Frosting brings out a side of my students I would rather not experience. This is not the first time we have had cupcakes and been reduced to chaos. For some reason otherwise well-behaved students lose seven years of age. Several intentionally smear frosting on their faces. (Yes, I was mean and took away their cupcakes.)
At one point I said, "I hate birthdays."
They responded, "You hate kids." (No, just cupcakes.)
I can top my own story. The year I taught kindergarten I had a mom who brought an ice cream cake and no silverware. She actually told me that she was glad she could have the "party" at school because she didn't want to have the students at her house.
I don't want to take away birthday celebrations entirely; I just don't want to be by myself in a room with twenty-four students hyped up on sugar. So, I'm asking, please, for my sanity...no more cupcakes at school.
I am with you, I hate it when the parents send in super sweet foods for a birthday treat. I have started to celebrate birthdays during the last 10-15 min. of the day. I have them pack up early, then quickly pass out the snack...by the time they are finishing it buses are being called. It's the only way I've been able to stay sane!
ReplyDeleteHunter's Tales from Teaching
I try to fit it in last thing also.
DeleteI have kids do birthday treats right after lunch. They are a little less crazy, their bellies are full and they know we have plenty more to do that day.
ReplyDeleteI agree about cupcakes!! They act like its their first birthday all over again. Seriously?
Have you had them bring in a cookie cake? A giant cookie that has to be cut "evenly" into 28 slices. Yeah, that's fun.
I love Little Debbie snacks, already packaged. :)
EmilyK
I haven't experienced the cookie cake. I don't think I would enjoy that at all.
DeleteI definitely do not blame you for only giving each child one cupcake. Two cupcakes would have been out of control. Our school actually put a ban on cupcakes for birthdays.
ReplyDeleteAmy
Eclectic Educating
I'm thinking about asking for a school-wide ban. After school the birthday child gets mobbed by students in other classes asking for a cupcake. I walked the 24 we didn't eat out to the student's car.
DeleteI banned them outright. Told the parents so at curriculum night.
DeleteI have one birthday celebration a month. It is on the date that I choose at the time that I choose. I send home a sign-up sheet to all parents with birthdays that fall in the month. We have one cupcake each, juice, and fruit or veggies. When parents do not follow the rule, I send the treats back home with a note reminding them of the scheduled celebration. We always do this on a Friday and it is the last 15-20 minutes of our day. Sugar them up and send them home!
ReplyDeleteOh, I like the scheduled once a month celebration idea. I think I would eliminate cupcakes from the sign-ups. Thank you for the great suggestion.
DeleteI like the one celebration a month idea! I figured it out once and with my little class of 21 kiddos, if everyone sent in cupcakes for birthdays, we would have a cupcake celebration each week (21/38 weeks!) That's ridiculous! I encourage the kids to donate a book to the class for their birthday, we do a crown and they choose a birthday gem from a basket (dollar store rocks), and no treats! I explain this at back to school night and then everyone forgets the no treat part. It's so hard to say NO when the child is standing right there. I've got to tackle this one again before next year!
DeleteI've tried the "no treat" plan. You are right. They bring treats anyway.
DeleteI make my celebration leaders plan a once a month birthday celebration.... Subject to approval before it is finalized. Turns out my kids don't do over the top birthday celebrations when 1. They have to share the spotlight with one or more other students and 2. It's not actually on their actual birthday.
DeleteLaurel, I'm glad I get to work with you in real life. :)
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