thanksgiving feast

[Mango]

I'm just tuckered but need to vent too...we had a thanksgiving feast at my school. At my level,t he kids bring in something to share at our potluck feast. At the feast the kids were taking little bites of their food and then chucking it then making a beeline for the desserts. I sent them back before they had a chance to make it to the trashcan and told them they had to finish 'one of something' on their plates before dessert. When they got to the dessert table, they just piled everything on their plates! The para was supposed to be serving them and I'd finally had enough! I told her control what they take/you give them! She responds, "i know" but with her hands up in the air like she has no control! Take charge, for goodness sake! A couple of parents were around and I'm sure they thought I was the wicked witch of the west but my goodness! the kids were out of control. These parents were a bit better than last year's...at least they helped out but the wanton waste really got to me. Thanks, I needed to vent! I wish we could do something else but everyone does a feast. I guess I just had a bad day.

 

[Kevin]

Silly Teacher

There will be lots of parents who have no control. I have no problem taking control of a situation in my class. Your "bad day" showed parents that you can take charge when they can't (or won't) Kudos to you! Don't, "Let them eat cake!"

 

[Teach4]

That stinks!

Unfortunately, I've had that same sort of experience many times with my kiddos. I don't think anyone sets limits at home so. . .

I end up with kids who never say thank you when a treat is passed out, kids who ask if there are going to be seconds before they even get firsts, etc.

One time, my class won a pizza party. Parents were asked by the administration to chaperone it while I ate. The brought in drinks and desert, pizza was provided by the school. When I get back I find out that the parents let the kids have a pizza and desert eating contest (as in who could eat the most slices/cookies). In fact, they were encouraging this behavior. Why would you do that? I had kids complaining of aching stomachs all afternoon. No wonder!

It doesn't surprise me at all that kids would try to bypass the "real" food and head straight for the deserts. However, that's why adults exist, to curb this behavior and encourage correct behavior. You did the right thing!!

 

[denisealice]

thanksgiving project day

I take a little different direction with the thanksgiving thing. I invite the parents to send in a variety of items and invite parent participation. On Monday we taught the kids to pare and cut apples and made apple sauce in a crock pot, we made bread from scratch (yeast and the works, with each child learning how to kneed the dough) cooked corn, lima beans, and squash, ate pomegranates, and drank apple cider. In between things we did some arts and crafts projects, read some books, etc. The parents couldn't get over the excitement over such simple things and the fact that their child was eating lima beans. We baked the bread and ate and shared it around. It's a fun and exhausting day but kids that I taught 20 years ago still recall the day. We do small servings of whatever anyone wants to try and if they don't like it I just ask them to quietly throw it in the trash....very little tossing of food....mostly because they helped to make it. It's fun too because we have teachers appear at the door making a big deal and asking for a bit of whatever we have.

 

[garnet]

I got out

That's why I stopped participating in large group activities like this years ago. Staff has also changed but I just started doing my own thing with my students. It's hard to break away but next year is the time to start something new. When it comes up, perhaps even next week, just throw out there the idea of trying something different. I now do things that my students love and remember and I have an enjoyable day myself. I do things similar to the above poster. We play Pilgrim and Indian games, have eaten "traditional" foods, etc. This week was a Stone Soup focus so we made that today also. They all enjoyed their day and no one got upset.

 

[Mango]

whew, thanks

thanks for the feedback...we used to do the "prepare yourself" luncheon, too, but that became difficult because the only oven that was available was already spoken for. I've been thinking about it and came up with an idea...have the parents bring something in for potluck and the class provide the dessert. That way it could be a fruit salad or something equally nutritious (AND have the kids prepare it during the same day or the day before). I can't imagine how these kids behave at their dinner tables!!