but I can adjust my sails.

I love these quotes because they remind students to focus on what they can control, not what circumstances they can't control.

In terms of colors, this bulletin board theme works with color palates of traditional navy, orange, and white for a crisp, traditional look. For a modern take, use the navy, pink and aqua option here.

Both of these also have black and white options, and signs are editable to add your name! Add navy and white striped borders to increase the nautical feel.

This middle school speech bulletin board set up works well with students of all levels. The nautical theme is easy to carryover across your class and adds a fresh energy for everyone who walks through the door.

Theme 3: Gaming "Level Up for Success"

Video games are always popular and a great option to include in speech therapy activities. If you need a reminder, here are easy ways to include media literacy into your middle school speech therapy activities.

Since educators recognize that students retain information better when you "gamify" learning, work that into your next bulletin board theme. Here are a few quotes to get you started.

1. Level up for learning: You are in control.

2. Failure doesn't mean game over. It means try again.

3. I have a dream that one day my mom will understand that online games cannot be paused.

I found the above quotes here if you need more ideas. While the last quote is a joke, I think it would resonate well with your tween and teen students.

The picture below is an easy idea to use with a picture of a game controller and reminders about what we can control.

In terms of colors, this bulletin board theme works with color palates of grey, white, and tan, or pastels. A relaxing aesthetic helps soften the technology element, or of course you can stick with black and white options, and use a colorful border.

Theme 4: College Sports

This theme is a bit more specific to you as the SLP. If you have a favorite team or college, or there is a local university you can build a year round bulletin board around their colors.

If your city has a professional sports team, that works too! Or use your local high school mascot as a theme for the bulletin board.

A few titles are:

1. Do the right thing...even when no one is looking.

2. Shoot for success (basketball theme).

3. Time to tackle our goals.

This bulletin board idea is easy and you can add to it each year. Talking about sports is a common conversation topic, so helps students practice using social skills and pragmatics.

Include real photos and the school or team colors to get the conversation going. A cool interactive board is this "I spy a sport," where your students can guess what sport is represented by partial photographs.

That's a Wrap!

I hope these ideas spark your creativity or help you narrow down some age-appropriate options for your bulletin boards. If you need a done for you option, be sure to grab my honey bee boards or nautical boards available in navy/orange or pink/aqua.

The best news is once your print and laminate these pictures, you can use them every year. Just freshen up the butcher paper and you will be all set.

Do you have a favorite board? Send me a picture so I can post it on my socials.