Last year, you may remember that I decided to try to streamline my classroom design. I had decorated my classroom thematically in the past, but I just didn't want to keep up with it anymore, and truthfully, I tire of themes really easily. That can get expensive, and I just don't want to pour money down the drain! So, when I was asked to review this adorable Colorful Chalkboard decor set, I jumped at the chance. The colors are vibrant, the patterns are fun, and overall, they fit SO well with my existing classroom decor! #winning
My absolute favorite item in the set was the Colorful Chalkboard EZ Letters! They were already punched out!!! I contemplated laminating them for a hot minute or two...simply to add to the durability of the set... and then I decided not to because they were so easy to hang just the way they are. I didn't want to laminate and have to cut them out because Carson Dellosa already made it so easy for me! Ha! I LOVE the patterns... especially the chalky ones! I used the letters to spell out "Focus of the Week" on my Focus Board. I would recommend getting at least two to be sure that you have enough to spell out whatever your heart desires, but otherwise, I am in L-O-V-E with this set. And that's saying a lot. I haven't bought lettering like this in, oh, probably ten years. That said, I would buy another set of this in a heartbeat, and should I ever have to replace this, I hope that the design is still around!
This view just lets you see how the letters were incorporated with the rest of the board so you can see it in action. I think it fills in the space nicely and adds a special somethin'-somethin'. :)
Because I am a sucker for details, I wanted to do a little close-up of the letters. This is how they come when you open the bag in all of their pre-punched glory! Just look at those colors and patterns! Are they swoon-worthy or what?!
I had already completed my bulletin boards prior to receiving the design pack in the mail, and since I have a tiny baby at home, I just didn't want to take the time to redo them. Honesty is the best policy, right? I will say, I LOVE the patterns on the Colorful Chalkboard Border though, and I will definitely be putting them to use. They will look GREAT with the brights and blacks in my classroom. I love the Chevron side, especially the textured chalky detail in ever squiggle. I think the polka-dots are pretty cute too, but I just don't know if I personally would use it. The nice thing is, both sides coordinate nicely together, and with the EZ letters! The polka dot pattern is very similar to the photo I shared above! In addition, it's great to have a double-sided border because it allows you to have more flexibility over time, it saves space, and it's slightly more economical!
In addition, I was also afforded the opportunity to review the Colorful Chalkboard Bulletin Board Set. It contains a birthday chart, an incentive chart, and an all-purpose chart (each are 17" x 24"). It also includes a calendar, 35 calendar cover-ups, and a door label. As a third/fourth grade ELA and Social Studies teacher, I don't have much of a use for the calendar. It would take up prime real estate on my walls, and I need space for content that I am covering with my kiddos. If I taught math or younger students, I would definitely display it though. I am thinking of laminating the numbers to use for group presentations though. I am thinking that my students could pull a number out of a basket and then they would present in that order. I could stick a magnet to back of each of them, and then stick the current number on the whiteboard during each presentation so the next student would know they were next. I haven't had a chance to tackle this project yet, but the wheels are turning. Here's how the numbers look. I think the set is super cute!
I did use the door label because the frame was just too cute. I already have a pencil hanging outside of my classroom with my name and room number, but it hangs high up above the doorway as a standard sign-post in our building. It's cute, but it's not at my kiddos' eye level, so I decided to laminate this frame and display it outside of my room where my students can see it. It looks fantastic! (I am refraining from posting the finished product simply because student safety is always at the forefront of my mind, and some part of me always feels weird about sharing my room number.)
Trust me though, it's just the right amount of simple and snazzy, and it is the perfect size!
I laminated the all-purpose chart from the set, and I decided to use a Vis-a-Vis marker so that I could easily change the text throughout the school-year. I recently used it as a place to welcome my new students to my classroom at Meet the Teacher Night. The bunting has my heart. I mean, how precious is that?!
I still haven't decided what I will use this chart for yet, but I wanted to be able to share it nonetheless. I MAY use it for AR... or maybe homework completion. I am not sure yet, but I really dig the clean design. For right now, it's still tucked away in storage. I know that I will find a good use for it soon though!
I really love this birthday chart for it's cute frames and simplicity too! It fits nicely on a cabinet door, and it's the perfect way to display birthdays in a semi-prominent way without compromising too much of that "prime real estate" I was referring to earlier. I have never been a teacher who creates a giant bulletin board with cupcakes (even though that's super cute too) because I don't have the space for that, and truthfully, if I did, I probably would still choose to display student work or academic tools instead. This chart, in my opinion, is the way to go!
Here's the bottom line: I love this design collection to the moon and back. I am thinking of buying an additional set of letters to have on hand, and I am also thinking of purchasing the Colorful Chalkboard Cutouts and the Colorful Chalkboard Classroom Behavior Management Set because I think the frames are so cute and versatile! I may even go hog wild and pick up a set of Chalkboard Stickers to use with the frames! The quality is great, and this set has style for dayssssss. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT! I think you would too! :)
Review Disclaimer: I participate in the Brand Ambassador Program for Carson-Dellosa and have received this product for free to review.
Hi Amanda! Have you blogged about your Focus Wall before? I would love to hear about how you organize it and maintain it. Also- your decorations are amazing!
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