The Problems of Recess: How to Fix Them

1. The Problems of Recess:How to Fix Them

2. Problems Staff and AdministrationStudents • Office Referrals • Aggression • Bullying • Injuries • Property Damage • Student Safety • Accountability • Boredom • Bullying • Socialization • Exclusion • Safety • Disciplinary • Emotional carry-over

3. A Choice Spend your time with disciplinary problems from lunch and recess, or find solutions to those very problems? Add up how much time you devote to discipline issues revolving around unstructured times……

4. Observation I am offering a free observation of your lunch room, recess, and lunch time recess areas. Whether you have problems or not, wouldn’t it be interesting to find out what an outside observer would note?

5. Our Playground Problems • Vast areas with too few supervisors • Lack of equipment • Lack of structure/instruction • No peer coaches or buddies • No older kids to model behavior or skills (Brief solutions or ideas to follow)

6. Too few Supervisors • You don’t need more adults…… • Use older students to add structure to play • Consider an indoor space for movie/board games (SPED kids especially) • Reinvent your shade structures • Consolidate play spaces • Train the supervisors

7. Lack of Equipment • Assign equipment to spaces not people • Peer coaches assure structure • Activities with minimal or no equipment • Rotate roster of activities each week • Students can choose activities • Structuring allows control and prevents chaos

8. Food for Thought Many of our students are never taught how to play. Many schools did away with structured physical education programs and physical education teachers. We rely on academic teachers to implement this valuable training. Many people may think of physical education as something optional or secondary to other subjects. They may even consider it a “reward”” that must be earned by students. Our students at home rarely go outside to play. Weather, location, or isolation and the advent of video games; have made many of our students dependent on the indoors for entertainment.

9. No Structure/Instruction • Roster of activities that become familiar but not over used • Quick instruction on how to play- then coach • Interaction, movement, cooperation • Social skills without formal instruction • Hybrid games will occur naturally • Peer coaches keep it fun for everyone and provide a healthier relationship

10. No Peer Coaches/Buddies • Select volunteers from older students • Special badge, shirt, or neckerchief • Recognized/used at school events • Free passes to dances or other incentives • Training provided at inception • Promotion to higher designation with time/skill • Periodic meetings for discussion

11. No Modeling of Behavior • Consider staggering lunch time differently(If you currently have all of 1st at 10:30, 2nd at 10:40, 3rd at 10:50) • One class of 6th with one class of 3rd for instance • All of 6th with 3rd, 5th with 2nd, 4th with 1st. • Upper students model behavior and play • Younger students get to see older play (imitate) • Older students help maintain order without trying

12. Other Considerations • Some teachers already provide resources • Teacher volunteers • Behavior department and how we can help • Special Education students are special…. • One size doesn’t fit all in Gen Ed either • Office referrals/detentions at recess can indicate student needs not being met. • Perfect time to plan, prepare, and experiment for next year.