Food Fight: An Educator's Survival Guide to Lunch and Recess Duty

By Jennifer Viaud

"Food Fight: An Educator's Guide to Lunch and Recess Duty" is your go-to manual for transforming the chaos of lunch and recess into organized, enjoyable experiences for both students and staff. Bursting with creative solutions and practical tips, this book is a treasure trove of ideas designed to empower educators, staff, and principals in maintaining a positive and well-behaved school environment. In the thrilling battle against unruly lunch periods and chaotic recesses, "Food Fight" equips educators with a toolkit of strategies to engage students in fun, structured activities. From inventive organizational techniques to playful incentives, this guide offers a myriad of creative approaches that not only keep students on track but also foster a sense of responsibility and good behavior.
Discover innovative ways to transform mundane lunch and recess duties into dynamic, student-led initiatives. "Food Fight" inspires teachers and lunch staff to infuse excitement into daily routines, making the school experience enjoyable and conducive to positive behavior. Whether you're a seasoned educator or a new staff member, this guide is a valuable resource for creating a vibrant and well-ordered school environment. Prepare to embark on a journey where the battleground of lunch and recess becomes a realm of fun, creativity, and good behavior. "Food Fight" is more than just a guide – it's a toolbox educators dedicated to turning the daily challenges of lunch and recess into opportunities for growth, learning, and positive transformation. Step into a world where discipline meets delight and watch as your students thrive in an organized, enjoyable school atmosphere.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Feb 28, 2024
• ISBN: 9798350943580

Book preview

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Food Fight: An Educator’s Survival Guide to Lunch and Recess Duty

© 2024 Jennifer Viaud

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

ISBN: 979-8-35094-357-3

ISBN eBook: 979-8-35094-358-0

Introduction

Essential Tips for Navigating Indoor and Outdoor Recess with Ease

"Year after year, I found myself on a quest for innovative solutions, not just to endure recess but to enjoy it."

Welcome, my fellow educators, principals, paraprofessionals, tireless parents, and all those who’ve ever plunged right into the never a dull moment adventure of recess duty. I extend to you an enthusiastic invitation to embark on a journey that promises to positively transform your recess experiences. As an elementary principal with more than two decades of teaching and administrative service, I’ve had the privilege of working with students in a kaleidoscope of settings, ranging from vibrant public schools that are a stone’s throw from the bustling heart of New York City, to the tranquil countryside, where schools share their neighborhoods with peaceful cattle and sod farms. Yes, that green stuff you see rolled up at Home Depot. Yet, amidst this diversity, one consistent challenge remained – the ear-piercing noise and sometimes chaotic experience of lunch and recess duty. You know exactly what I’m talking about, especially if you were around during those water bottle flip days.

Let’s not sugar-coat it. I’ve encountered it all, from the whirlwind ants in their pants energy of pre-kindergarteners to the nonchalant, too-cool-for-school attitudes of 8th graders. The children were, without a doubt, remarkable, but some of their behaviors and noise levels could test the resolve of even the most patient souls, leaving us educators pondering our life choices. We have all been there! Year after year, I found myself on a quest for innovative solutions, not just to endure recess but to enjoy it.

In this book, I highlight some creative and time-tested strategies I’ve used to not only engage students, but also to make their recess experiences more enjoyable and manageable. The goal is to transform recess from the kiddie chaotic coordinator role we’ve all experienced, into something far more enjoyable and constructive.

I’m genuinely passionate about helping fellow principals, educators and parents, explore fresh, imaginative approaches to tackle the challenges that recess often presents. I encourage you to dive into this book, to tinker with new ideas, and to experiment with solutions that can be seamlessly integrated into your school’s lunch and recess routines. Sometimes, all it takes is a dash of creativity, a sprinkle of enthusiasm, and a willingness to explore different games, activities and friendly competitions, to spark the excitement of your students and create an environment where everyone can thrive.

Think of this book as your secret sauce for a smorgasbord of fun ideas that’ll have your students begging for seconds! Shake things up by trying out a handful of these suggestions each year and, remember, variety is the spice of life. Be sure to mix in some of these creative incentives, and games to keep your students excited, and mix them up year after year. Let this book be your go-to resource, ensuring you cook up the most engaging lunch and recess experiences for your students, teachers and staff.

So, grab that whistle, lace up your comfiest shoes, and get ready for an adventure. Let’s transform recess duty into a stage for growth, a classroom for learning and, above all, a realm where fun reigns supreme. Who says recess can’t be the best part of the school day? Let’s make it legendary!

Jennifer Viaud

Why Lunch and Recess Are So Important

As a substitute teacher, I was tasked with covering a fourth grade class for language arts. Little did I know, they had no recess due to outdoor playground construction, and those kids were bouncing off the walls like caffeinated kangaroos on pogo sticks. I swear, I’ve never seen so many miniature Spider-Men scaling the classroom walls to avoid grammar lessons. It was like trying to teach an acrobatics class with vocabulary instead of a pair of uneven bars.

Let’s Set the Scene

Ah, cafeteria duty. It’s the bane of every teacher’s existence. The loud noises, the disruptive students, and the never-ending requests to open food items for children with fire-orange fingertips covered in Cheetos. And what about the loud radiating noise? So many school cafeterias are built more like echo chambers than structures to eat and enjoy food.

We have all been there. Depending on our administrator’s ability to organize and contain operational mayhem, some of our lunch and recess duties can be more painful than others. Lunch duty can be unpleasant, especially if your building needs better organization or stronger leadership. When cafeterias are deficient in effective procedures or have staff shortages, teachers and cafeteria assistants can be left to fight a losing battle. It’s no surprise that many teachers, and sometimes administrators, dread this duty. If you are ever searching for a fun icebreaking activity during a staff meeting, start with, Tell your partner the craziest thing you have ever witnessed during lunch duty!

If you are lucky enough to have escaped lunch duty, the chances you have been assigned recess duty are pretty high. Nothing beats spending a portion of your day watching your students run aimlessly, frolicking in the wind, looking for an illegal tackle football game to participate in. Or watching them play tag without rules and the subsequent endless cycle of arguing because he/she cheated and No, I wasn’t tagged!.

From the unpredictable, miserable weather to angry bees on the playground, it’s no wonder teachers sigh when they see their names on the duty master schedule. Not only do teachers have to brave the outdoor elements themselves, but they also have to keep a close eye on repeat student offenders engaging in reckless behavior. Recess duty requires teachers to be constantly vigilant and attentive to the needs of students who