2nd Grade Classroom Decor

You’re dreaming up 2nd grade classroom decor ideas to create the coziest space for you & your little learners. 

Take a spin around Kennedy’s 2nd grade classroom for inspiration, ideas, and some great organizational hacks. 

Kennedy used the Coastal Sunrise classroom decor bundle to transform her space with the bright, airy colors into a room right off the coast. 

2nd Grade Classroom Setup

The overall feel of your classroom goes a long way in how your students feel as they learn & grow this year.

Even if your classroom isn’t giant, you can find strategic ways to leverage your space to create a cozy classroom that feels homey. 

Think about where a good spot for your small group table would be and start to plan around it. 

The back of your classroom might be a good spot as it is out of the way and doesn’t block the whiteboard during whole group instruction. 

And those jellyfish hanging from the ceiling in the back corner?? How cool! 

Adding a rug at the front of your room adds an instant “homey”, cozy vibe to your classroom. 

Your calendars DON’T have to be at the front of your classroom!

Kennedy used a side whiteboard to place all of her calendar related items. 

The pocket chart is used to display the monthly calendar with a flip calendar right by it for an easy reference to the day’s date. 

Then, the visual daily schedule cards are next to the calendar so students can know what is coming next during their school day. 

Creating a one-stop-shop where students can get all their questions answered about what day it is and what’s coming next is a great idea! 

2nd Grade Bulletin Board Displays

As you start filling your room with 2nd grade classroom decor, think about how to use your wall space intentionally.

Create dedicated spaces for learning targets, vowels, a word wall, and spaces to foster community within your class. 

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box!

The wall outside your classroom is a fantastic place for a fun, welcoming bulletin board. This one is a GREAT idea for 2nd grade classroom decor that fits the Coastal Sunrise theme perfectly. 🤩

Having a bulletin board devoted to learning targets is a great idea for your 2nd grade classroom setup. 

Keep things simple for future you! 

➡️ Use dry-erase pockets to hold the subject backgrounds. Then, writing the objective for each subject is a piece of cake! 

A vowel valley is a fantastic 2nd grade classroom idea. 

Being able to create a space where students can reference not only the letters, but also the shape their mouth makes as they say that sound goes a long ways. 

Note: this vowel valley is NOT included in the Coastal Sunrise bundle. Kennedy simply used the bulletin board letters to create her heading. 

A word wall is another great idea for any elementary classroom! 

Use this space to easily post vocabulary words or spelling words your students are working on so they can easily reference them throughout the day. 

Celebrate the amazing work your students have done so far this year with a Wow Work board. 

I LOVE Kennedy’s idea to use scrapbook paper as the background for student work. She found designs that give off beach vibes and add to the display while it’s empty. 😍

All of these bulletin boards are surrounded by twinkle lights. 

✨ How fun is it to create displays that truly sparkle? 

Cozy Corners for 2nd Grade Classrooms

Your classroom doesn’t just have to be filled with desks and chairs. Adding some cozy corners into your room transforms your space from a classroom to a home. 

Use Kennedy’s reading corner as inspiration. 🥰

This little teepee is the perfect place to get cozy with a book and stuffed animal or pillow. 

Plus, it’s small, which works great for Kennedy’s limited space. 

I’d want to sit in there & read all day. ❤️

And that circular book spinner? An amazing, small element that brings a lot of fun and character into her classroom. 

An affirmation station is another way to add some elements of home into your classroom. 

This gives students some great reminders of who they are as people on days they need the extra reminder. 

Sticking the mirror to a tall cabinet door is an easy way to use space you might not have before. 

Finally, don’t forget about your teacher desk area! It can be cute too! 

A cozy, personal nook to be able to rest while your students are at specials. Planning lessons in this area looks like a dream. 😍

2nd Grade Classroom Organization Hacks

When you have limited space, you need to get creative on how to keep your materials and students organized. 

Here are some incredible 2nd grade classroom ideas to bring into your own space. 

This feels like a simple idea, but using a small editable label with student numbers to label mailboxes saves SO much time. 

Headphones are literally the worst thing for students to store anywhere. 

You ask them to grab their headphones and what they pull out is a tangle of cords. 🫠

Prevent those meltdowns by storing them in a shoe caddy. 

I told you, Kennedy is a genius! 

Adding student numbers is just the cherry on top!

Add dry erase bubbles to your small group table! 

Keep your small group lessons fun, engaging, and limit the number of things students need to carry back with them! 

Your classroom library doesn’t have to look like tall, ordinary bookshelves. 

Use these lower cube shelves to store the books on the bottom. And on top, you can store small group materials and give students a place to turn in materials. 

All of these 2nd grade classroom ideas create a space where you can focus on teaching your students, and not spend your entire day sorting through papers. 

Follow along with more of Kennedy’s second grade journey on Instagram @classwithmiss.k.

Give your classroom the feeling of being right off the beach with the Coastal Sunrise classroom decor. 

No matter how you decide to decorate or set up your 2nd grade classroom, it will become an amazing home away from home for you and your students. ❤️