Teaching when you’re sick -

I would get sick in the middle of May – it never fails, whenever I happen to be busiest, Mother Nature gets me. It doesn’t help that the weather has taken a sudden turn back to winter and it is cold cold cold. All I want to do is curl up under a blanket and spend the day on the couch.

Luckily, I’ve come up with some pretty good strategies for teaching when I’m not feeling my best. Those can be the longest days! Of course, if you’re really really sick – and contagious – stay home! But if you’re just uncomfortable, here are somethings that will help you out:

I try to dress as comfortably as possible. I fully believe that everyone needs to own a pair of black yoga pants that can pass as dress pants, they are a necessity. Over my yoga/dress pants I wear a loose, comfy sweater. You can still look professional even when you’re miserable, this helps to hide how horribly you are feeling! While they may not be professional, my moccasins are a must. I tend to be freezing when I’m sick and if I can wear slippers that pass for shoes, I totally will! I also refuse to wear my contacts when I’m sick, my glasses are my best friends, and they make me look just a little more put together when I throw my hair up in a messy bun.

The last thing I want to worry about when I’m sick is how my hair looks – who cares?! I’m absolutely in love with pretty ponytail holders, pick one that matches your outfit and it looks like you tried a lot harder than you did. I have to start the day with a nice warm latte, it will sooth your throat, give you a little caffeine, and warm you up. If I can bring some soup – or grab a bowl from Panera for lunch then I know I can make it through the rest of the day.

Hand sanitizer is a must. I already feel bad enough that I got sick, I don’t want anyone else to feel this miserable because they caught it from me. I’ve got one of these Bath and Body pocket bacs in my desk, one in my car, and one in my purse!

When it comes to getting through the day in the classroom, I have a few tricks up my sleeve. I’ve got to have kleenex, of course and for some reason I’m more likely to use them if they’re in a cute box… Audio books are my secret weapon. They save what’s left of my voice and my kids seem to pay better attention to an audio book than they do to me. I’m also a fan of pulling out the “special” art supplies – these are usually reserved for the teacher stash, things like glitter crayons, smelly markers, and colored glue pens. Kiddos will work much longer with supplies that they rarely get the opportunity to use.

Soothing music helps keep the room calm, and I love the Piano Guys – classical meets pop – means that it’s still fun to listen to while we work, even if it is helping set the mood for the day. Finally, Magna Tiles. These are my go-to activity whenever I need something that the children are sure to be interested in for a long time. I’ve blogged about them a number of times, but I can’t possibly tell you how much my kiddos love these!

What are your secrets for getting through the day when you feel less than 100%? If you want to ward off the bug that I caught, be sure to take a peek at my tips to keep from getting sick!

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