It's that time of year! Classroom parties and sugar crashes have just begun. How does an elementary teacher survive? Well, until you can get home to that bottle of wine, here are some tips to calm the chaos.
Tip #1: Set the mood early. I like to put up my Halloween decorations at the beginning of the month. It saves a lot of stress getting everything ready the day-of. In our school district, parent/teacher conferences fall during the last week of October, as does Nevada Day, so decorating early keeps me from getting overwhelmed. It also sets a festive mood for the entire month!
Tip #2: Delegate! I ask my 5th-graders for volunteers to plan our party. This year 2 boys took it upon themselves to put everything together. They polled the class on treats and activities. They set all this up on clipboards, so their classmates could look it over and make choices during their free time. No class time was lost. The boys even typed up a family letter explaining the event and what everyone needed to bring.
You don't have to teach older grades to take the weight off your shoulders. When I taught first grade, I asked for a parent to plan the party. I simply gave them a list of other parents who offered to help and let them take the reigns. On the day of the party, all I had to do was sit back and watch!
Tip #3: It's all about the kids. Remember, this party isn't an extravaganza to show what a marvelous teacher you are. Let your students set the tone. You know your classroom dynamics better than anyone...and you know how much that changes from year to year. One group of students might be able to handle a craft, while another can only handle a fun story or holiday movie. Some years you have oodles of parent "helpers" while other years you're completely on your own. Take cues from your students before planning something that may be overwhelming for them and you.
Tip #4: Keep it simple! Sometimes less truly is more. I've done parties where I set up centers for students to rotate around with a fun, creative holiday activity at each one...anything from decorating sugar cookies to turning each other into mummies. While definitely memorable, they can be a bit much. Remember, most of your students are going trick-or-treating or to Halloween parties after school, and all of them will come back the next day crashing from the sugar overload. Your party just needs to get them started. A light snack (preferably sugar-free) and single activity, whether that's a costume parade, movie, or craft, are plenty.
So take a deep breath, get ready, and remember...you still have that glass of wine waiting for you at home!
Here are a couple of fun activities to get you started:
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