middle school recess. But they also agreed that any amount of time was better than nothing. “A small amount of time can go a long way,” says Monica Duckles, a former teacher in DC and Maryland. Duckles taught at a middle school that added recess to the schedule during her time there. “Students had recess at least 30 minutes twice a week. It really was special, it really was such a game changer. Recess days brought so much joy.” But what if a school is considering excluding recess because they only have a short amount of time? “Even 15 minutes is worth it,” says Duckles, “so don’t feel like it has to be 30 plus minutes.” Natalie Pfefferle, a former middle school teacher in Pennsylvania, agrees. “Everyone needs a break. With block periods that’s a lot of learning in a small amount of time students had recess time to go and burn some energy. I just felt like we were so much more productive when we did get outside.” Mix It Up When it comes to recess, there are multiple ways to structure it. In some schools the entire grade level may go outside at once; in others, it may be smaller groups of classes, or recess may only be one class at a time. Even when multiple classes have recess at the same time, students may or may not be permitted to mix with students in other classes. Of the teachers we spoke to, the preference was for students to be able to interact 4with an entire grade level, where numbers and space allow. “In so many middle schools students travel as a cohort,” 5explains Dorothy Hodges, a former middle school teacher and administrator. “So you don’t get to interact with folks not in your homeroom except for recess.” Mixing with students from a variety of classrooms gives students more opportunity to form friendships and develop their social skills. Duckles says this is part of the joy of recess: “Something that really tickled me [is] there are kids who are so different, but they are brought together by their love of basketball or volleyball. This sense of togetherness and teamwork, getting to work with people who aren’t your best friends, those skills can be built during recess time.” Ensure There Is Something for Everyone One size does not fit all when it comes to middle school recess. Traditionally, recess may bring [5] [10] 4. to respond in a social setting 5. a group of people connected by some factor 2
to mind playgrounds or a pick-up sports game, but recess can also be so much more! The key to an ideal recess is a balance of options. “Choice is the biggest thing that comes to mind, balancing the needs of introverts 6and the needs of extroverts,” 7said Kenan Kerr, a former North Carolina teacher and facilitator. What matters more than the activity is the time. Hodges notes, “Just to have that social time. Students need downtime, they need a chill time.” There are many organized group sports that are a great fit for recess, such as football, basketball, soccer, and relay races. But it’s also important to have options for individual activities. Outdoor fitness equipment could be ideal for middle school students, who may consider a playground elementary; fitness stations with items such as balance beams, pull-up bars, or guided fitness activity boards allow individual students to enjoy themselves at their own pace. According to a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the installation of outdoor fitness equipment in parks and open spaces has been found to increase engagement in physical activities and encourage social interaction. There are also more leisurely physical activities, such as walking a track. And of course, there are the classic blacktop games such as four-square or hula-hooping. Recess can also include additional activities: drawing, reading, board games, clapping games, sidewalk chalk, crafts, or student-created games; whether that is inside or outside. To Structure, or Not to Structure There are a variety of factors that can lead to a need for more or less structure in recess. If a school is entirely new to recess, it might be important to have clearly defined rules that are shared with students, staff and the general school community. If, say recess has been a longstanding practice at a school or a teacher is dealing with older students, then the structure might be a little more relaxed. Older students might not need this same support. “The 8th graders mostly did their own thing, they had board games they could bring outside, football, basketballs,” Hodges explains. “But with 6th graders, we had to keep it pretty structured, so they chose a station for the length of time. They would more or less stay at that station exclusively.” While starting with structure is really important to set the right tone, loosening structure over time can benefit students not just in recess, but throughout their life. Duckles shares, “I do think it’s really important for there to be trusted adults close by. You don’t want it to be unregulated, 8 but I do think recess creates opportunities for kids to work things out, like following the rules, [15] 6. someone who is shy or prefers to be alone 7. someone who is outgoing or prefers to be with others 8. without rules or supervision 3
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Text-Dependent Questions Directions: For the following questions, choose the best answer or respond in complete sentences. 1. Which statement best describes the central idea of the text? A. If a school does not have enough time or space to give recess to all students at once, it is better not to have recess. B. The most important reason that schools should consider adding recess is in order to provide exercise for students. C. When recess is thoughtfully designed with input from adults and students, it can lead to a variety of benefits for a school. D. Most teachers recommend having students play alone during recess because it teaches them independence and problem-solving skills.
1 answer
The statement that best describes the central idea of the text is:
C. When recess is thoughtfully designed with input from adults and students, it can lead to a variety of benefits for a school.
This option captures the essence of the text, which emphasizes the importance of recess and how its structure and organization can enhance the experience for students, highlighting various benefits such as social interaction, physical activity, and overall well-being.
