RETHINK YOUR ROOM 22. Instant Math CenterSo you don't have the cash for Cuisenaire rods and other math tools, but you do have kitchen cabinets. Pantry staples like pasta shells and lima beans are perfect for hands-on math work and patterning.
23. ReflectionsIs your room gloomy? Hanging mirrors or even reflective wrapping paper opposite the windows can really brighten things up! -Frankie Frasure
24. Shower Gallery SpaceHave an ugly wall? Hang a couple of sheets of shower paneling from a home store and let the kids write or draw! Invite the kids to be creative on a theme you are studying in class, whether it's oceans or Pilgrims. -Christina Vrba
25. Hide It AwayUgly storage area? Hit the fabric store and look for a bright fabric or remnant. Use safety pins to hang kids' work or to make it into a word wall. -Robin Shaw
26. Color Your WorldEvery interior designer knows the quickest (and the cheapest) way to overhaul a room is a can of paint. You could ask parents or teens to volunteer to help! -Peggy Collrin
27. That Holiday Glow I repurposed extra Christmas tree lights by running them along the window sill and around the bookcases in my classroom. I don't light them all the time, but it's always a pick-me-up for the kids when I do! -Mary Jo Pick