Sorry Kids, No Recess This Year! Love, Miss. Bernhardt Love, Miss. Bernhardt

Here we go… / “… A number of dissident child psychologists warn that most pediatricians and family physicians are not qualified to distinguish between an abnormal child and a child who is exhibiting quite normal behavior in not wanting to sit through a seven-hour school day cramming for standardized tests--- without recess, art, music, gym…

Here we go… / why not increase the number of children taking Ritalin to 7.5 million so we could increase classroom size to 45 and save a lot of money.” / -Ohanian, 2002 / why not increase the number of children taking Ritalin to 7.5 million so we could increase classroom size to 45 and save a lot of money.” / -Ohanian, 2002

My inspiration / “Johnny, this is your last warning,” the teacher says annoyingly to Johnny for the 3 rd time in the past 30 minutes… “Congratulations, you just lost 5 minutes of your recess, Johnny,” the teacher says as she scribbles Johnny’s name on the board. “And don’t make me add more time to it!”

Kim Juan Johnny Kim Juan Johnny

High Expectations vs. Too High of Expectations / Expect better behavior from kids than we do from adults. / Children are NOT little adults, they are CHILDREN! / Expect better behavior from kids than we do from adults. / Children are NOT little adults, they are CHILDREN!

Goal of My Final Project / Is there in fact, solid scientific evidence that supports that kids need recess?

Outline of My Final Project / What’s all the hype? / What about the kids? / So, what you gonna do about it? / What’s all the hype? / What about the kids? / So, what you gonna do about it?

What’s all the hype? / Think: / How many recess periods did you have in elementary school? / How long were they? / Think: / How many recess periods did you have in elementary school? / How long were they?

What’s all the hype? / % of schools had at least one recess per day (Jarrett, 2002) / Today, 40% of schools are reducing, deleting or considering deleting recess (NAECS, 2001) / % of schools had at least one recess per day (Jarrett, 2002) / Today, 40% of schools are reducing, deleting or considering deleting recess (NAECS, 2001)

Why is recess being reduced and deleted? / Accountability / Time would be better spent on other “academic” subjects / “Recess disrupts work patterns” / Safety and liability concerns / Standardized testing / Children’s behaviors on the play ground. / Accountability / Time would be better spent on other “academic” subjects / “Recess disrupts work patterns” / Safety and liability concerns / Standardized testing / Children’s behaviors on the play ground.

What about the kids? / Physical development / Emotional and social development / Cognitive development / Classroom management / Physical development / Emotional and social development / Cognitive development / Classroom management

Physical Development / Obesity- inactivity / Increase circulation and blood flow to the brain / Reduce stress / Obesity- inactivity / Increase circulation and blood flow to the brain / Reduce stress / Improved mood / Increases attentiveness / Decrease restlessness / Gross and fine motor skills

Emotional and Social development / Outlet for reducing anxiety / Manage stress- endorphins / Gain self-confidence / Peer interactions- latchkey kids / Outlet for reducing anxiety / Manage stress- endorphins / Gain self-confidence / Peer interactions- latchkey kids / Cooperation / Sharing / Language/ communication development / Rule following / Conflict resolution

Cognitive development / Improved concentration / Improved rate of academic learning / Improved recall w/ frequent breaks / Improved concentration / Improved rate of academic learning / Improved recall w/ frequent breaks / Better attentiveness / Boosts brain cells in the hippocampus / Learning on the playground

Learning on the playground / Authentic experiences / Natural elements: wind, dirt, water, seasons / Physics: see-saw, merry-go-round, swings / Math and numbers: counting, keeping score / Language development: explaining, describing, articulating, making use of oral language and vocabulary / Authentic experiences / Natural elements: wind, dirt, water, seasons / Physics: see-saw, merry-go-round, swings / Math and numbers: counting, keeping score / Language development: explaining, describing, articulating, making use of oral language and vocabulary

Classroom management / Taking away recess is counter productive- fidgety and kids with ADD and ADHD

Classroom management  o. “In allowing a mental change and release of energy, recess may facilitate subsequent attention to more academic tasks and minimize disruptive behavior once students return to the classroom; recess, therefore, becomes an important element of classroom management and behavior guidance” (NAECS, 2001).

So, what are you going to do about it?

Sources / Jarrett, O. (2002). Recess in Elementary School: What does the Research Say? Illinois: ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED ) / National Association of Early Childhood Specialists (NAECS) in State Departments of Education. (2001). Recess and the Importance of Play. A Position Statement on Young Children and Recess. U.S. Department of Education, / Ohanian, S. (2002). What Happened to Recess and Why are our Children Struggling in Kindergarten? New York: McGraw-Hill. / Summerford, C. What is the Impact of Exercise on Brain Function for Academic Learning. / Pellegrini, A. (1995). School, Recess and Playground Behavior. New York: State University of New York Press. / Pledge, D. (2002, December). ADD and ADHD: An Overview for School Counselors. Greensboro, North Carolina: ERIC Clearinghouse on Counseling and Student Services. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED ) / Taras, H. (2005). Physical Activity and Student Performance at School. J. Sch. Health, 75(6). / Jarrett, O. (2002). Recess in Elementary School: What does the Research Say? Illinois: ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED ) / National Association of Early Childhood Specialists (NAECS) in State Departments of Education. (2001). Recess and the Importance of Play. A Position Statement on Young Children and Recess. U.S. Department of Education, / Ohanian, S. (2002). What Happened to Recess and Why are our Children Struggling in Kindergarten? New York: McGraw-Hill. / Summerford, C. What is the Impact of Exercise on Brain Function for Academic Learning. / Pellegrini, A. (1995). School, Recess and Playground Behavior. New York: State University of New York Press. / Pledge, D. (2002, December). ADD and ADHD: An Overview for School Counselors. Greensboro, North Carolina: ERIC Clearinghouse on Counseling and Student Services. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED ) / Taras, H. (2005). Physical Activity and Student Performance at School. J. Sch. Health, 75(6).