Halloween

What I Learned In School Today: I actually LIKE celebrating Halloween in school.

Halloween. So many teachers hate Halloween in school. The day is out of routine and chaotic while the kids are filled with an earth-rattling combination of adrenaline and sugar. Costumes are a distraction and sweet treats are plentiful. Kids struggle to focus as they think about parades, parties, costumes, and candy. It is often a day without academic rigor (blasphemy!) and without kids sitting quietly in their seats. So many teachers hate Halloween in schools for these very reasons, but I love it.

Halloween in school is fun. It’s not the costumes, candy, games, music, or decorations; it’s seeing the excitement in the faces of our kids. We often focus on academic rigor, data, and learning goals with our students but easily forget that they are kids! They should be excited on Halloween. They should be thinking about costumes and candy. To me, it’s worth a loud, chaotic day to allow our kids to have fun and do something memorable.