Mrs. Munch's Munchkins

A blog to give teachers ideas and tools that make teaching easier

How to Celebrate Birthdays in the Classroom

A little girl and her dog in party hats. How to Celebrate Birthdays in the Classroom.

My birthday is on December 30th. Thus, I was that kid who never got to celebrate birthdays in the classroom. All my Summer and Winter Break birthday friends know the pain. For me, even my half birthday was out of the question because it occurs during the Summer.

Therefore, as a teacher, I’ve always been passionate about making sure EVERY birthday is celebrated in the classroom. I want every student to get the chance to feel special and recognized! Below I’ll explain exactly what I do to accomplish this.

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How to use Handshakes in the Classroom

A video of The Parent Trap movie handshake. How to use Handshakes in the Classroom.

How to Use Handshakes in the Classroom: I once had a super amazing babysitter who memorized The Parent Trap handshake with me. In case you’re unfamiliar, the handshake occurs in iconic scene in the move (the full clip is inserted below.) Annie is a young girl from London headed to summer camp in the states for 8 weeks. Before leaving, she and her butler commence in a darling handshake sequence.

My babysitter and I replayed this clip over and over. Rewinding our VCR multiple times to ensure we had the sequence down just right.

I’ve always loved that scene. And I’ve always loved the symbol of closeness special handshakes hold. Thus, it’s no wonder I love using handshakes with my students!

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