Which School Lunch Are You? [QUIZ]

Posted March 28, 2022 in Fun, Quiz, Teacher Wellness

Today, we salute the school lunch. That compartmentalized tray contains treasures that remind us of a time when responsibilities carried much less weight. Whether it came with a side of corn or fruit chunks swimming in syrup, the 20-minute midday meal holds an integral spot in the heart of public education.

As a teacher, you’re in a unique position: You loved school so much you chose to stay there. While the cafeteria menu might not have carried much weight in that decision, don’t you have at least a small affinity for it?

Pop open your milk carton, friends. Let’s discover which school lunch most accurately reflects your teaching and the dynamics of your personality.

Pick the option that best embodies your classroom aesthetic:

A fun and welcoming environment

Customizable for a group with diverse needs

Unassuming, but nevertheless fun

Every area fulfilling a purpose

A little messy, but always effective

You want your students to feel that your teaching…

Is diverse and fun

Leaves nobody out of the loop

Never seems dry or boring, no matter what the material

Makes the material relevant for the future

Provides both substance and comfort

Pick an adjective that describes your average lesson:

Egalitarian

Fun

Surprising

Fulfilling

Classic

Based only on food availability, where would you most like to live?

Mexico City, Mexico

New York City, New York

London, England

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Saint Louis, Missouri

Your role as a teacher means:

Celebrating all that life has to offer

Everyone receiving fair treatment and feeling appreciated

Showing kids how to see the truth behind a façade

Getting kids to understand the importance of their education

Helping kids create a more comfortable life

Pick a vacation destination:

Mexico

Italy

England

Midwest tour, U.S.

Ireland

Which School Lunch Are You?

Taco Tuesday

Can you smell the ground chuck marinating in a mélange of cumin, chili powder, garlic, and paprika? And do you marvel at the sight of nuclear-orange cheese cascading over a greasy salad of beef, pickled jalapenos, and chunks of tomato? This is Taco Tuesday, a weekly holiday celebrated across all lines of social and philosophical division.

So, what does this lunch say about you as a teacher?

It means that your lessons are well-liked, tested, and appreciated. But perhaps most importantly, your classroom activities can be tailored to fit the needs of all students. In this day and age, we’re working harder and harder to reach children on an individual level, and you’re on the front line of that mission.

Pizza Day

Traditionally served in a rectangular shape, pizza day provides a standard against which all other pies are judged. As your students grow older, they’ll pine for those cubed pepperonis that made islands of red grease across the geography of the slice. They’ll yearn for those pockets of flavor hiding beneath the bubbling cheese. And perhaps you experience that nostalgia yourself.

So, what does this lunch say about you as a teacher?

It means that your teaching style stands the test of time, holding firm against all the changes and new demands that happen so often in public education. But you’re no milquetoast. It’s called a pizza party, for Pete’s sake. Your classroom management style means that all kids get a fair and equitable shake — a slice of the pie that suits their needs.

Fish Sticks

Ah, those perfect planks of fishy goodness. Frozen food gets a bad rep, and fish sticks are the poster child for that mischaracterization. Usually made from an oceanic mixture of cod, pollack, and halibut, these breaded delights take diners on a culinary voyage of the sea. And they say school lunches don’t offer robust flavor profiles. Have these amateur critics never heard of tartar sauce?

So, what does this lunch say about you as a teacher?

Your teaching style may look unassuming at first, but once you peel back the curtain, you see a perfectly balanced combination of pedagogical tools and strategies. It’s not that you’re hiding your genius; you like the element of surprise. Your students are richer for it, too.

Tuscan Pasta Bake

OK, perhaps the Tuscan pasta bake doesn’t grace every school with its delightfully gooey, carb-rich presence. If that’s your school, perhaps this description sounds familiar: In a nutshell, you have a pasta casserole that sneaks a few green vegetables down the diners’ gullets. With stealth and sophistication, this dish is surely the James Bond of school lunches.

So, what does this lunch say about you as a teacher?

It means that you take state standards and evolving demands and make them fun and digestible. It also means that your teaching style is unique and perhaps unexpected at times. Tell the truth: How often do you gamify your lessons? If that’s you, we know that your students not only appreciate the approach but also retain and implement the information.

Salisbury Steak

A TV dinner staple, the Salisbury steak marries a mystery combination of animal protein with a generous pour of brown sauce. Dr. James H. Salisbury, a medical doctor, is the man behind this gravy-smothered concoction, which is why it brings so much relief and comfort when consumed. Spoon some mashed potatoes on the side, and there you have it: the epitome of comfort food.

So, what does this lunch say about you as a teacher?

You’re nice. And that’s good. We mean it as a compliment. When you teach, your students appreciate the grace and warmth you show them. They feel comfortable and trusting when learning with you. Do you make your classroom feel homier, as in adding lamps and plants and fun decorations? Either way, your students will remember you fondly as they transition to adulthood.

This quiz is meant for fun, but there’s no question that teachers need serious tools and resources. We’ve got your back. Check out some of the most popular K–12 professional development courses from Advancement Courses:

Strategies for Addressing Student Anxiety: One in five students currently struggles with anxiety issues, affecting their ability to learn and disrupting health and sleep. Learn to recognize anxiety and develop classroom strategies to support students who suffer from it.
Motivating Unmotivated Students (Research and Practice): Nothing is worse than preparing an excellent lesson only to be met with a brick wall of unmotivated students. Explore the major theories of motivation and get strategies to help students develop a motivated mindset toward learning.
Phonics: Foundations of Literacy: Get strategies for integrating basic, intermediate, and advanced phonics into your reading and writing lessons. Learn how to diagnose and intervene with struggling readers and create effective differentiated instruction for small groups of students.
Self-Care Strategies for Teachers: Create long-term self-care strategies that will help you better manage stressful situations and build a more grounded, inspired, and sustainable career in education.

Advancement Courses offers more than 280 online, self-paced PD courses covering both foundational topics and emerging trends in K–12 education. Courses are available for both graduate and continuing education credit for your salary advancement or recertification needs.