Before you begin creating your physical poster, take the time to determine its exact theme or subject matter. An effective classroom poster is one that will convey information clearly and without a lot of clutter. The written content of the poster should be edited down so that it explains the important points of your subject matter without being wordy. Seeing big chunks of type on a poster will turn some people off before they even start reading it. In addition, do not overload your poster with lots of unnecessary graphics or flashy, distracting designs.
Resist using fancy typefaces, as they may make your content hard to read. Have a colleague or a friend look over your classroom poster, and if they have difficulty reading it because the font size is too big or small or the typeface is distracting, change the culprit to something easier to read. Check your poster to make sure you haven't needlessly interrupted the flow of your text with pictures. In addition, check to see that your text and photographs follow a logical progression and aren't placed on your classroom poster in a manner that might confuse a reader.
One of the most important elements of a classroom poster is its graphics. Attractive and eye-catching illustrations, clip art and photographs are what will first draw your audience in to read your poster. However, do not just choose graphics that are merely ornamental. Your illustrations, clip art and photographs should enhance the written content of your classroom poster, serving as visual aids to help your audience better understand the concepts being taught.
Mistakes on a classroom poster are distracting and can cause it to lose credibility with
its audience. Carefully check your classroom poster for spelling and grammatical errors, as well as for factual inconsistencies. In addition, ask a colleague or friend who is familiar with the age group your classroom poster is aimed at to read it over and to check that the wording is appropriate for your target audience.
Classroom posters should be created with the rules and regulations of your school in mind. Do not plagiarize material or use copyrighted photographs, clip art or illustrations. Look over every photograph you use to verify that there are no inappropriate actions taking place in the background that may not be noticeable at first glance. In some schools, pictures of students cannot be used if a parent has not signed a waiver, so verify with the administration what the school regulations on photographs are. Verify that any website link listed on your poster is correct.