Research Strategies for a Successful Recess: Insights from an Expert
In a push to elevate the school experience for all students, London has launched the Global Recess Alliance in 2020. Rebecca London, a community-engaged researcher and professor of sociology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, is advocating for a radical shift in how we think about education. She emphasizes the importance of teaching children how to regulate their emotions, interact, resolve conflicts, collaborate, and communicate authentically.
The Global Recess Alliance believes that recess is essential for all children's development, including academic, social, emotional, and physical growth. The ideal number of recesses per day, according to the Alliance, is more than one, with a minimum of two and three being better, including one in the morning, one at lunch, and one in the afternoon.
Recess can vary greatly depending on the school and the approach taken. While structured recess resembles gym class, unstructured recess allows for more free play and exploration. London suggests that recess should allow students a break from the school day, where they can have their needs met, whether that be physical activity, quiet time, or engaging in games. Facilitated recess, which London recommends, combines elements of both structured and unstructured recess, offering various games and zones for play while also providing safe spaces for students to relax or engage in social activities.
From a nutrition perspective, it's recommended that children play first and then eat during recess to encourage them to eat their food. A well-implemented recess can help students behave better when they return to the classroom and improve their ability to concentrate and learn. According to a study with the nonprofit Playworks, a well-implemented recess can result in teachers gaining an entire day of instruction back into their school year due to reduced time spent helping students work through hurt feelings or anger after recess.
However, there is a lack of mechanisms for supporting the training of adults in how to create and maintain healthy play environments during recess. This is a critical issue that needs addressing to ensure that recess is implemented effectively and equitably in schools.
Despite the benefits of recess, it's concerning that more than half of states in the U.S. do not require schools to include recess. States that do require recess often only mandate 20 minutes of recess per day, which London considers insufficient. Furthermore, Black students, especially Black boys, and Native American students, especially boys, are disciplined more heavily and are more likely to have recess withheld.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Global Recess Alliance are expected to release statements in support of recess and healthy play. London has expressed interest in observing recess in Finland, where students have 15 minutes of recess for every hour of instruction. The Global Recess Alliance's work is grounded in the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child, which the U.S. has not ratified.
In conclusion, recess provides an opportunity for students to practice their social and emotional skills in new ways outside the classroom, which can benefit them for the rest of their lives. The Global Recess Alliance is working tirelessly to advocate for dedicated and sufficient recess in schools across the globe, promoting a more holistic approach to education that prioritizes the well-being and development of all students.
Read also:
- CEO Efe Cakarel of film platform Mubi addresses controversy regarding new investor and Israeli military ties, establishes advisory board and fund to safeguard artists under threat.
- Trump urged to abandon one-sided trade restrictions during a 'productive' conversation with Xi about the TikTok issue
- Launching a Chore Service Business: Exhaustive Tutorial
- Deadly addiction: strategies for smoking cessation to live longer
