Creative Classroom Ideas

I always feel like I see the same things in every classroom I walk into. So I have been trying to find some cool things I could do to and in my classroom to stand out. You can try some of these ideas or come up with some of your own. If you come up with some of your own please share in my blog so that we can all be creative in our classrooms and let us know how it turns out. Try to designate an area for reading. In my classroom I will use a soft turtle shell to go with my classroom theme. There will be a rug or mural on the floor that looks like water and on the walls there will be small turtles swimming in the water. I am even thinking about adding a sound machine of the ocean. Now every teacher has a assignment turn in folder somewhere in the classroom. Can you come up with any ideas on how to make this more interesting, instead of just a basket on the teachers desk? You know most of the time the kids forget about turning things in until you are already done grading everyone else's. Is there a way that would make them want to remember to turn their homework or assignment in at the beginning of the day or right after they finish the work? I am going to have a box that the kids will color a spot on to finish the picture once everyone has their work turned in and the student of the week will get to take the box home to keep. These are just a few ideas I have. Do you have any more?