Recess
Education news, analysis, and opinion about breaks from the structured school day for games, play, or socializing
7 Things to Know About School Recess
Why is recess important? Here are 7 findings about recess, the role it plays in the development of children, and how it's evolved over time.
Education
News in Brief
Minn. District Outsources Recess
The St. Paul, Minn., school district has decided to hire a private company to supervise recess at seven elementary schools.
Student Well-Being
Chicago's Return of Recess Could Lead to Major Student-Health Benefits
The return of recess to Chicago schools may have major health benefits for students, according to a soon-to-be-presented study out of the University of Scranton.
Families & the Community
Chicago Issues Guide to Bring Back Recess
Most Chicago schools have been without recess since the 1970s. With the release of a Chicago Public Schools guide to implementing recess, that might change.
School Climate & Safety
So Chicago Kids Aren't Getting Recess?
I had to read this story a couple of times to make sure it wasn't satire of some sort: Chicago Public Schools this week has apparently issued new guidelines—to the tune of 45 pages—designed to allow schools to provide students with a 20-minute recess break.
Student Well-Being
Opinion
Boys and Recess
I've never bought into the conspiracy theory that boys are suffering because educators are cutting back on their freedom to run wild during recess. The successful charter schools I've visited made better use of that time, as written about here.
Student Well-Being
Opinion
Eliminating Recess Hurts Kids
When testing pressures cancel recess, students and teachers can't get the breaks they need, explains Nicholas Thacher.
Curriculum
Recess Improves Student Learning, Principals Say
We all know that children—most of them—anyway, love recess. It was probably my favorite "subject" in elementary school, and my heart raced when I heard the bell go off and we were free to hit the playground. But what's being billed as the "first ever" national poll of elementary school principals on the subject finds that most of them believe recess helps children learn.
School & District Management
Report Roundup
Recess and Behavior
Having a daily recess break of at least 15 minutes is associated with better ratings by teachers of students’ classroom behavior, says an article published in the February issue of the journal Pediatrics.
Education
Recess, Behavior, and Learning
Can a kickball game help transform the climate of a school?
Education
Recess Recession
According to a new study published in the February 2009 Pediatrics journal, there is a strong connection between recess time and elementary students’ good classroom behavior, the Washington Post reports. Many students aren’t getting recess time due in part to No Child Left Behind consuming more classroom hours.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Yes to Recess and Classes ‘With the Sky for a Ceiling’
As a strong advocate for incorporating a change of pace and place into the school day, I was delighted to read Vicky Schippers’ Commentary, “Say Yes to Recess.”
Student Well-Being
Why Recess Matters
In a recent commentary piece on edweek.org, Vicky Shippers argues that recess is an important piece of a student's school day. It is the only unstructured time children have at school, and yet many recess activities--like kickball and tag--have been banned from the playground because of safety concerns, and in many schools, recess itself has been squeezed out because of time constraints. Shippers explains why this is a worrisome trend:
Student Well-Being
Opinion
Say Yes to Recess
What is most important about recess is that it is the only unstructured time in a long day for most children, Vicky Schippers writes.
Student Well-Being
Survey Finds Majority of Elementary Schools Still Offer Recess Time
Despite widespread concerns that the daily recess period is going the way of the dinosaur, a federal survey issued last week suggests that the vast majority of elementary schools still offer unstructured playtime for students each day.
