Shannon Costello

Tomorrow is the first day of the third quarter.

Tomorrow also begins my turn at lunch duty. I have it for the rest of the year, so now is the time to put aside thoughts of freedom and adjust my attitude. Every job has its down side and if one is going to maintain any kind of comfort level, one must adjust.

Lunch duty is not bad in itself. It is short compared to a class and doesn’t involve planning. On the other hand, it represents a loss of two and a half planning hours per week, less time than it takes to, say, write up a test. Oh dear.

So.

1) Lunch duty is an opportunity to interact with kids outside of the classroom. That is invaluable. I have done it before on a substitute basis. It really isn’t high tension. I’ve had chances to have really interesting conversations with kids.

2) Lunch duty is an opportunity to interact with other teachers.

3) Lunch duty is an opportunity to get outside the school building during the day. Whoa! I walk inside the building before 8 and don’t leave until close to four. Most of my classrooms are inside rooms with no windows. Aliens could be landing all around the school and I would never know.

4) Lunch duty is an opportunity to walk around and relax. There’s something to be said for getting away from the cart every now and then!