Recess is really important. Why you may ask? Well studies have shown that recess actually improves learning through physical activity (ericdigests). Since the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), teachers have been concerned that they won't be able to teach their students all the information they need in order to pass the assessment tests. Some schools have gone as far as eliminating recess to give more time to the teachers to prepare the students to pass the assessment tests.
Recess is too important to take out of the elementary school day. Breaks are essential for satisfaction and alertness, not only for children but for adults too. Researches have been done with the memory and found that recall is improved when learning is spaced rather than all at once (ericdigests). It is shown that a minimum of 10 minute breaks improve children's learning efficiency (journal-news).
Recess has cognitive benefits as well; it encourages creativity, promotes problem solving, and improves vocabulary. Teacher's also gain benefits when their students have recess during the school day. Teacher's gain better attention from the students and notice a decrease in disruptive behavior after recess time (barbara).
Recess was always my favorite in the day because I got to get away from the classroom and have the opportunity to be a kid. Now that I know more about the meaning to recess, it makes me a little mad that what us teachers are more concerned about is educating the children to pass a test. Us future educators now know the benefits for our students and ourselves. Let's educate the rest to bring recess back and no longer have the treat of being eliminated in the school days ever again.
Resources:
http://www.journal-news.com/
http://www.ericdigests.org/
http://barbara-pytel.suite101.com/
Although i always hated recess, I can clearly see your point. Too many people are focused on one thing...the test! It really should not be that big of a deal. Also, by stressing it to this extreme, I think it adds more pressure to the students. This could be the reasoning for poor results. Educators need to be weel rounded, so recess should still be encluded for those students who really need that time in the school day.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about recess it is to important for a child to lose. It helps social skills and promotes physical fitness.
ReplyDeleteI love this topic! So many teachers are too concerned about tests scores and kids doing well on them that they forget about what is in the best interest for the students and what will get them to achieve these amazing test scores. I observed in a classroom where the teacher did a quick fun activity with them in between each subject. This made them more attentive and eager to learn when they got a break in between.
ReplyDeleteit is absolutely necessary. can you imagine the children with ADD trying to sit there all day with no recess. I would not want to be the teacher in that classroom.
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