While this isn't a bulletin board design, we ran across this 'wish scroll' craft over at Making Books Blog and thought it might make a great first day of school activity + back-to-school bulletin board design! While your kiddos are used to creating 'resolutions' and goals for New Years, the start of the new school year is also a fantastic time to encourage them to set goals and challenge themselves!

• Make a new friend
• Read one book a month {for fun!}
• Turn in homework on time
• Improve spelling skills

These are just a few examples! Writing out and displaying their 'wishes'/goals for the new year offers a great way to motivate your new students - and keeping the wish scrolls to pull out later in the year will help your kiddos assess how much they've accomplished!

Wish Scrolls

Have your kiddos use markers and fun colored pens to write their wishes/goals onto printer paper. To display them on your bulletin board, consider making fun frames - like these from Sarah Cooley of First Grader...at Last! - to add a pop of color and whimsical feel! When you take them down, store them in a folder, or have your kiddos make scroll 'holders' from recycled paper towel rolls.

Our Wishes for the School Year!

• Background: Light blue bulletin board paper.
• Title: "Our Wishes for the School Year!"
• Border: Complimentary colored/patterned bulletin board.
• Decoration: Use your students' wish scrolls, embellished with colorful borders, cutouts, etc.