Teaching Appropriate Cafeteria Behavior

Cafeteria Lesson 1 Lesson Plan for Cafeteria Behavior

Introduce: Introduce the lesson by saying, “Today we are going to learn appropriate cafeteria behavior. It is important to learn this because we need our students to be safe at all times, and we need students to have enough time to finish eating their lunch. Tell: Talk with students about why it is important to behave appropriately in the cafeteria and why these particular skills are necessary. Teacher should make associations between the expected cafeteria behavior and the School- wide Expectations (Courage, Attitude, Teamwork, Spirit). The expected behaviors to introduce are:

1. Walk to and from the cafeteria using level one (quiet) voice. 2. Enter the cafeteria through the door marked “IN”. Wait patiently in a single file line between the broken red line and the wall. 3. Have money and lunch code ready. 4. Get everything you need (straws, ketchup, napkins, etc.) while going through line; walk with your tray directly to your table. 5. While in cafeteria use level two (conversational) voice volume. 6. Be courteous to staff and other students. 7. Respect each other’s space by keeping hands to yourself. 8. Remain in cafeteria, SEATED IN ASSIGNED AREA, until dismissed. 9. Clean your area of food and trash. When your table is called to empty trays follow the route marked by the tape and return to your seat. 10. Food and drink, except water, must remain in cafeteria. 11. Raise your hand and remain seated if you need help from an adult. 12. No restroom breaks while in the cafeteria. Students need to take care of this when they visit the bathroom before lunch and wash their hands. 13. When your table is called line up single file between the broken red line and the tables until your teacher instructs you to leave.

Show: 1. Ask students to specify the expectations for appropriate cafeteria behavior. 2. Model the behaviors. 3. Call on two or three students (who are likely to be successful) to model the behaviors and instruct the rest of the class to watch carefully. 4. Call on other small groups to model. 5. Call on the whole class to model. 6. Repeat until all students demonstrate the behaviors correctly. 7. Acknowledge students who cooperate with the practice session, and follow the session with a brief reinforcing activity (to acknowledge cooperation). 8. Summarize what has been covered in the lesson, reiterating why appropriate cafeteria behavior is necessary and show high expectations in all students by acknowledging your belief that they will behave appropriately in the cafeteria.

Follow the show phase with a summarization of what has been covered in the lesson, reiterating the importance of applying the learned behaviors to other settings.

Do: Frequently praise students who successfully demonstrate the desired behaviors. Reinforce using the school-wide reinforcement system. Provide reminders or prompts to students who fail to demonstrate the desired behaviors (e.g., “Ashley, remember to clean your area before exiting the cafeteria”). Monitor daily until no prompts are Cafeteria Lesson 2 needed. Determine if and what procedures need to be re-taught. Occasionally watch staff made video on appropriate and inappropriate cafeteria behavior.

Conclude: Conduct a brief discussion daily after the routine has been established. If there have been any problems in demonstrating the expected behaviors, conduct another practice session, monitor behavior more closely, and provide more frequent feedback. Do not take the routine for granted. Remember that appropriate cafeteria behavior is a concept being taught. Many students do not know what appropriate and inappropriate behavior looks like. Reward students when appropriate behavior has been maintained for an extended period of time.