Teacher’s Corner: Lessons from the Lunchroom (1/25/16)



I recently had the opportunity to witness the lunchtime activity of my students, and I’d like to report on some of my observations from the shadows. I could certainly spend the rest of this column on healthy food choices, or for that matter unhealthy ones, but that is a topic for another day!  


When the bell rang, most of the students cleaned the entire mess. Others helped out in cleaning up what was left behind. I enjoyed my field work that day. I realized that many of the life lessons we try to instill in our students—politeness, respect, sharing, self-efficacy, enjoyment in life, and respecting the differences in others—can, indeed, be addressed in the lunchroom. I’m grateful that for the most part there are only minor disruptions due to behavior, but I know that each school brings with it a different situation and environment, for the size and attitude of the population determines the dynamic of lunchtime. I have tried in recent weeks to address a few of these issues in class. Sometimes, all that is needed to enact change is the recognition of what was seen by someone outside of the group.  

There are some great resources dealing with lunchtime dynamics and activity planning out there. Education World has detailed tips for improving behavior in the lunchroom. Teaching Tolerance has developed a program called Mix It Up, which offers the chance for different groups and personalities to interact during lunch. They offer a host of resources and ideas on their website. Additionally, The Journal of Thought has a wonderful article dealing with the dynamics of a high school cafeteria.   
