Kyle and I both agree that it is important for students to have free time to go outside and take a break or to even catch up on work. Many teachers incorporate "brain breaks" which are fun, educational activities that allows the students to stand up and move around while still learning. As far as going outside, we feel that students need this time for socialization purposes.
Kyle mentioned that he noticed that teachers do not seem to take students outside to read or sketch trees for science. We both agree that it is important for interaction to take place outside the classroom. Kyle pointed out that during summer school the kindergarten had a camping theme and would often do activities in a tent that was outside on the playground. His favorite activity was using squirt bottles to unfreeze the frozen bugs they had made.
I (Lauren) am student teaching in kindergarten and I know when its nice out the students get to play outside, but only if all of their morning work is complete. I've had a few students who were told that they had to stay inside with another teacher until they finished all of their work and then they could come outside to play. I was concerned, because I feel that it is important for students to go outside for socialization purposes and to just get a "brain break" so that they can release all their energy and come back inside refocused and ready to learn. My class also just went on two field trips, one to a farm and another to the zoo. Both were outside activities and they were educational experiences as well.m I believe that my students learned a great deal by taking part in both of these outdoor activities.
We will ask two questions:
1.) Do you feel it is important for students to have that "brain break" or time when they just get to go outside to interact with each other?
2.) What are some ways your class gets that time to just go outside, whether it be for a class or just time to play?
I feel it is important for students to have a brain break. In my classroom, we have brain breaks on the Smartboard where students are able to dance along with the content. This is important for students before or after a math test, it relaxes and promotes physical activity. The students really seem to enjoy the brain break for the 2-3 minute period. I would love to take students outside one day when I have my own classroom. The ability to be outside and move around to new environments creates time for students to socialize. To play outside promotes physical activity and socialization. For example, during PARCC testing this week, the students have an extra recess period at the end of the day. Students are able to have a fun break during a stressful testing week.
ReplyDeleteGreat topic! I feel as though it is important for students to have free time to go outside and interact with each other. It is important for students to socialize with their peers and they should not be held inside just because they didn't finish their work. Allowing students to go outside gives them a break and helps them relax. Working with children with special needs it is so important to have outside time which takes them out of the classroom and allows the stress to go away for a little. I incorporate my activities so that the children are at least going outside three times a day.
ReplyDeleteI believe it is extremely important for students to have some kind of break during the day to have time to interact with each other. My class gets time at the end of the day to play whenever we can fit it in. We have a brain break in the morning before math. The kids do have 20 minutes before and after lunch for recess. However, if there are times when the necessity for a break becomes apparent, we accommodate the students in whatever way we are capable of at that time. For example, today my students were very antsy, so I played a game similar to Simon Says with them to get the kids up, alert and moving. Not only was it fun for the children, but they were better able to focus for the next task.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful topic, every student needs to have those "mental" breaks. No matter the grade or age of the student, they need to have a break from receiving any sort of information. Students are not robots and can obtain an insane amount of information, then being able to process it. I incorporate "free play" into my student's schedule, that way learning can actually be taken place. Breaking up the learning time will have the students more time to process the information they had been given. Despite my belief in the students need to have the break, I feel it can be used as an reward system as well. For the student who needs to have a reward for completing their work during class time. It becomes an incentive for the students to complete their work.
ReplyDeleteGreat topic and yes, they all need mental breaks, as do we. Sometimes we can use these mental breaks as teaching opportunities. Last week we were working on proportions and I knew the students were restless. As I looked outside I saw the sun had cast beautiful shadows and just changed my lesson at the moment. I took our class outside and we measured the shadow of one of my students who is exactly 5 feet tall. We then measured the shadow of a nearby telephone pole and applied the lesson on proportions to determine the height of the telephone pole. Students were eager to get back into our classroom refreshed and ready to journal their findings. They created a write up as well as a beautiful PowerPoint presentation.
ReplyDeleteWith the weather more conducive to outdoor lessons, I take many opportunities to teach on the bleachers by our baseball fields. The students love the change in pace and I feel it gets them through the month of May.
I also volunteer at lunch and recess as much as possible (3x per week: 1x with the Primary School so that I get to know them and 2x each week with the middle school). I enjoy seeing them in an environment other than math class, seeing their strengths outside of the classroom, and most of all, seeing them giggle and laugh as children. They are full of hope and promise and it makes my day.