How Should Schools Celebrate 100 Days of School? Educators Are Split (2024)

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See Also Educators are split on dressing up ... Dressing up like an old person is ageist and ableist (when they use any sort of assistive device). I always thought it was very strange to encourage children to mock the elderly. I admit, this is one of those dress-up days I just can’t get on board with, and I don’t care if it makes me a fuddy duddy. I agree with many critics that it seems like mockery. It’s especially problematic when kids wear fake nasal tubes, wheelchairs, walkers, or other adaptations that their own peers with special needs may use on a daily basis. BUT, frankly, my biggest issue with it is they squander a learning opportunity in favor of a major disruption. I’m a person who loves to dress up. I also have ADHD and my daughter is autistic and cannot deal with costumes much of the time. I think this kind of activity can exclude kids who are autistic, whose parents may not be available whether because of economic or mental health, or the parents have ADHD or a stressful job. Don’t add more to our day. Parent’s nightmare. What do the kids do whose parents/grownups can’t get them all fancied up with collections and costumes. Haves vs have nots. While I don’t find it offensive, as a first grade teacher I do find dress up days in general to be a nuisance. Nothing is taught or learned on dress up days because it’s all a huge distraction. The kids are feral. Props get lost or broken. Someone always ends up crying. It’s fun in theory, but a hassle in real life. Involve the elderly I really like the idea of inviting someone who is over 100 to talk about how the world has changed since he/she was in kindergarten. Inviting a 100 year to visit is a fantastic idea. Imagine what a person this age could teach these little ones!!! Extremely educational. We invited grandparents and great grandparents to the 100th day lunch. Everyone had a great time. We did all sorts of math together. What about the 101st day? We always celebrated the 101st day of school with 101 Dalmatians - wearing Dalmatian shirts, drawing on spots on faces, putting spots on a giant Dalmatian poster that was auctioned off to raise money for the school and watching the movie at the end of the day. Kids had collections of 101 objects, we did things like walking 101 steps, guessing how many steps it took to get to lunch, gym, the playground, etc. Whatever you do, incorporate math Why not counting for the very young students? Bring in 100 of something: cheerios, beans, whatever. For older elementary students: “here are four random numbers. Devise an equation that can make them equal 100.” I have always bought 100 munchkins at Dunkin’ Donuts, had the class count along as I transferred them to a large tray and then guessed how many each of them would get when we divided them up. I would write guesses on the board and then give everybody 1, then ask if there were enough to do two, etc. Get moving FAQs References

Let’s face it: In the winter months, the school year starts to drag. That makes the 100th day of school a great time to pause and acknowledge students’ progress.

And by focusing on the number 100, it’s also an opportunity for teachers to reinforce math concepts, especially in the early grades.

But it turns out educators have some strong feelings about how schools should commemorate the 100th day.

See Also

Early Childhood

100 Days of School: A Wacky Celebration Goes Viral
Christina A. Samuels

, February 15, 2019

4 min read

Recently, Education Week shared on Facebook a piece from our archives about 100-day celebrations by Christina Samuels, a reporter covering special education who once dressed her son as an centenarian to honor of his 100th day of school. In addition to feeling inconvenienced by the experience, she said she “wasn’t sure what to think about canes and walkers used as props.”

Samuels’s story hit a nerve.

In over 250 comments on the post, educators shared what they like about 100-day celebrations, what they don’t like about them, and some fresh approaches to try. Below is a sampling of what they had to say.

Educators are split on dressing up

Lots of schools encourage students or staff to dress up as 100-year-olds on the 100th day of school—a move some say is fun and others find ill-advised, exclusionary, or offensive.

... Dressing up like an old person is ageist and ableist (when they use any sort of assistive device). I always thought it was very strange to encourage children to mock the elderly.

- Lisa Niezgoda

I admit, this is one of those dress-up days I just can’t get on board with, and I don’t care if it makes me a fuddy duddy. I agree with many critics that it seems like mockery. It’s especially problematic when kids wear fake nasal tubes, wheelchairs, walkers, or other adaptations that their own peers with special needs may use on a daily basis. BUT, frankly, my biggest issue with it is they squander a learning opportunity in favor of a major disruption.

- Leigh Bagwell

I’m a person who loves to dress up. I also have ADHD and my daughter is autistic and cannot deal with costumes much of the time. I think this kind of activity can exclude kids who are autistic, whose parents may not be available whether because of economic or mental health, or the parents have ADHD or a stressful job. Don’t add more to our day.

- Sarah Hempel Irani

Parent’s nightmare. What do the kids do whose parents/grownups can’t get them all fancied up with collections and costumes. Haves vs have nots.

- Sarah Brewer Thompson

While I don’t find it offensive, as a first grade teacher I do find dress up days in general to be a nuisance. Nothing is taught or learned on dress up days because it’s all a huge distraction. The kids are feral. Props get lost or broken. Someone always ends up crying. It’s fun in theory, but a hassle in real life.

- Jessie Kuhn

A less-problematic alternative that readers on Facebook touted is having students or staff dress like people who lived 100 years ago. (This can be a parent headache, too, though: It’s unlikely many families have flapper dresses and knickerbockers lying around.)

Involve the elderly

Some commenters on Facebook liked the idea of reaching out to those in the school community that are advanced in age and involving them.

I really like the idea of inviting someone who is over 100 to talk about how the world has changed since he/she was in kindergarten.

- Jason McCully

Inviting a 100 year to visit is a fantastic idea. Imagine what a person this age could teach these little ones!!! Extremely educational.

- Mary Jane Taormina Diaz

We invited grandparents and great grandparents to the 100th day lunch. Everyone had a great time. We did all sorts of math together.

- Christine Volker

What about the 101st day?

We always celebrated the 101st day of school with 101 Dalmatians - wearing Dalmatian shirts, drawing on spots on faces, putting spots on a giant Dalmatian poster that was auctioned off to raise money for the school and watching the movie at the end of the day. Kids had collections of 101 objects, we did things like walking 101 steps, guessing how many steps it took to get to lunch, gym, the playground, etc.

- Ricki Feist

Whatever you do, incorporate math

There was consensus among educators on Facebook that the 100th day of school is a great time to cook up a fun math lesson that incorporates the number 100.

Why not counting for the very young students? Bring in 100 of something: cheerios, beans, whatever. For older elementary students: “here are four random numbers. Devise an equation that can make them equal 100.”

- Leigh Bagwell

I have always bought 100 munchkins at Dunkin’ Donuts, had the class count along as I transferred them to a large tray and then guessed how many each of them would get when we divided them up. I would write guesses on the board and then give everybody 1, then ask if there were enough to do two, etc.

- Suzanne Woolslayer

Get moving

Or how about something to get your students moving? One Facebook commenter plays this popular Jack Hartman exercise video for their second-grade students:

Still feeling short on ideas for the 100th day? Both the website We Are Teachers and publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt have some great suggestions.

How Should Schools Celebrate 100 Days of School? Educators Are Split (2)
Stacey Decker

Deputy Managing Editor for Digital, Education Week

Stacey Decker was the deputy managing editor for digital at Education Week.

How Should Schools Celebrate 100 Days of School? Educators Are Split (2024)

FAQs

Why do teachers celebrate 100 days of school? ›

This marks a point in the year where students are more than half-way through the 180 day school year. It is a time to reflect on all the learning that has taken place so far. The celebration began by a California teacher in 1979 who was trying to help her students understand the concrete lesson of the number 100.

Who celebrates 100 days of school? ›

Teachers, students, and families can get in on the fun of celebrating the 100th day of school activities. The 100th day of school is a fun opportunity to recognize student progress and honor all of the hard work as a community.

What is special about the 100 days of school? ›

The 100th day of school is an important milestone in the school year because it roughly marks the halfway point for the academic year. At this point of the year, students can reflect on what they have learnt so far, test their knowledge to see how much information they've retained, and celebrate all of their hard work.

Why is 100 days important? ›

It is traditionally believed that the first 100 days after the child's birth is the most vulnerable period for both the mother and the newborn. Therefore, they are advised to stay home to avoid contracting diseases. This is why making through the first 100 days is the perfect time to celebrate.

What is the objective of the 100 days of school? ›

The tradition typically takes place around the 100th day of the school year (hence the name), and it is a way to mark the progress that students have made and to celebrate the hard work and dedication of both students and teachers.

Why is the 100th day of school a big deal? ›

The 100th day is an important milestone because it means students are more than halfway through the year, as most schools have 180 days in their calendar year. It is also a great occasion to highlight how much children have learned since their academic year began.

Why do you celebrate 100 days? ›

Many families choose to wait till the 100th day to throw a grand celebration. This custom has also found its way into other Asian countries, and for good reasons. In the past, infant mortality rates were high. If a baby reached the 100-day mark, it was considered a promising sign of survival and future prosperity.

How to count 100 days of school? ›

1. Tally Marks. Counting the days can be as simple as using your whiteboard and a marker. Add a tally mark for each new day and display it out of reach so your extra helpful, small people can't add additional tallies when you're not looking.

Who is responsible for the creation of the 100th day of school? ›

The First 100th Day of School

Back in 1979, Lynn Taylor, along with her colleagues David Cooper and Mary Hurdlow, celebrated their first 100th day of school. The idea grew from their experience with a program called Math Their Way and an activity called The Days of School Graph.

Do people celebrate 100 days together? ›

Celebrating your 100th Day Anniversary is very common in Korean dating culture. Many couples will plan a special date and exchange gifts as well! Would you want to celebrate this with your loved one?

What happens on the 100th day of school? ›

The 100th Day of School is a symbolic celebration of students' achievements during the academic year, especially for those in elementary school. The event centers around the number 100, which helps develop learners' understanding and recognition of numbers up to 100.

How to represent 100 days of school? ›

A popular idea for marking 100 days of school is to have kids wear shirts with 100 of something on them, like safety pins, buttons, or fuzzy balls. Encourage kids and families to get creative; check out these 11 fun ways to decorate a shirt. (Short on time?

What was the point of the hundred days? ›

The Hundred Days Offensive was a series of attacks by the Allied troops at the end of World War I. Starting on August 8, 1918, and ending with the Armistice on November 11, the Offensive led to the defeat of the German Army. By the Summer of 1918, German attacks in the war had halted.

Do kids dress up for 100 days of school? ›

There seems to be a new tradition in schools, celebrating the 100th day of school. I don't remember doing this as a kid, but over the last couple of years it seems to be all the rage for young kids. They get to dress up like 100 year old outfit idea for kids and do fun projects including the number 100.

What is the story behind Teachers Day celebration? ›

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He was a man of many good qualities and a favorite teacher among students. It was his request that his birthday should be celebrated as an honorable day for all the teachers in the country, in case someone is wishing to celebrate his birthday at all.

What is the purpose of the Teachers Day celebration? ›

It is a day to celebrate how teachers are transforming education but also to reflect on the support they need to fully deploy their talent and vocation, and to rethink the way ahead for the profession globally.

Why 100 day Celebration? ›

Among the many important milestones in a baby's life, the 100th day holds special cultural significance. It is a momentous occasion, symbolising the baby's successful adaptation to the world and a joyous celebration of their first three months of life.

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