When I first started teaching, I was greeted with a room without windows and bare walls. I wanted to do something to make it more personal, but I wasn’t sure how. I’m not a bulletin board designer type. I did have several posters from [The Physics Teacher](http://tpt.aapt.org) and found others stored in the room. I had them laminated and plastered the walls with posters.
The room was okay. Some students found the posters interesting, but the room was nothing special.
Over the past few years, my colleague and I have transformed our current room to a comfortable, student-personalized space. There are very few posters but lots of student-generated projects and art work.
Some of my favorite pieces are a former student’s AP Studio Art portfolio which was focused on physics.
The two pieces on the left are also part of her portfolio. We also highlight some bridges and towers that students have built. Sometimes inspiration strikes and a water bottle gets glued to the wall.
We also frame and hang photos from students who have entered the [AAPT High School Photo Contest](http://www.aapt.org/Programs/contests/photocontest.cfm).
We display photos from the clubs that we mentor, like Physics Club and FIRST Robotics, to inspire students to participate.
The whole ceiling is covered with mobile projects (forces and torques in equilibrium). Almost every student leaves their project until next year’s class makes their own.
My least favorite part of the room is now the individual desks. The plan is to get hand-me-down tables and chairs from an adjoining physics room and be able to arrange students in groups of four next year!