HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR HELOISE: I’m a substitute teacher, and I love it. Here are some hints that have helped me:

■ I limit myself to two campuses in the district. The kids need to see a familiar face, and the staff, administrators and other teachers get to know me.

■ The substitute coordinator (usually the principal’s secretary) knows what jobs are available; all I do is ask.

■ Punctuality is key; following the lesson plan to the letter is critical (although with kids, things happen). When I go into a new class, I have to be strict at first (then I soften up quickly); and wearing the school’s colors shows my spirit. The dress code is usually business casual.

I pack a “survival kit”: water bottle, adhesive strips, facial tissues, lots of pencils, cash for lunch and, with the school’s permission, a big bag of hard candies. Passing a background check was necessary, but now my phone rings every day for a substitute job.

— S.L. in San Antonio

DEAR READERS: Here are some hints for Halloween handouts:

“We stopped giving out candy a long time ago. We get popcorn, fruit snacks, hot cocoa mix and sometimes animal crackers. The kids and teens love the choices. We are now known as the ‘Popcorn House.”’

— P.D., via email “Another suggestion for trick-or-treaters: pencils — colorful, with cartoon characters, etc. — are a big hit with kids.”

— J.R., via email “One of my favorite Halloween treats is to give out mini bags of microwave popcorn. It’s not chocolate or sugar, but the kids still get a treat. I buy them in bulk at the warehouse stores.”

— L.B., via email DEAR READER: Stickers, erasers, bubbles, rubber bracelets, crayons, mini notebooks and fun spider rings are all good choices for kids with allergies or diabetes, or if you just want a less sugary celebration.

DEAR HELOISE: I gather colorful fall leaves and place them between two sheets of waxed paper. I take a warm iron, without steam, and press until they are completely sealed. I leave them in the waxed paper until they are completely dry (about two weeks).

Then I gently peel the waxed paper off and use the leaves for decoration.

— Della T., Texas