Teacher’s Guide To Surviving Halloween
Nothing strikes fear in the hearts of teachers like Halloween and it’s not because of the spooky costumes. Managing excited, costume clad children fending for candy is way more terrifying than anything you can find in a haunted house. Kids are so full of energy and often you still have to teach a full day of lessons. Here are my best tips for getting through the day (and the day after) with minimal horror.
1. Make a Self Care Plan
Make sure to think of ways to care for and treat yourself throughout the day. This is the day to stop at a coffee shop and get your favorite drink on your way to work, PSL anyone? Pack a delicious lunch and force yourself to take at least 20 minutes to stop and actually eat it. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Call the office for at least one bathroom break and do some deep breathing or listen to a favorite song before you go back to your room. Plan to do something relaxing and fun after work (or after your kids are in bed). Book a massage, volunteer one of your non-teacher friends to make you dinner, take your teacher bestie for a drink after work, or order take-out and watch your favorite Halloween movie. Be sure to stock up on plenty of your favorite candy! Click the photos for links to resources and ideas for anytime self care.
2. Plan Easy Halloween Classroom Activities
Since it’s already a hectic day, do yourself a favor and plan activities that aren’t going to be over complicated. The kids are going to have fun regardless, so keep it low key. This will also help you enjoy the moment more and you probably won’t end up with glue in your hair. I always love a good craft with a movie in the background. It’s low maintenance because kids can watch the movie while they wait for materials or help, and early finishers are covered. There are endless ways to make the day festive and fun, without creating any headaches. Click the photos for more ideas for more Halloween crafts and activities.
3. Choose a Great Teacher Costume
Ever tried disciplining a child while wearing a troll costume? Spoiler, you’re going to feel ridiculous. Halloween is all about having lots of fun and being silly, but there are lots of things to consider when choosing a costume. First, is appropriateness, which can be tricky when many women’s costumes are NSFW, let alone children. You also want something that the kids will recognize and like. It’s also got to be cheap, because we are all on a budget. Considering your comfort level with costumes is important too, since obviously you’re going to be teaching all day in this thing. If you love dressing up and wearing elaborate costumes, go for it. However, if you’re not, there are plenty of cute simple costumes and festive outfits that will preserve your dignity and you won’t be fumbling with tutus and safety pins all day (unless you’re into that!). Also remember that you are never required to dress up. Don’t let anyone pressure you into wearing something you are not comfortable with. Sometimes your team might want to coordinate, which can be fun, but if you aren’t into it, it’s ok to say no. click the photos for more easy teacher costume ideas.
4. Manage Behavior with Positive Incentive Breaks
Give your class plenty of opportunities throughout the day to earn breaks when they meet expectations. When they have earned their break, they can play a game, watch a dance video on GoNoodle, or do something else that gets them moving and releases extra energy. Taking lots of breaks will also keep you from feeling burnt out and keep you in the moment so you can enjoy the day too. This would be a good time to call the office and ask for a quick break for yourself, hey you earned it too!
Plan a bigger reward they can earn as a group at the end of the day for having met behavior expectations all day long. I usually do a running hangman game where the answer is the reward they’ll get a the end of the day. Throughout the day they earn guesses when they meet expectations as a whole class. At the end of the day the reward is a treat for everyone, extra recess, computer time, or whatever your class likes.
5. Take it Slow on the Day After Halloween
Sometimes the day after Halloween is even worse than the day itself, because everyone is so tired. This is the day to do lots of review, and continue using incestive breaks. Provide lots of opportunities for independent work or computer work like Zearn or Lalilo, so kids can move at their own pace. Attempting too many whole group lessons will likely make everyone crazy, so it’s ok to take a bit of a break.
Follow these simple tips and Halloween won’t seem so scary. Comment below with your favorite costumes, treats, activities and tips for surviving Halloween with a room full of excited children.
