How to use recess time more effectively in schools
Relevant for: Teachers and School principals.
A typical recess time in our
schools goes with this understanding: Students need a break to eat something.
They need to go outside the class and play for sometimes so they can refocus
later in the day. Teachers need a break to feed themselves so they can also get
through the day. In some schools teachers do recess duty to look after
discipline during break time. But how effective is this time used? Can we look
at using it differently and can we use it more effectively? I believe we can.
Recess or break time can be used
to develop social skills, emotional management and for relationship building.
Outdoor physical activities are an ideal time to develop social and emotional
learning. Playgrounds are the best space to build positive relationships. Sometimes
it is done unconsciously while other times proper instruction and preparation
is required.
During recess, teacher can get
involved in the activity/game/play that the students are performing. Let that
activity be student driven. This gives students space to exercise their freedom
in a space where the teacher might have least knowledge. In the classroom, most
of the time, it is the teacher who is the authority and is considered to be
more knowledgeable. However sharing this space of authority with students,
gives them a sense of ownership and confidence. It shows the teacher’s
humbleness and the idea that there are many areas that students know more about.
One important aspect of using
recess time is to build teacher-student relationship. In the classroom, the
teacher has to cover the content and look after 25-30 students in a short time.
In such a short time, with a focus on content and classroom management, the
teacher seldom gets time to develop personal relationship with students. In
fact many times this relationship is ruined. Recess or playtime is the best time
for teachers to use build this relationship. Target the students whose
performance you are not happy with. With students, the teacher can just talk with
them about anything such as about politics, development, what’s going on in
life kind of stuff. This gives the students a chance to see the teacher as a
human being and not an authoritative figure. The playground is the perfect spot
to let the student understand your point of view and you for understanding his
or her point. Relationship building can reduce behaviour issues in the
classroom. During these talks the teacher should talk less and listen more.
Teachers can help students set
goals for recess. Goals such as ‘what is something I want to get better at?’ ‘What
am I going to do today during break? And why?’ such discussions are important
in the classroom. It develops students’ skills of goal setting. It can help students understand why goals
should be practical and time bound. Sometimes this goal could be to improve
interpersonal relationship with others or may be gaining a skills in a physical
activity. The students can write their recess goal for the week and at the end
of the week could be discussed. Students can apply such short term, immediate
goals setting skills on other big tasks, assignments, homework or anything
beyond the school boundaries.
Recess can also be used to teach
stress management skills. During physical games, the teacher can observe
students’ stressful moments. The teacher can assist and discuss what students
can do to regulate their emotions during stressful situations. Together they
can explore ways they can remind themselves to use their strategy in other
situations to manage their emotions.
Teachers are already
busy with so many things and asking them to do these recess activities would be
too much. I can recommend attending recess two times in a week. The teacher
will notice a big difference in their approach towards students and towards
teaching. It helps in creating a positive and safe school for students. We can
change our schools, develop a positive environment that is attractive for students
and manage our classroom better if we plan to use break time differently.
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