How to use recess time more effectively in schools

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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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