Recess

I consulted an article by Christina Samuels, "Recess and Behavior," to write this entry. She says that based on a federally funded government project, Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, it was found that having recess as part of the daily classroom routine improves children's behavior in the classroom. I think that this is because students need a chance to run around, use some of their energy, and build social relationships with other students in the classroom. I have noticed that interactions between children in the classroom is different than when they are in a classroom setting. Students also need a break in their day. It is nice for them to cast off their worries of the classroom for 15-20 minutes so when they enter back into the room they are rejuvenated to begin working again. Their behavior will improve and the students will be more focused on the lesson. Personally, I think that students should be given five minutes to calm down when they enter back into the classroom. Those five minutes should be silent and the students can either put their head on their desk or silent read. The study also found that it is no more beneficial for students to have a longer recess compared to the usual length. As long as the students get a chance to play and take a break from classes, they will be more focused and ready to tackle the rest of the day's tasks.