Teaching when you’re sick

Flu season has been a doozy this year, and it’s officially hit our home with a vengeance. While I’m not sick yet… I’ve definitely had a lot of sleepless nights, because that’s what moms do. This has me thinking about all of the times that I’ve had to manage a classroom when I definitely wasn’t at the top of my game – sick, but not sick enough to justify a day off, tired from a newborn or sick kid, fighting a migraine, dealing with personal distractions – all of the things that life throws at us! Here are the tips and tricks that have always helped me get through those days where I just don’t have 100% to give to my class.

Be honest. I try to be as truthful as possible with my students when it makes sense. If I don’t feel well I’ll let them know because even the youngest children can empathize with that. Often they’ll step up and do their best to help in any way they can. I don’t use this as an excuse, but more to let students know that I might not be myself that day and so they aren’t alarmed or confused if I do something a little different than usual.

Identify goals for the day. Knowing what needs to happen in order to feel like the day was successful gives me benchmarks to work towards. Sometimes those goals are as simple as doing the absolute basics, or checking one task off the to-do list that is absolutely necessary.

Make a list. To help me see how the day is progressing forward I’ll put our entire day in a chronological list and check each item off as it passes. Circle time, check. Small groups, check. Lunch, check. Playground time, check. It reminds me that this hard day won’t last forever. It also helps keep me on task when my brain might not be as focused as I’d like.

Lean into favorite activities. Some days I just need to pull an activity out of my back pocket that I KNOW will keep the children happy and engaged. This might be a certain movement video, a favorite art activity, bubbles, or extra outside time. These fun things are what the children will remember about the day, and they’ll give me a breather for an extra minute.

Every day won’t live up to the highest standards, and some days are truly just surviving – that’s ok! It happens to all of us, and these days don’t last forever. The best possible thing you can do is give yourself a pass and move on.