How-To: Valentine’s Class Party!
Class parties can be so stressful. It is an unstructured time where students get candy and other treats. I used to completely dread class parties, up until recently where I feel like I really have cracked the code! Below I share 5 tips and tricks for running a Valentine's class party of your dreams!
TIP #1: ASK FOR HELP
Now I know this seems so obvious, but I swear that during my first three years of teaching, I was so nervous that parents were going to add to the stress instead of help, but with clear guidelines on what I need help with it goes smoothly. There are so many parents, paras, front desk, grandmas, or other people who are willing to help if you ask (:
When I ask for help I typically plan something ultra-specific I would love for the volunteer to do. For example, pass out goodies, plan the craft, set up/clean up, etc. Having a specific thought helps the confusion on both ends. (:
TIP #2: MAKE A PLAN
Making a plan doesn’t mean everything will go to plan, however, I find myself so much less stressed when I know exactly what will happen and tentatively how long.
My plan for a valentines party is always:
Have students grab the valentines they would like to pass out to all students. Have 3-4 kids pass out at a time, till everyone has passed out.
Have volunteers/ responsible students help pass out any treats that were donated, cupcakes, cookies, etc.
Once students have all their valentines/treats, I let them sit and enjoy while completing a coloring sheet or the i-spy from the Valentine's Class Party Bundle.
After that, we play Valentine's Charades or do the Valentine's workouts to end the party.
Clean up and send the rest of the Valentines home.
TIP #3: HAVE PRINTABLE VALENTINE’S ON HAND
Every year I have been a teacher I have had a student show up with no valentines to pass out to the class. That experience always breaks my heart. So I plan to have a few sets of the Printable Valentine cards on hand so my students can color them & still be a part of the celebration
Ps. The cards I created and use below are completely FREE!
TIP #4: MUSIC, THEME, DECOR
I do not use any theme or decor for the party itself. For me, it is more stress and things added to my plate, that don’t seem to make any difference. I have never had any students comment on how undecorated the room is, or how we don’t have decorations. However, I do love to get into the Valentine’s spirit at the beginning of the month, by changing out my bulletin board to be something valentines themed. This helps my students and me get into the holiday and shows them that Valentine’s love.
Music however is a perfect way to add an extra touch to the Valentine's party! I love Missbensko on Spotify! She has some perfect playlists for lots of different occasions. She even has a Taylor Swift playlist for the classroom that I love for Valentine’s Day!
TIP #5: KEEP IT SIMPLE
I think doing whatever is going to keep your peace is right for you. Your students want a happy teacher, not the perfect gift or the perfect decor. So I do not do Valentine’s gifts, crazy decor, or room transformation. I ask for help, make a plan, and most importantly have FUN! (:
Good luck & I am rooting for you this Valentine’s day!
