How to Field Instructor

BEING A GUEST AT MEALS

Dining Hall Lingo:
          — Guest = Adults at the table (staff, SLs, and teachers). Help with serving and keeping things under control.
          — Host = Student who picks a guest to sit with. Helps serving.
          — Jump Up = Student who goes to the kitchen, brings back serving dishes and refills them as needed.
Be very purposeful about your actions. Sort of narrate what you are doing and what your host or other guests can / should be doing.
Make sure you’re keeping an eye on the SL at the other end of your table — they might need reminders to get things going.
Motivate others to follow table manners by verbalizing them (subtly) and by example.
Be aware of an overworked jump-up. They need time to eat too. Adults at the table can take trips for them, or you can ask other kids at the table to do so.
Empower your host to feel like they’re doing a lot, but be sure to serve the more challenging things yourself. (They serve ham, you serve mashed potatoes and peas, that sort of thing).
If you suspect your host is going to make a disaster of water pouring, ask if they’d like to get the cups ready and pass them out while you pour.
Facilitate appropriate and inclusive conversation. Some ideas:
          — Would you rather have a third eye or a tail?
          — Favorite, superhero, place on earth, form of potatoes, book?
          — If you could live anywhere…?
          — ODS name?
          — Exotic pet?
          — A-Z name some animals.
          — Play 2 truths and a lie.
          — Trading game: Offering something (unrealistic) to someone, trying to find someone you would be willing to trade with. (ie. I’d trade you a week long cruise for a pet monkey!)

How to Field Instructor

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