Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for November 1, 2005 HALLOWEEN HANGOVER

Be afraid...be VERY afraid!

TEACHERS BRACE FOR ANNUAL TEST: THE NOV. 1 SUGAR RUSH DAY 1

By Larry Slonaker
Mercury News

For teachers, it can be the scariest day of the year.

No, not Halloween. The day after Halloween. Today. The day that can conjure up a terrifying procession of sleep- deprived, sugar-engorged, caffeine-laden students who stumble into class after a night full of trick-or-treating and a morning full of M&M's.

``Sugar rush day,'' Melanie Ontiveros calls it. Ontiveros teaches English at Morrill Middle School in San Jose. And she is resigned to this reality: Students today ``are going to be antsy and inattentive.''

There are a handful of days throughout the school year that many teachers dread, or at least relegate to ``Probably Going to be Unproductive'' status. The day before Christmas break. The last day of the year, of course.

And then there's the day after Halloween.

Many students stay out late, ``and are either absent the next day or are too sleepy to be disruptive,'' says Robert Wright, Ontiveros' fellow teacher at Morrill.

``The slightly-more-parented come to school in a challenging, sugar-altered state. Some teachers will hand out leftover Tootsie Roll Pops to serve as a kind of methadone -- but also because that will be the only way some students will keep their mouths shut.''

Even the students recognize the challenge they present. Asked Monday if consumption of candy might affect his behavior, Morrill seventh-grader Alex Nguyen responded with an emphatic, ``Yes!''

He hastily added, however, ``But I know how to control it.'' Control what? ``The hyper-ness.''

Medical studies have suggested that giving sugar to children does not raise their level of excitability. But the consumption of large quantities of chocolate can provide a good jolt of caffeine to the system. And even if the sugar itself doesn't cause ``hyper-ness,'' the mere presence of candy can create a distracting buzz.

``So many people are going to be, like, `I'll trade you this Twix for that Snickers,' '' said Miguel Ozuna, Alex's classmate.

Some districts, such as Milpitas Unified, won't have to deal with the problem -- students have the day off, and teachers undergo training. Those schools that are in session often take a can't-beat-'em-so-join-'em approach. On Halloween day, many elementary schools hold a parade, at which students can show off costumes and burn off energy.

That was the case Monday at Horace Mann Elementary in downtown San Jose. ``You've got to go with it,'' Mann counselor Carol Guertin said of the Halloween effect. The principal had admonished students not to bring candy today, she said. ``But I think most will probably bring some.''

The challenge for teachers today, Guertin said, will be to channel the inevitable excess energy. ``Teachers should plan activities that involve a lot of hands-on stuff. The kids should be able to discuss things with each other in small groups. And switch activities often.''

Ontiveros had her day planned long in advance. Her students already have read Ray Bradbury's ``The Halloween Tree,'' and today they'll be watching a video version. Their assignment: compare and contrast the video to the book.

``It's going to be kind of an easy day for them,'' she said. ``I'm not expecting too much.''