45 Important Germ-Fighting Tips for Teachers

Whether it’s flu season or just another day at school, your classroom is likely to be crawling with germs. These germs put you and your students at risk to catch viruses and diseases, so it’s important to fight them vigilantly. With these helpful tips and guidelines, you can wage war on the germs in your class.
Classroom Items
These items offer a helpful hand in keeping your classroom germ free.

1. Mechanical pencils: Instead of using the community pencil sharpener that’s a magnet for germs, make use of mechanical pencils that don’t need sharpening.
2. Keep hand sanitizer in a convenient spot: Lab tables, by the door, or on your desk are good places to put hand sanitizer for everyone to use when there’s no soap and water handy.
3. Use attention-getting soap: Soap with a fun smell or color is likely to get used much more often than a plain bar.
4. Posters: Posters that remind kids to cover their coughs and wash hands can help them stay vigilant against germs.
5. Separate crayons: Make sure kids have their own sets of crayons, so they don’t have to share them and germs at the same time.
6. Alcohol-based wipes: Alcohol-based disposable hand wipes can come in handy when hand washing is not convenient in the classroom.
7. Automatic faucets: Items like automatic faucets and soap dispensers can keep kids clean while they’re washing their hands.
8. Tissues: Making sure that kids can sneeze into tissues and wipe up runny noses with tissues instead of their hands or clothes can help stop the spread of germs.
9. Install a HEPA filter: HEPA filters can remove pollen, dust, dander, and bacteria from the air.
10. Encourage water drinking: Dehydration can lower the immune system, so make sure kids always have access to fresh water.
11. Disinfecting wipes: Tables, desks, door handles, and other germy surfaces should be wiped down at least once a day.

Habits
These habits will keep your classroom healthy and clean.

12. Show kids how to wash their hands properly: Remember to have kids sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice while washing their hands.
13. Repeat germ fighting tips regularly: Kids tend to forget or not pay attention to germ fighting tasks, so repeat yourself to get the message into kids’ heads.
14. Use paper cups: Minimize the exposure to water fountains by using paper cups in your classroom.
15. Start cleaning routines: Create quick routines with your class, like wiping down desks, countertops, keyboards, and light switches.
16. Use proper food handling techniques: If you prepare snacks at school, make sure to pay attention to food safety.
17. Wash hands before going to lunch: Before you head to the cafeteria, stop by a classroom sink or bathroom to wash hands, or give each student hand sanitizer on the way out the door.
18. Dispose of tissues: Make sure that tissues get thrown in a trashcan instead of staying on tables.
19. Disinfect surfaces regularly: Use disinfecting wipes or cleaner to disinfect surfaces like desks, doorknobs, and light switches.
20. Keep hands out of mouths and noses: Remind students that they need to be careful to not touch their mouths, eyes, and noses without first washing their hands.
21. Wipe down toys: Be sure to wipe down toys, books, and other items that can spread germs.
22. Turn on a black light: Show kids all of the germs in the classroom with the help of a black light.
23. Start a daily cleaning ritual: At the end of each school day, have kids help you wipe down surfaces before they go home for the day.
24. Wash in between activities: Make sure students wash in between activities, especially before eating and after the bathroom.
25. Teach kids how to do the elbow cough: Kids are more likely to spread germs on their hands, so encourage them to cough into their elbows instead.
26. Avoid hand holding: During cold and flu season, discourage hand holding among students.
27. Hand supplies to kids: If you see a student touching their nose, give them a tissue and sanitize their hands.

Policies & Parent Involvement
Set policies and get parents involved in the fight against germs.

28. Minimize touching: Be careful not to spread germs yourself by touching, like patting kids on the back.
29. Teach by example: Practice healthy habits yourself, so kids will learn to do what you’re doing.
30. Don’t encourage sharing during flu season: When germs are at their peak, make sure that children know they shouldn’t share personal items like ChapStick, water, and snacks.
31. Ask for supplies: Ask each student to bring a box of tissues, hand sanitizer, and anti bacterial wipes to build your classroom’s supply.
32. Wash your own hands: Don’t be the one to infect kids yourself-always wash your hands at least as frequently as you ask kids to.
33. Ask students to sanitize backpacks: Avoid spreading germs from home to school by asking students and/or parents to wash backpacks and other items.
34. Remind kids to stay home if they’re sick: Be forgiving when it comes to staying out of class when kids aren’t feeling well, and offer easy ways for students to make up work they may have missed.
35. Stay on top of immunizations: Protect students by making sure they keep their shots on schedule.
36. Debunk the 5-second rule: If food or medication falls on the floor, make sure it gets thrown away.
37. Send out a germ newsletter: Give parents tips for keeping their kids and classmates germ free during flu season.
38. Send sick kids home: Don’t let sick students stay at school.

Activities
These activities can keep your classroom healthy and teach kids about germs.

39. Use craft glitter to demonstrate the spread of germs: Glitter can show students how germs are spread in the classroom.
40. Encourage outside playtime: When the weather is nice, make sure that kids have time to play outside to get fresh air, which can help their immune systems.
41. Keep the room warm: The immune system is better able to ward off bacteria and viruses in a warm environment, so if you have control over the thermostat, do your best to avoid keeping the classroom chilly.
42. Draw germ characters: Educate kids about contagious diseases by drawing cartoon characters about them.
43. Read books about germs: Cute books about germs can help students better understand their impact in the classroom.
44. Eat germ fighting foods: Share colorful fruits and vegetables that can help their immune systems.
45. Encourage good sleeping habits: Encourage students to get enough sleep at night, and if appropriate, offer a naptime for your classroom.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 24th, 2011 at 8:57 pm and is filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.        

(onlineclasses.org)