Lunch!

J

Joelg1980

Companion
I did something today tha I haven't done as a sub; and apparently most subs do not do. I stayed in the classroom during lunch and hung out with the kids. To be honest they had inside recess, which is held in the classrooms in this building. Usually the teachers retreat to the breakroom, but since I usually eat lunch in the classroom, it didn't seem like that much of a stretch. Plus, I got to help a few students with their math work.

Several times the monitor on duty tried to shush the kids away, and each time I explained that I wanted them to work with me. She never seemed to "get it" that I wanted to be around the kids in a relaxed state. I'm pretty sure I'll keep up this practice well into my career when I have my own classroom. What do any of you think about it?
 
Just make sure you have a group of kids and that they are mixed genders. Even though I am sure you would do nothing "questionable," we have all heard the horror stories of students who say something happened even if it never did. A good idea is to also prop the door open. Also, make sure the school doesn't have a "no food in the room" policy because of pests, etc.
 
I think it's a great idea! I almost always eat lunch in my room and often have kids in working during recess and lunch. It's a great opportunity to provide extra help, give those students who have difficulty during unstructured time a place to keep out of trouble, and just to get to know your students better. When I had a homeroom, I found that by staying in the classroom with them during indoor recess or while they were eating their lunches, behaviour problems were pretty much non-existent.
 
I am hoping to develop better relationships with them by doing this. It's nice because they seem to really like it.
 
This is why homeroom is nice in HS and MS. As a sub, there is usually no structured activity, so you get to know the kids. I really treasure alone time, so I'm not crazy about spending my breaks with the kids.
 
Special-T;

I fought with that for a while, then came to the conclusion that I would be losing 20 minutes of a 45 minute lunch being with the kids. What's 20 minutes anyway? That's my take.:D
 
We have to eat lunch with the students in the lunchroom. Recess is at a seperate diff. time. No work is usually brought to lunch unless it is something a teacher needs to have them finish or something.
 
I have stayed inside at recess with the kids though I haven't eaten my lunch with them, yet. I usually go into the breakroom with the other teachers.
 
Contracted teachers in my district have a duty free hour lunch. Every negotiations, there is an attempt to cut that...we value that time- some of us get work done, prep for a class, some collaborate with other teachers, others just take some down time (usually a combination of all of these over the course of a week)...I see the value of an occasional lunch with a class- as a reward or treat, but doing it every day could send a message that the lunch aide assigned to a class isn't needed (I wouldn't want to be responsible for an aide losing hours or their job) and also sends a message that the duty free lunch isn't valuable needed time...
 
czacza said:
Contracted teachers in my district have a duty free hour lunch. Every negotiations, there is an attempt to cut that...we value that time- some of us get work done, prep for a class, some collaborate with other teachers, others just take some down time (usually a combination of all of these over the course of a week)...I see the value of an occasional lunch with a class- as a reward or treat, but doing it every day could send a message that the lunch aide assigned to a class isn't needed (I wouldn't want to be responsible for an aide losing hours or their job) and also sends a message that the duty free lunch isn't valuable needed time...
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I have to agree with you czacza. I am all for that bonding time with students, but I am also kinda stingy with my time. I need the downtime, adult time, me time!
 
When I do spend time with the students, I do not make myself the monitor, nor do I presume to do so. The students do not notice me unless they need my help. But, if they do want to lean on me, I am there.
 
Joelg1980 said:
Special-T;

I fought with that for a while, then came to the conclusion that I would be losing 20 minutes of a 45 minute lunch being with the kids. What's 20 minutes anyway? That's my take.:D
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For me, it's not about losing time. I relly need to focus on eating since I am hypoglycemic and would be somewhat shaky by lunch especially on days when I didn't get to use my morning break to eat a little. There were a couple of times that I let some kids come back to the classroom after lunch as becaue they didn't do their homework. I let them do the homwork as an option, not a requirement. Some took it in place of losing fun Friday or so which was the rule by the teacher.
 
czacza said:
Contracted teachers in my district have a duty free hour lunch. Every negotiations, there is an attempt to cut that...we value that time- some of us get work done, prep for a class, some collaborate with other teachers, others just take some down time (usually a combination of all of these over the course of a week)...I see the value of an occasional lunch with a class- as a reward or treat, but doing it every day could send a message that the lunch aide assigned to a class isn't needed (I wouldn't want to be responsible for an aide losing hours or their job) and also sends a message that the duty free lunch isn't valuable needed time...
Click to expand...


Your lunch is 1 hour? I never got that except, not even when subbing highschool.
 
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