Aug. 16, 2026: First Week Giggles

We just finished the first week of our school year.  The first week is always a hectic week. Filled with getting to know our students, setting up routines, teaching procedures, building classroom community, connecting with families, and of course, introducing curriculum.

As the Gifted Resource Teacher at my school, I do not have a homeroom, and do not start meeting with my groups until the second week of school, so as to allow schedules to settle before pulling students.  That means I spend a lot of time the first week of school as the extra set of hands. During arrival in the morning, in the cafeteria at lunchtime, and at dismissal time.  And many times, these experiences provide such giggles.

Here are two of the cutest stories from the first week of school in the cafeteria:

-       As you can imagine, Kindergarteners require a lot of assistance in getting used to the procedures and routines of the cafeteria.  From learning how to get their lunches, to knowing where to sit, and behavior expectations. The first day I was busy helping a class get settled at their table, helping little ones open packages they couldn’t, passing out extra napkins, and answering questions.  I looked over and saw one little guy sitting quietly with nothing in front of him on the table.  I leaned over and asked him where his lunch was.  “The waitress didn’t bring it yet,” was his response!  I explained that we did not have any waitresses or waiters in our school cafeteria, (he was visibly surprised) but after I showed him how to maneuver the line and get exactly what he wanted, he was delighted.  Perhaps we will get a good review on Yelp!

-       The second day of school brought a giggle from my eavesdropping on a 5^th grade student. As I was walking around he opened his lunch box to great fanfare and showed his buddies that he had two of everything.  Two lunchables, two brownies, two bags of chips.  He asks his buddies if they know why. They do not. He cheerfully explained that his parents have decided that he is old enough to pack his own lunch this year, and that yesterday, after he packed his lunch, no one checked it.  “So,” he explains, “I am always hungry so I decided I’ll just pack two of everything every day!”  His friends are duly impressed.  Then one of them says, “What are you going to do when you run out of things too early?” He asks what he means.  “Well, if your mom buys enough for a month of lunches and you run out in a week, she is going to know something is up.” There is silence as he ponders this.  Then one friend suggested blaming the dog or a sibling, while another suggested staging a break in.  As I walk away, they continue to brainstorm ways for him to get away with two lunches every day.

Working with kids really is the best!