School lunches?

[spedrunner]

My school offers FIVE DIFFERENT options every single day. I think this is CRAZY. Im all for giving kids options, but really?? FIVE?

How many does your school offer? Im still trying to figure out a way to take lunch count. It would be different if it was one main lunch and four of the SAME alternates, but its five different lunches. Every. single. day.

lucky kids

[Deleted]

In my school the kids fill out a lunch schedule at the beginning of the month of what they want to eat. The lunch ladies will not let them change so what they pick they eat.

[spedrunner]

daisy, i like it

[chickenlittle]

That's crazy! Our school has a choice of entrees twice a week; otherwise everyone gets the same thing.

I've seen teachers do a couple different things on choice days. They put the options up on the Smartboard and kids just move their name to the one they want, so it's pretty simple. Also, write each kid's name on a popsicle stick and then write the choices on a sticky note and stick it to the front of a cup. When kids come in they can just move their stick to the cup they want.

[balletofangels]

Kindergarten only gets hot lunch. It is awesome. Other kids can choose pb&j, yogurt, grinder of the week or hot lunch.

[spedrunner]

My kids cant read, ESPECIALLY the choices they offer, and its exhausting making 5 different picture cards per day.....its too much work ill figure something out

[Deleted]

Do you get the menu in advance? That is too many choices for the type of students you have. We have one student who brings his lunch because if he changed his mind it would cause a MAJOR meltdown.

[UMaineTeach]

I grew up with two choices.
My school now only has 1 "choice" so you just need to tack hot v. cold lunch

I would number all the choices on the menu 1-5 and put a daily list on the board of the choices with the number.

Then, I'm thinking
- a pocket chart with the names and a basket full on numbers and each kid can pick the number he wants and put it in the pocket next to his name
or
- a chart with 5 rows numbered 1-5, laminated, with velcro dots and the kids can velcro their names in the row number they choose based on the list on the board. Then you can work it into morning meeting as a math activity to tally the totals for each lunch
or
- if they are older and reliable, just walk to the board where you wrote the choices and make a tally next to the meal they want.

[speckledfrog]

How about this:

Give each kid 5 colored popsicle sticks with their names on it.
Type the 5 lunch choices in the computer and highlight each one a corresponding color
Project the lunch choices onto the board and read them to the kids (red: chicken parm, yellow: cheeseburger)
Have them select via popsicle stick
You could throw a couple clipart graphics in there, too, if you wanted

I have no idea if that would be too much work or not work with your class, etc. If not maybe it will spark something that does work.

[spedrunner]

yes Daisy i do get the menu ahead of time. So what ive been doing is making pictures for each choice each day. Its just a lot of work .........its something new they are doing this year. Its kind of confusing for the kids.....and adults!!

[Deleted]

I forgot to add that in outer school the menus go home and the parents choose. Is that an option. Make a checklist of choices send it home and have the parents pick.

[UMaineTeach]

Sept 9, 2012 17:58:21 GMT -5 spedrunner said:

My kids cant read, ESPECIALLY the choices they offer, and its exhausting making 5 different picture cards per day.....its too much work ill figure something out

talking to the kitchen manager to see what meals they will offer on a regular cycle that you can make pictures of now and you can always make more at the beginning of the month if there is something new on the menu.

then hopefully next year will be easier b/c they will still cook the same things and you will have pictures

I was behind the 8 ball on pictures for schedule boards forever and just got it all straightened out last year -- just in time to change buildings, but I made life easy for those left behind.

[spedrunner]

Sept 9, 2012 18:06:23 GMT -5 speckledfrog said:

How about this:

Give each kid 5 colored popsicle sticks with their names on it.
Type the 5 lunch choices in the computer and highlight each one a corresponding color
Project the lunch choices onto the board and read them to the kids (red: chicken parm, yellow: cheeseburger)
Have them select via popsicle stick
You could throw a couple clipart graphics in there, too, if you wanted


I have no idea if that would be too much work or not work with your class, etc. If not maybe it will spark something that does work.

I am doing something like this with the colored Popsicle sticks Great minds think alike. I guess my only options are discussing and talking about the choices, OR making pictures every day.

I would love to incorporate it into my circle time but they require it approx ten min after the kids arrive........not a great system