I teach Grade 4 French Immersion at South Park Elementary. This year I have 30 students and have been struggling with having time for each of them personally. So after the Christmas break, I started “Mange Avec Madame”. I didn’t expect it to be anything special but, like so many things, it has turned into something wonderful. I put out a January calendar and had students sign up with a buddy to have lunch with me. My first two-some was Alexa and Emily and they patiently waited for me to gather all my “stuff” and scoot out the door right after the bell, which we know is no easy task. We zipped into the Resource Room across the hall and ate. I thought it would be like pulling teeth to get them to talk to me, but it was the opposite, they were ready to spill it all! The goal of all my lunch dates has been for them to tell me one thing I don’t already know about them, and they all shared a lot more, it was great! I had cookies for dessert and many asked when we could do this again. You always hear that it is the simplest things that make the biggest difference, and this was my simple thing that has made a huge difference to my students and myself.
Thoughts on eating with the teacher:
“I thought that when I was going there I was going to be nervous because I didn’t know what she was going to say to me, but then when it started I felt kind calmer.” Chloe, Age 9
“I thought it was better to not be in the crazy class anymore and I got to talk about myself and I got to know more about Madame and my partner.” Noelle, Age 9
“It was interesting how it wasn’t actually that bad, I thought it was going to be worse and that I was going to get in trouble, but I didn’t.” Malcolm, Age 9
“I thought it was going to be awkward but it turned out to not be.” Zane, Age 9
Thoughts from those who haven’t yet eaten with the teacher:
“I thought it was going to be fun because it’s our teacher and she won’t hurt us.” Ty, Age 9
“I’m nervous because I don’t know what we’re going to talk about.” Charlotte, Age 9
“I thought that it was going to be scary because I thought that there were going to be tons of teachers there looking at us.” Sammy, Age 9
“I felt kind of nervous because I didn’t want to tell you anything very personal.” Alix, Age 9
Christa,
Thanks so much for sharing this. I love it! Like you said, sometimes its the simple things that make the biggest difference. Of course, don’t forget that giving up your lunch to be with students in never a ‘simple thing.’ It requires a sacrifice by you.
This reminds me of a research study I read about where one secondary english teacher consistently had a waiting list to get into her course. She said she had no idea why. Turns out every day she met a different student in the doorway coming in and had a quick conversation about what was going on in their life. Connecting with kids is powerful! Thanks for reminding us of that…