Calling all teachers!

BigE · Post by **BigE** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 4:08 pm

There seem to be a lot of teachers out there. I'm curious:

How many teachers are on the NO S Discussion board?

What grade do you teach? (I teach second)

How do you address the particular challenges associated with teaching, such as:
--lots of sugary treats and snacks at faculty meetings and trainings
--short breaks, which leads to rushed eating (I've been eating very fast -- still officially no-sing but eating fast and while doing other things because I'm trying to cram in other tasks during my lunch period)
--lots of stress in general associated with the job (okay is this just ME, because I'm starting a new job in a completely new district?)
--(maybe just elementary): lots of holidays that revolve around sugar: Valentine's party, Halloween party, etc. My new district at least has a new policy that requires healthy snacks.

Thanks for your contributions, and
HAVE A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR!!!!!!!!!

howfunisthat · Post by **howfunisthat** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 10:46 pm

I'm a teacher...but the wrong kind. I homeschool. I have GOBS & GOBS of respect for those who teach in schools...I just don't know how you do it. I love to teach my kids, but one on one or one on three is about all I can imagine doing.

Oh yeah...this thread was about food, not teaching. I wish I could help with the school snacks & treats thing....but I have a different set of temptations being just steps away from my kitchen all the time. I don't think I'd do very well in a school setting...all those yummy cupcake days! I can never resist a cupcake!

I hope you have a great year of teaching. Again, I have the utmost respect for all you do. You change kids' lives & there's very few jobs more important than yours.

janie

marleah · Post by **marleah** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 2:17 am

I just started a part-time job as a special ed paraeducator with kindergarten, first grade, and a couple of second grade students. I know, I'm not a teacher, but I'm in that environment every day. Funny thing is, I don't have a background in education - it's in psychology. But that works well when I'm working with kids with autism, that kind of thing.

ANYway ... there are ALWAYS treats in the lounge! It seems very excessive to me, but that's me. I bring my lunch, and I always just eat what is in my lunchbox. Some of the teachers have commented that I always have such a healthy lunch (the entree, an apple, carrots, and tomatoes - pretty standard).

One day one of the teachers offered to get a piece of cake for me from the other end of the table, and I just told her that I didn't have treats during the week, just on the weekends. She seemed so surprised, what a novel approach!

I agree, the lunch period that I have is quite rushed - I like to drink water in between bites to slow down my eating and feel more full, but I don't have time to do that! I have to eat in about 20 minutes, which is do-able, but it doesn't leave time for messing around. One thing I am thinking about doing - I usually bring leftovers, which means I have to warm them up in the microwave. Well, that takes valuable time, so I am thinking about bringing sandwiches more often (sunbutter and jelly - no peanut butter allowed in the school!), since I wouldn't have to warm them up. So maybe that is an idea - something that requires less prep?

I haven't had to deal with the holiday thing yet, so I'm not sure how I will handle that. The good thing is that I leave at 2 pm, and usually parties and that kind of thing in the classroom are more at the very end of the day. I don't know if parents are required to bring "healthy" treats for the kids or what.

Sorry this is so long - just lots of things I've been noticing as well. The stress thing - yeah, I've had lots of stress lately - new job, starting new master's program, trying to finish old master's program - but I think no-S has really given me a handle on reacting to stress by eating. As for handling the stress in general - I'm still working on that!

princesspamf · Post by **princesspamf** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:12 pm

I am a teacher, but not in a traditional classroom. I work at a California Charter School that works with homeschooling families. (I homeschooled my own 4 over 19 years--whew...now looking forward to helping with the task with my grandchildren). There are 14 credentialed teachers plus 3 support staff in our school. I supervise 23 students in grades K-8, plus teach a few classes/workshops, co-orangizer of our monthly field trips, and do a hundred other things as needed.

There typically is a fair amount of food and snacks around. I started NoS in July so worried about how it would work during the school year. But it has gone fine...because I'm no longer snacking, I don't even take notice of the the snacks in the break room. So far no one has seemed offended that I haven't tried their "goodie" they have brought to share. I keep thinking that if it isn't something sweet, I could add it to my lunch, but so far, only sweet treats have shown up.

I go out to lunch with fellow staff folks about twice a week, but that hasn't presented any conflict with NoS so far. Some years I get invited for "tea" at a student's home--usually an 8th grade girl making a project of preparing and hosting a proper tea. This year I have eight 8th graders, but seven of them are boys, so not likely to be a problem. If my lone girl issues an invitation, I will try to make it work just before or after the lunch hour and count it as lunch.

I often get offered food when I am doing home visits, but so far I'm simply said "No thank you" to the food and "yes, please" to the water or tea, and no one seemed to require an explanation or has seemed the least bit offended. Just think..all those years I thought I had to say yes to whatever people offered me foodwise.

Whatever your job is working with kids, here's to a great year--growth and learning for us all, teachers and students.

Dandelion · Post by **Dandelion** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 3:45 am

I work in a school as well. Junk abounds and it seems like everyone is always eating something.

marleah · Post by **marleah** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:19 pm

Dandelion wrote:I work in a school as well. Junk abounds and it seems like everyone is always eating something.

The kids too! There are always snacks that really aren't all that great - seriously - rice krispie treats? Wow, that sugar is really doing them wonders at 2 in the afternoon.

Dandelion · Post by **Dandelion** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:28 pm

They don't even wait til afternoon - it's all day long

wosnes · Post by **wosnes** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 10:17 pm

You think teachers have temptations? Try being a nurse -- in a hospital. The food is equally as bad, and sometimes I think worse.

Dandelion · Post by **Dandelion** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 12:09 am

I don't find it the least tempting. It's usually just something in a plastic container someone picked up at the grocery store bakery. I do, however, find it...'sad' maybe? - to see how even though many schools are eliminating sweets at parties, the teachers 'reward' kids with candy on a daily basis.

NoelFigart · Post by **NoelFigart** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 12:35 am

I teach one-day classes in computer applications. Does that count?

They have snacks for people to munch on while I teach. I can't eat them because I can't teach with my mouth full. I sip on coffee all class and keep the class interested by being a total spazz.

wosnes · Post by **wosnes** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 11:57 am

Dandelion wrote:I don't find it the least tempting. It's usually just something in a plastic container someone picked up at the grocery store bakery. I do, however, find it...'sad' maybe? - to see how even though many schools are eliminating sweets at parties, the teachers 'reward' kids with candy on a daily basis.

I find it sad that they're eliminating sweets at parties. It's a classic example of American extremism (if a lot is bad, then none is best), and no where is that extremism more evident than in our diet.

Dandelion · Post by **Dandelion** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 10:12 pm

Exactly. The sweets at parties are not the problem - it's the day to day overconsumption that is

Oh..wait...that sounds like an ad for NoS

Dandelion · Post by **Dandelion** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:12 pm

Was in a classroom this morning where by 9.15 the teacher was already passing out the tootsie rolls...

suz · Post by **suz** » Sat Mar 06, 2010 5:23 pm

I'm here to rejuvenate this thread! I am a 2nd grade teacher and just finished my 2nd week of No Sing. I have avoided the staff lounge as much as possible the last few years. One of our teachers was an AWESOME baker. Her carrot cake was to die for and even the little teeny tiny young skinny teachers went hog wild over her goodies. NO ONE could resist. Fortunately, (in a way) this teacher was transferred this year and no more treats from her.

So, I eat lunch in my classroom. But there are always things to do and so I either try to eat and work. Or do a few things and then eat in the time that is left. Neither are good scenarios. A couple of days, someone stopped in to "chat" and I was just panicking that I would not be able to finish the substantial lunch that was to carry me over til dinner!! In the past, I would always think I could just have it as a snack when the kids were gone for a special or when school was over.

The other thing, is that my lunch starts at 11:30. That is really early to me! We usually have dinner around 6, but have been bumping it up to 5:00 or 5:30.

Luckily so far I have not encountered a birthday.....and no one has one in the month of March!!! Nor will there be a holiday party soon. We do have a grant where the kids eat a fruit and vegetable in the afternoon. I have been tempted to partake, but haven't. I guess its easier to turn down broccoli than a cupcake!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Sat Mar 06, 2010 5:39 pm

I'm a licensed elem. teacher, but a SAHM right now. I enjoy teaching preschool the best.

mimi · Post by **mimi** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 2:30 am

I'm a seventh-grade English teacher and a licensed reading specialist. Currently I work with three classes of 12 students, all with reading difficulties and frustrations, and all reading substantially below grade level...most read at a 3rd or 4th grade level. All of them are expected to pass a state reading test at the end of the year written on a 7th grade reading level...LOTS of stress for me!

I avoid the main staff lounge except for picking up my mail - I try not to look over at the table where invariably there is some sort of snack food or homemade goody someone is trying to get rid of - almost every day. Fortunately nothing ever seems to last long there, so even if I changed my mind and went back later to get some, it would most likely be gone!

I also eat lunch in my room because I pack my lunch and usually multi-task while I eat it...not really a good practice, but there never seems to be enough time in a day, does there?!

I love teaching and really couldn't see myself doing anything else, although hanging out with 12-year-olds day-in and day-out can be trying!

Mimi

suz · Post by **suz** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 2:40 am

Its nice to know there are other teachers on this board! Love hearing from you!

becky123abc · Post by **becky123abc** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 3:06 pm

I'm a certified k-8th grade teacher, but right now I'm serving as librarian and computer lab overseer in a private Christian school.

I take a break at 9 AM and eat something quick like oatmeal. Lunch time I pack a nice sandwich, a carrot, an apple and some yogurt.

I find it easier to eat healthy when I'm in school. This week has been a wonderful spring break and I've stuck with No-s but I'm food choices haven't been as healthy.

It would be harder if I were a classroom teacher...that's when the students sometimes shower you with goodies.

I have resisted some tempting goodies in the teachers lounge...but I just get my mind busy and I forget about them.

oolala53 · Post by **oolala53** » Fri May 14, 2010 11:30 pm

I came late to the profession and I'm single. I don't have much of a social life outside of school, so I count on being able to sit and talk with colleagues at our 35 minute lunch. I wish we had more time so that I could chew more and go for a 15-minute walk.

Since I've been doing this for 4 months, the sweets around aren't as much of an issue. Our school has several events in honor of teachers every year at this time. I took home a lot of sweets (today a new piece of cake with a filling and frosting that I love) for the freezer and the weekend. didn't want any at lunch. Too much other good stuff; it's not hard to stay off the slippery slope when you can have sushi rolls and pizza.

When I realized what frequent snacking and frequent sweet-ing were doing to my ability to eat moderately, it became easy to tell myself not to do it. Someone asked how do we deal with all the sweets and stuff. Just say nyet. Usually we eat something because we tell ourselves all kinds of reasons it should be okay. When you see that they all stem from compulsion and are only made stronger when obeyed, and you are absolutely convinced that operating out of compulsion is the road to continued misery, it becomes obvious what choice to make. There is no shame in falling off the wagon, but if it happens over and over, for me it has just meant that I am not convinced that doing it isn't going to hurt. Now I know it will, eventually.

I declared an S day one Friday and the next Friday, I had a cupcake at work. I stopped that then and there. I saw that this would become a habit and there would be a problem. Ironically, after that, I also ate less on Sundays, too.

Three more weeks in our school year. I'm a tiny bit nervous about No S on such unstructured days, but I want to do this for the whole year of 2010 and forever, I hope.

idontknow · Post by **idontknow** » Sat May 15, 2010 8:04 pm

I'm a teacher too, but in the UK. I teach secondary school (age 11-16). At the moment I'm working in a centre for students with mental or physical health problems, but from September I'm going back to mainstream school. There is always lots of food around - biscuits/cake etc. When I first started at the centre I took in a bag of tangerines to try and provide a healthy option - someone moved it from the 'biscuit table' to the side of the room where it was ignored! I was very entertained by this attitude. Since I've been doing no-S I've ignored the 'biscuit table' - it hasn't really bothered me. The hardest day was when the students made lemon cake. Luckily it was destined for the homeless centre so I managed to contain myself.
Like oolala53 I did consider making Friday an S day but I'm trying to make the vanilla no-s habits stick and managed to talk myself out of it!

andreamuse · Post by **andreamuse** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 3:14 pm

I'm a teacher! I'm a title 1 teacher (reading/math resource) in an elementary school!

I actually rarely have time to even think about food/eating when I'm at work. Summer is the trouble for me, lol!

Over43 · Post by **Over43** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 6:07 pm

8th grade special education.

JAD · Post by **JAD** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 3:25 am

I'm a certified high school biology and reading teacher. I've been an educator since 1986. Through most of those years, I taught science. Last year I transitioned to being a full-time disciplinarian: I now run In School Suspension.
Perhaps I'm just old fashioned, but I always thought the "no food in the classroom" rule was a good one.The kids I teach today are unquestionably fatter than the kids I taught in the 80's and part of the reason for that is the constant snacking. No food or drink is also a valid safety rule in any science classroom that has a laboratory component.

Tiggycat · Post by **Tiggycat** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 7:50 pm

My husband teaches college and one day a week he gets no lunch 'hour' at all - he gets very shaky and cranky if he can't eat right on time, so he 'sneaks' food even though he has to (because it's school policy) tell the students they can't eat in class!

I work in an office and it's as bad/worse - there are always 'free' treats/snacks around and a lot of pressure to eat them - it's hard to say 'I'm dieting' when the person trying to talk you into eating outweighs you by 100 pounds!