Guess what? Today is my birthday! That probably doesn’t mean much to you, but it made me think about how birthdays are being celebrated in the classroom these days. Or are they being celebrated at all? When I was in elementary school, if it was a student’s birthday, he or she got to bring in treats (usually cake, cupcakes, or cookies) for the whole class to share, we sang “Happy Birthday,” and the birthday person was made to feel very special for a day. It was awesome!

However, over the years, it seems that this birthday tradition has changed. When I was a substitute teacher, I was working in a second-grade classroom one day when one of the little girls told me it was her birthday. We sang “Happy Birthday” to her when the time was right, but I felt bad that there was no mention of her birthday in the teacher’s notes for me. Maybe the teacher was too ill to remember. Maybe, intentionally, there was nothing ever planned. I’ll never know.

After recently talking to some of my teacher friends, I discovered that classroom birthday celebrations are very different than they used to be, and some are even banned! They shared three main reasons for the change:

1. Birthday treats need to be healthy or not brought in at all; or they have to be non-food items.

The nutritional value of birthday treats (or lack there of) seems to be the main reason why birthday celebrations in the classroom are changing. With many schools having a Local Wellness Policy implemented, it is also carrying over into what may be brought in for birthdays. Parents are given lists of healthy alternatives that they can bring in on their child’s special day. Bringing in non-food items, such as pencils or stickers, is a great option, as well.

Also, many students have food allergies. Is it fair for those kids with nut, dairy, or some other allergies to have to watch their classmates enjoy a birthday treat that they can’t eat?

2. Birthday celebrations cut down on academic instruction time.

With more and more pressure for students to meet or exceed content standards, the “fun” things at school are being put to the side, including art and music lessons. Academic instruction time is spent on core subject areas. With around 30 student birthdays to celebrate in a school year, that adds up quickly and deducts from much-needed instruction time. Some schools have even said that any sort of classroom celebration must be held at the end of the day, after the majority of core learning is done.

3. Some families can’t afford to bring in birthday treats (healthy or not) to share with the whole class.

Budgets are tight these days, and for many families, spending money on birthday treats for the whole class and the teacher(s) is not a priority. Some students get hurt feelings when it’s their birthday and they don’t have anything to share with their classmates. It’s easier to cut out the birthday treats entirely than to have students with sad feelings on their birthdays because they can’t do what their friends do.

I understand the reasoning behind minimizing birthday celebrations in the classroom, but I think it’s so important to boost your students’ self esteem and make them feel special—especially on their birthdays.

So, what’s a teacher to do?

One of my teacher friends said that in her classroom, they dedicate 20 minutes on the first Friday every month to celebrate those students with birthdays that month. (For those students who have birthdays when school is not in session, they celebrate their birthdays on the closest month that school is in session.) They sing “Happy Birthday,” and they enjoy a healthy snack together—such as pretzels, carrots with dip, or fruit slices—which the parents usually bring in.

At my aunt’s school, they aren’t allowed to celebrate birthdays at all! A quick “Happy Birthday” at the start of the school day is all that her students get. She usually gives the birthday student a birthday sticker and/or a birthday crown to wear for the day to make him or her feel special.

Another teacher said that when it’s one of his students’ birthdays, the birthday person gets to be the “Star Student.” For the whole day, the Star Student gets to choose any or all of the classroom jobs that he or she wants. For example, many students choose to be the line leader and the materials passer on their day. The birthday student also gets to choose their playground equipment first and be dismissed to go home first. He said, “Basically, whatever comes up that day that involves choosing a student for something, I always ask the Star Student first. It doesn’t cost me anything, and they love it.”

What about for you? How are you allowed to celebrate student birthdays at your school?

Think back to the last time you saw a movie. About halfway through, you realize the climax has come. How do you know? You hear the music change. Maybe you hear the gradual progression of piercing violins. Or perhaps you notice the piano, as it begins to punch through the silence. And all of a sudden, without even realizing it, you’re at the edge of your seat, nibbling on your nails, wondering what will happen next.

Music makes such a difference in a movie. It serves as a backdrop and reinforces the drama, humor, or romance of a particular moment. Without it, some scenes wouldn’t be as powerful, and some exchanges might be lost. When it comes to teaching and classrooms, music can function the same way. While your lesson will ring clear no matter what, with music, it will have more of an impact and lasting effect.

Music can liven up your classroom in so many ways. Researchers have proven that music does the following for students:

One way that you can incorporate music in your classroom is at the beginning of class and/or after lunch and recess. One of my favorite teachers, Mr. Kutzner, used to welcome in our class, which was after lunch, with various Neil Young songs. We couldn’t stand them! And what was worse is that he would sing along with them—and his voice was truly terrible, even screechy! But it made us laugh, woke us up, and helped us focus after lunch. Adding music in this way allows you to have some fun with your students. You’re inviting them to see a playful side of yourself. So go ahead and play some of your favorite tunes. (Just be sure to listen to them ahead of time to make sure they’re classroom appropriate.)

One of my favorite artists is Jack Johnson. A few years ago he did the soundtrack for the movie, Curious George. The songs are lighthearted, and some of them are even educational and contain great lessons. If you’re interested in teaching your students about sharing or recycling, be sure to check out “The Sharing Song” and “The 3 R’s.” Although this particular album is intended for younger children, he has other albums that could be played for an older audience.

When teaching math or grammar, try playing music that will help your students focus. The melodies of Mozart, DeBussy, and Handel will enhance the skills being taught. Of course, if you feel like “throwing a curveball” during a money (math) lesson one day, try turning on Barenaked Ladies’ “If I Had $1,000,000.” This is sure to get all of your students smiling! And what teacher doesn’t want to do that?

History can be a tough subject for students to absorb because, let’s face it, from their perspective, it can be dense. However, you can jazz it up by including songs from different historical periods. I was lucky enough to have a professor in college who brought his guitar in each week and played a song or two from the time period we were studying. (Did you ever have a teacher like this?) I can still remember some of the facts he covered, and that was years ago! A terrific resource for songs from different centuries (17th – early 20th) is www.contemplator.com/america. Here, you’ll find the history, lyrics, and midi files for over two hundred songs, from “Greensleeves” (17th century) to “The Drinking Gourd” (19th century).

For all you science teachers, you’re in luck! I have a couple suggestions for you, as well. Have you ever heard of “The Rainbow Connection”? Try using this song when you’re teaching your students about light or the light spectrum. Also, when teaching nutrition, put on Oliver!’s “Food, Glorious Food” in the background. Your students are sure to enjoy it!

As a side note, if you have an mp3 player (i.e., iPod®), you can set up playlists for each lesson or theme, making it easier for you to teach year after year. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel!

Ultimately, when you teach your students, you hope that a) they learn something, and b) they enjoy the experience. Music can help you achieve both of these goals. In the words of Neil Young, minus the terrible, screeching voice, “The lights turned on and the curtain fell down and when it was over it felt like a dream.” Offer up a dream to your students. Stimulate their minds with a little bit of drama, humor, or calming melody. Whether you’re welcoming in students after a break or teaching them a grammar lesson, students will be energized by music, and there’s a good chance they’ll enjoy the material being covered. There’s an equally good chance that you’ll enjoy it, too.