LUNCH BUNCH IN

THE CLASSROOM

GETTING TO KNOW STUDENTS

IN THEIR COMMUNITY
By: Brooke Brylawski
ELED 641

WHAT IS LUNCH
BUNCH?
Lunch bunch is a program
designed with the purpose of
promoting academic and
behavioral success among atrisk students (Frieberg &
Poster, 2012).
A lunch bunch is time for students
to get to know each other and
teachers on a different level.
Lunch bunch is seen as an
innovative and exemplary
program that involves
students, teachers, and
community members
(Quezada, 2003, p. 147).

WHY HOST A LUNCH BUNCH?

Many times we find our classroom is not as
inviting as we might wish. So, a lunch bunch is
one way to help promote the classroom
community, in addition to allowing parents or
community members into the classroom.
Other times we have students who need extra
support and guidance. Extra support can be
provided through this more personalized
opportunity.
Some students desperately need a place to
belong which can be aided through a lunch
bunch with a facilitating adult (Martin, 2012, p.
64)

WHY DID I HOST LUNCH BUNCHES?

Throughout this class we have been discussing how
to build communities and the importance of having
relationships with students, parents, and
communities.
I felt that the most beneficial thing for my
kindergarten students would be to first build a
relationship with them. We already have a few
events planned with parents, so I felt focusing on the
students before these events would be helpful.
I wanted to get to know my students on a deeper
level. I felt it was important to learn about them as
individuals in hopes to create a stronger community.
In the beginning students also viewed me as an
outsider, so this worked well for the students to see
me as a teacher and someone who is there for them.

WHY DID I HOST LUNCH BUNCHES?

(CONT.)
While I personally wanted to develop bonds with the
students, I also felt that the students needed to get to
know one another on a non-academic level.
What specifically triggered this idea was watching the
interactions of my class and a new student we received.
This new student is very shy and has had some
difficulty finding her place in our classroom. We are
also unsure of her home life situation.
With a wide array of personalities in my class, I
thought a small group would really benefit this student,
giving me the idea to start a lunch bunch and invite
her!

invited various students, some with a similar situation and

personality of our new student, in addition to a couple
sweet, outgoing, personable students.

IMPLEMENTATION/ HOW IT
WORKED IN MY CLASSROOM
It was great!
I held my first lunch bunch on Friday, February 6,
2015. This date corresponded with my taking over
of the classroom.
I targeted the students that we are unsure about
their home life and the ones not doing as well in
school.

picked these students to get to know them better, build

the classroom community, and learn about their families
and lives outside of school in a more relaxed setting.

All the students wanted to share about their

families, what they like to do for fun, and personal
anecdotes.

IF I HAD MORE TIME

If I had more time and it was my own classroom,
I would continue to use the lunch bunch.
I would continue to use it to target the at-risk
students and the students who need extra
support, but I would also use it to get to know all
of my students.
Something I would really like to do would be to
invite other teachers, administrators, parents, or
community members to also join the lunch.

This

would really show the students how so many

people care for them and want to know about them.

BENEFITS OF A LUNCH BUNCH

A research study done regarding lunch bunch
showed that 75-100 students who participate
regularly in the [Lunch Bunch] have improved
their attendance rate, homework quality, and
behavior when compared to previous classes
(Quezada, 2003. p. 148).
Lunch bunch also builds community which is
important because students need to feel
comfortable around each other and feel as though
they can learn with and from each other
(Barbutti).

GIVE LUNCH BUNCH A TRY!

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REFERENCES
Barbutti, J. Building classroom communities. Retrieved from
University of Michigan site: http://sitmaker.umich.edu /
jillianbarbutti
Freiberg, M., & Poster, A. (2012). The lunch bunch: An
intervention program for at-risk students. Retrieved from
University of Wisconsin site: http://minds.wisconsin.edu
Harchar, R., & Hyle, A. (1996), Collaborative power: A grounded
theory of administrative instructional leadership in the
elementary school. Journal of Educational Administration,
34(3), 15-29.
Martin, N. (2012). Welcome to the school library. Knowledge
Quest, 40(5), 64-65.
Quezada, R. (2003). Going for the gold! Field reports on effective
home-school-community partnership programs. School
Community Journal, 13(2), 137-156.