Add to this blog with comments or contact us to share ideas for our authors to feature! Interact and become part of the OUTFOX community today! Do you have good hygiene training ideas? Fun lessons to share? Interesting success stories about hygiene lessons? Funny blurbs about bad hygiene? Share it with us, other teachers and parents! We look forward to OUTFOXing illness and disease with you! See the Hygiene and Infection Control Blog (Click Here) Index for past posts. |
School and Home Hygiene Blog
Cleaning Leaders Assigned In Classrooms Benefit the Health of the Students
November Germblog Happy November! I love November. There are a lot of great things in fall that all just come together. Leaf piles, football games, Thanksgiving and the first snow that comes when you’re excited and not sick of snow yet! This is also about the time of year when things start really clicking in my classroom. Procedures are down, Halloween is a thing of the past, and it’s not close enough to Christmas for chaos just yet. This is a great time of year. How are you doing at keeping your classrooms clean? One thing that is really helping in my school this year is class jobs. My school is doing a big focus on leadership this year, so we have been really putting some thought into passing the responsibility on to the kids for lots of class business, especially cleaning. Classrooms in our building are cleaner than ever because the “leaders” in our classroom are really taking their jobs seriously and keeping things in shape. Here are some jobs specific to cleaning that I’ve used and some good ideas I’ve stolen from colleagues for keeping our rooms clean:
A teacher in my building stops instruction about 5 minutes early and does “job time.” Every kid has a job, and most are the usual “pencil sharpener” or “homework passer”, but she’s put in about 8 jobs that are JUST for cleaning. By the time she leaves at night, her room is sparkling and the most germy things are sanitized. I hope my room will one day look like hers! Good luck teachers! And Goodbye Germs! Mrs. T P.S. Have you gotten your flu shot yet? | Individual Products: Product Quick Links: OUTFOX Mindset Items: The OUTFOX Lesson The Declaration OUTFOX Pledge Stickers and Magnets Posters Signs T-Shirts, Bracelets, Hats, Ties, Mugs, Etc. Digital FOX Symbol |
Clean Your Make Up Brushes as Part of a Personal Infection Control Plan
Summer Germblog!  One morning, I caught an episode of Rachael Ray. She had a cleaning expert on the show who had some kind of hand held machine that he would swipe over something and it would read how many germs are living on that item (very scientific explanation, I know). Gross, right? Well he did baby toys, which had a bunch and household items, which had a bunch, but then he did a toothbrush and I about died. There were a TON! So, I started looking around my bathroom at other things in there that I use often and don’t get cleaned often and my eyes landed on my makeup brushes. I use them every day and have never ONCE (don’t judge!) cleaned them. Eeeewww! Luckily, I’d seen a cleaning pin on Pinterest. I pinned it to the OUTFOX page and decided to give it a try.   Gross! That’s a lot of old bronzer. I even emptied the cup and did it again. Then I did the rest of my brushes together, since I knew they wouldn’t be that bad. Then I shaped them all and let them air dry on a paper towel. This was an easy one! My brushes feel so much better when I use them now. I read that you should clean them once a week (…right…) but I’ll probably do it once a month-ish. They really felt so much better once they were clean. Well, my next post will be back to the classroom, so just a quick reminder before I sign off! One of the biggest payoffs I noticed was when I THANKED MY JANITOR! They work so hard all summer and have done a lot. They have a really yucky job so make sure you show them some gratitude as you’re heading back to school. I’ll try to find more Pinterest projects to do in the classroom and pass them along! Goodbye Germs!  Mrs. T
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How to Make Homemade Cleaning Wipes
Summer GermBlog Ideas!
Happy Summer as you make these homemade cleaning wipes!  Recently we went on a road trip with baby M. 15 hours in the car. While baby was sleeping, I spent a LOT of time on Pinterest. Since I was in a cleaning state of mind, I looked a lot at the DIY cleaning pins and decided I’d try a few and share my experience with you! The first one I decided to try was the make your own cleaning wipes. Baby M is a disaster when it’s time to eat. We get mushed strawberries or cheese all over the place. I like his high chair to be clean, but I don’t like to use Clorox or Lysol wipes on a surface that he is going to eat on. So I thought these would be perfect!  Here’s the original pin: http://pinterest.com/pin/134756213823335804/ but there are a million on Pinterest with lots of different ways to do it. This one is pinned to the OUTFOX board! You can also see this on www.Instructables.com at http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Hmeade-Cleaning-Wipes-with-Holder/ Here’s a before and after picture of the high chair. Actually, this is one of the least messy meals he’s had (but you can imagine how kids get everything all over): Here’s my step by process with a few notes- First of all, buy or get a container that would fit a paper towel roll in half (roughly the size of a toilet paper roll). I found this AWESOME container for about $4. It already has a hole in the top! Next, cut a hole in the top if yours already does not have one. I had to use a knife to scrape around the edges and make the hole a little bit bigger so the towels would fit through the hole. It was just a generic grocery store brand. (Don’t mind our cheesy 50’s countertops. Renters can’t be choosers.)  Next, you will need to cut the roll of paper towels in half. I used a serrated bread knife which was obviously messy but it got the job done quickly! You can use any sharp knife or even a saw? ;) You will now need to choose the cleaner that you prefer. Some prefer solutions that have few to none chemicals... but some don't mind as much. I used Windex Multisurface. This version is NOT the antibacterial kind that is now being frowned upon, just the regular made with vinegar. I poured it all over the roll to soak up in every corner. I used almost the whole bottle, but you do not have to. Just watch it carefully as you pour to soak into the towels. A little extra is advised so your towels do not dry out. Next, you will need to pull out the cardboard center roll. This is where you will get the  Be careful with this step to not ruin the towels, but I then pulled out the center towel and stuck it through the lid! Keep trying to get a clean pull because the first few tore to pieces. To help from tearing, I made the hole bigger and it worked great. The ONLY thing I would do differently is use less cleaner next time. These towels are really SOAKED because I over poured the solution into the container. I might leave the lid off or pour out some of the extra in the bottom for the first bit. At least until I get the correct consistency of towels. They cleaned the high chair so well without yucky stuff in Clorox or other solutions that have harmful chemicals. I still had to take a dry paper towel and wipe it off, but I think it’s because I used so much cleaner! For summer this was a great project and really simple! Realistically, it works just the same as spraying and  Just keep basking in that this will be a really fast way to wipe down the high chair after particularly messy meals. There are lots of pins with lots of recipes for different kinds of wipes, so browse for some on Pinterest if this particular one doesn’t work. And happy cleaning! Goodbye Germs! Mrs. T | Individual Products: Product Quick Links: OUTFOX Mindset Items: The OUTFOX Lesson The Declaration OUTFOX Pledge Stickers and Magnets Posters Signs T-Shirts, Bracelets, Hats, Ties, Mugs, Etc. Digital FOX Symbol |
June Germ Blog: Follow the OUTFOX Pinterest and Norwex
Dear Teachers- We made it!!! The end of another year is upon us and I hope you made it through the year alive and well!  While I’m sitting in the glow of the sun (or the tv, either one) I’m going to spend some quality time with Pinterest. I love to look for new recipes or new ideas for baby M. I’m going to avoid teaching pins like the plague right now, am I right? But in August I’ll be surfing through boards of vocabulary games again. While you’re spending your quality time, find and follow the OUTFOX board! It’s full of great hygiene ideas for home and forschool. My favorite pin on there right now is a great idea for a portable hand washing station. What a great idea for camping, BBQs or trips to the beach! It will not only keep everyone clean and healthy, but will really teach your family that hygiene is important and not optional. On a different note (totally not school related)- I got talked in to trying a new product for washing my face. I have to confess that I am TERRIBLE at washing my face at the end of the day! I get so tired and after taking out my contacts and brushing my teeth I am ready for bed. My friend talked me into trying a Norwex cloth. Has anyone tried it? Norwex products (according to their website- I’m not pretending I understand the science) use tiny silver fibers as natural cleaner. So you get the cloth wet and scrub your face and then you’re done. My kind of product. I ordered a few of the face towels and have been pretty pleased so far! They get gross after a few days with mascara smears, but are washable. My face is so smooth after using it! I have been pretty happy with it, but a lot of that is my laziness factor at 11:00 pm at night. They have a lot of different products and I’m interested in trying out a few more!  Goodbye Germs! (And hellooooo summer!) Mrs. T | Individual Products: Product Quick Links: OUTFOX Mindset Items: The OUTFOX Lesson The Declaration OUTFOX Pledge Stickers and Magnets Posters Signs T-Shirts, Bracelets, Hats, Ties, Mugs, Etc. Digital FOX Symbol |
Germ Vocabulary Lesson: Help teach germ terminology to students
OUTFOX May GERMBLOG Dear Teachers- Are your end-of-school paper chains ready? Most of us are probably down to the teens for days left of school. This time of year is so hard to stay focused for the kids AND for me! We’ve all been prepping for testing, teaching for testing, hearing about testing, and now testing. I don’t know about you, but I breathe a sigh of relief when that last student clicks that last answer because I know we can have a little more fun in our classroom.One thing I’ve noticed that has been a big educational focus this year is vocabulary. Have you noticed that? Maybe it’s the changing population of language learners in our schools or maybe text messaging and emails (LOL!) have really started to limit our students’ word use. Either way, we have been really focusing on vocabulary. What does this have to do with hygiene? A lot! There are a lot of words that we’ll use with our students in regards to hygiene that they might not have a great understanding of. So this month I want to share with you a slideshow (attached PowerPoint) of germ-related words! This slideshow (See the attached document at the end of this page) is filled with pictures, definitions, examples and non-examples so when you’re teaching germs, your students will know exactly what you mean. Good luck in your end of year testing and with your twenty-ish days left for traditional schools! Goodbye Germs! Mrs. T  | Individual Products: Product Quick Links: OUTFOX Mindset Items: The OUTFOX Lesson The Declaration OUTFOX Pledge Stickers and Magnets Posters Signs T-Shirts, Bracelets, Hats, Ties, Mugs, Etc. Digital FOX Symbol |
Guest Post: Proper (and fun!) handwashing for children
BY Wendy McMahan on APRIL 4, 2013 in WORLD POVERTY rEPOSTED BY outfox pREVENTION WITH PERMISSION FROM AUTHOR
The following is a guest post (repost) that has great hygiene information! The poster is in Spanish but you can take the ideas on how to explain handwashing and use them in your classrooms and with your children at home. "In the vulnerable places where Food for the Hungry works, handwashing is a lifesaving technique. Diarrhea and pneumonia, two of the leading causes of child deaths worldwide, can be drastically reduced just by proper handwashing. Isn’t it wonderful that such a simple act can have such an impact? Knowing the impact of handwashing, I wasn’t surprised to see a poster showing how to wash hands in the Food for the Hungry office of Horno Ckasa, Bolivia. I was surprised at the creative method our Bolivian staff are teaching children to wash their hands. It’s a fun way to remember how to get your hands really clean, and it’s perfect for children!  1. Lather (espuma)Lather up your hands until they’re nice and foamy. 2. Mountain (montañita)Form mountain peaks by interlacing your fingers. Rub back and forth. This step allows the lather to get into the crevices where dirt hides. 3. Turtle (tortuguita)Place the palm of one hand on the back of the other hand, interlacing your fingers. This step ensures that the lather spreads to both sides of your hands. 4. Motorcycle (motito)Grab each finger, one at a time, with the opposite hand. As if you were throttling a motorcycle, twist the hand around the finger. Each finger gets the cleaning attention it needs. 5. Birdie (pajarito)After rinsing, if there’s not a clean towel nearby, shake your hands dry in the air. Another reason I like using this method with my kids: When they are focused on each step in the process, they slow down and spend at least the 20 seconds they need to get really clean! Don’t miss the principle listed at the bottom of the poster: Life is sacred (La vida es sagrada). For Food for the Hungry, handwashing isn’t only a way to prevent disease. It’s an opportunity to illustrate every day that human life is sacred, and so we are called to take care of our bodies!" Thank you for reading. If you would like to provide a guest post for this school hygiene blog, please email us at info@OUTFOXprevention.com | Individual Products: Product Quick Links: OUTFOX Mindset Items: The OUTFOX Lesson The Declaration OUTFOX Pledge Stickers and Magnets Posters Signs T-Shirts, Bracelets, Hats, Ties, Mugs, Etc. Digital FOX Symbol |
Germ MadLibs for Hygiene Training Lessons in the Classroom: March GermBlog
For better hygiene and infection control in the classroom and to have fun... use Germ MadLibs!
Hello Teachers! It’s finally getting warm! I don’t know about you, but I’m busy dusting off my flip flops and scheduling spray tans to get rid of the winter blahs. I’m ready for warm weather! Not only can our bodies start soaking up some Vitamin D, but we can start to kiss flu season goodbye! I don’t know about you, but this is the time of year when I get a liiiiiiiiiittle bit restless in my teaching. I have a hard time finding new ways to teach concepts that my students still need help with. I can’t keep doing the same strategies over and over and expect new results, right? Spring is a time when I usually start looking for any new activities I can. Recently, I discovered the beauty of MadLibs. For older kids, they reinforce sentence parts when done independently. In younger grades, they introduce grammar vocabulary. All around, they make kids get creative with words and laugh while doing it. Fantastic! So I have a gift for you this month: THE LIFE CYCLE OF A GERM! A Germ MadLib for you!Please download the free Hygiene MadLibs Lessons below (PDF format) and read these instructions.
Good luck with Spring Fever! Goodbye Germs! Mrs. T | Individual Products: Product Quick Links: OUTFOX Mindset Items: The OUTFOX Lesson The Declaration OUTFOX Pledge Stickers and Magnets Posters Signs T-Shirts, Bracelets, Hats, Ties, Mugs, Etc. Digital FOX Symbol |
| Attachments:
Life Cycle of a Germ 2.pdf
Life Cycle of a Germ.pdf
Valentine's GermBlog for Better Hygiene: Valentine's Health Lesson
Happy Valentine’s Day! I know I say this about every holiday, but I LOVE Valentine’s Day. It’s a day to just show love. It’s a day where our students make boxes and bags to pass love notes and share treats and it’s a peaceful, happy few minutes in a classroom. At least until the next fight at recess, right? It’s also a day when our students can surprise us with a little love, too. I had a really tough student about 5 years ago show up on Valentine’s Day with a huge fake rose made out of metal for me. It’s still on my desk and brings a smile to my face! We are also still in the middle of flu season. Rotovirus, colds and whopping cough are hanging around, too. Try not to think about the germs getting passed while your class hands out Valentines! I don’t know about you, but I’m always trying to find Valentine gifts to give my students that are NOT candy (they have enough!) and won’t take up too much of my extremely large teacher salary. Since I’m dodging germs left and right, I decided on Kleenex pocket tissue packs! I found these really cute packs at my Walmart store: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Kleenex-Go-Pack-Facial-Tissues-White-10-count-8-count/21560290 And attached a valentine to hand to my class. If you’re interested in sharing the germ-free love with your class this season, I’ve attached 2 different Valentines for you to use! One for tissues, one for something else like hand sanitizer or soap. Feel free to download and use with your valentines! No love for germs! Mrs. T |
Note to Teachers; Creating a Safe Environment
Part 1 of the January GermBlog
This holiday season started with heavy hearts as we all mourned for the victims at Sandy Hook Elementary. As teachers, I think that tragic event struck close to our hearts as we looked into the faces of our students in the following days. The pictures of the students leaving the school make my heart hurt for the survivors. They have a long road ahead and I’d like to add my prayers to the families and community. What has been amazing since that event is the outpouring of love and support and kindness. A lot of that love has been dedicated to teachers. Those teachers shielded their students and some ultimately gave their lives to protect them. As we have contemplated these events, I’m sure all of us have realized that, even on our grumpiest days, we would do the same. These children come to us daily to learn, but we are there to protect and love them. Children learn best in a safe environment. We can’t foresee every problem that comes along, but we can only be as prepared as possible. Mrs. T. We'll fight germs another day. |
Holiday Infection Control Idea for the Classroom: I WASH You a Merry Christmas
Happy Holidays Teachers! Have you gotten your flu shot yet? If I braved the needle, you can too! Do it! What a crazy time of year in the classroom. We just get through the first of the year and get our classes looking like well oiled machines, and then the Christmas season hits. We have class parties, sing-a-longs, crafts and fun units to teach. It seems like December is the busiest month for a teacher! It’s tough to talk to a student about hygiene. It’s a very personal issue and we don’t want to come across as offensive or insensitive. We often don’t know the situation that a student is coming from at home when they get to school. If you have a student that is dirty or often sick, start by asking about their home and family. You’d be surprised how much a kid will tell you if you ask! Asking questions about what jobs they have at home or if they help clean up dinner can give you information on the hygiene in their home. Once you have an idea, you can guide your hygiene lessons or know what to send home to help out. A few years ago, I walked into the school with one of my colleagues who had her arms full of grocery bags stuffed with shampoo, soap, tissues and hand sanitizer. She told me there was a boy in her class who was always dirty and sick. When she asked him about his home, he shared with her that his mom often had to decide between buying hygiene supplies and buying food for their family. That broke my colleague’s heart, so she got donations from people in her neighborhood to pass on to this family! What a great example of a teacher who went above and beyond her job! We can all follow this example on a smaller scale. Instead of sending home crayons or pencils, why not send your students home with some soap? That will send the parents a good hint on the importance of hygiene in your classroom. Attach a note saying “I WASH you a Merry Christmas!” Your students will get a kick out of it and the parents will appreciate the extra boost during flu season! Find small ways to send home the lessons your students are learning at school, since you’re doing your best to send them home without germs. While you’re in a gifting mood, why not give yourself the gift of a clean and healthy classroom? Order your GermBling kit to reward yourself for the amazing job you’re doing in the classroom. Goodbye Germs! Mrs. T | Individual Products: Product Quick Links: OUTFOX Mindset Items: The OUTFOX Lesson The Declaration OUTFOX Pledge Stickers and Magnets Posters Signs T-Shirts, Bracelets, Hats, Ties, Mugs, Etc. Digital FOX Symbol |
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