Comments on: Reading, ‘riting, ‘rithmetic and recess http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/02/reading-riting-rithmetic-and-recess/ Thinking and Linking by Joanne Jacobs Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:51:22 +0000 hourly 1 By: AndyJoy http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/02/reading-riting-rithmetic-and-recess/#comment-44365 AndyJoy Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:42:23 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7781#comment-44365 During the first week of school, an 8th grade girl in my class pulled my chair out from under me, causing me to smack my head on the chair and elbows on the tile floor. She wasn't trying to be mean, and in fact liked me--she was just ADHD and had too much energy. The teacher (my mom), had her run 4 laps around the building. This became a regular occurrence and really helped her focus. When she felt antsy, she was allowed to go run a few laps and always came back more focused. I believe she was still doing this up through 10th grade. I actually had a decent "recess" even as a teen because of our small school structure and closed campus policy. We had 50 min. for lunch and would scarf down our food so that we could play football, basketball, giant 4-square, dodgeball, etc. The middle school students I taught this year have a similar length period, but are so obsessed with food that must be microwaved that they rarely have time to play anything, or choose to just sit and talk if they do have time. I know they would concentrate better in the afternoon if they got some exercise, but it's hard enough to make them even work at it in PE! During the first week of school, an 8th grade girl in my class pulled my chair out from under me, causing me to smack my head on the chair and elbows on the tile floor. She wasn’t trying to be mean, and in fact liked me–she was just ADHD and had too much energy. The teacher (my mom), had her run 4 laps around the building. This became a regular occurrence and really helped her focus. When she felt antsy, she was allowed to go run a few laps and always came back more focused. I believe she was still doing this up through 10th grade.

I actually had a decent “recess” even as a teen because of our small school structure and closed campus policy. We had 50 min. for lunch and would scarf down our food so that we could play football, basketball, giant 4-square, dodgeball, etc. The middle school students I taught this year have a similar length period, but are so obsessed with food that must be microwaved that they rarely have time to play anything, or choose to just sit and talk if they do have time. I know they would concentrate better in the afternoon if they got some exercise, but it’s hard enough to make them even work at it in PE!

]]> By: Rex http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/02/reading-riting-rithmetic-and-recess/#comment-44364 Rex Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:33:33 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7781#comment-44364 My 5 year old granddaughter has a hard time just sitting still for long periods of time. She has a wiry body and is several years advanced in her body control--after approx. 10 lessons, she can ski down blue slopes, even though she prefers greens. She also enjoys gymnastics. When we have her over for dinner, we let her stand to eat at the table, and whenever she feels the need, she just walks around the house for a few laps and then returns to the table to continue eating. She doesn't have ADHD or ADD or whatever they're calling it these days. Some kids just naturally need to burn off their energy through constant movement. My 5 year old granddaughter has a hard time just sitting still for long periods of time. She has a wiry body and is several years advanced in her body control–after approx. 10 lessons, she can ski down blue slopes, even though she prefers greens. She also enjoys gymnastics.

When we have her over for dinner, we let her stand to eat at the table, and whenever she feels the need, she just walks around the house for a few laps and then returns to the table to continue eating.

She doesn’t have ADHD or ADD or whatever they’re calling it these days. Some kids just naturally need to burn off their energy through constant movement.

]]> By: Jane http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/02/reading-riting-rithmetic-and-recess/#comment-44363 Jane Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:55:53 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7781#comment-44363 I have an ADHD child. If she can run 2-3 miles during the school day, she can focus, behave and learn. If it rains and she doesn't get to go outside, everyone, teacher, child, parents, siblings have a VERY bad day. I have an ADHD child. If she can run 2-3 miles during the school day, she can focus, behave and learn.

If it rains and she doesn’t get to go outside, everyone, teacher, child, parents, siblings have a VERY bad day.

]]> By: momof4 http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/02/reading-riting-rithmetic-and-recess/#comment-44362 momof4 Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:15:33 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7781#comment-44362 When my older sons (gifted, no LD, no ADD/ADHD) were 3-6 grade, their classrooms had doors to the playing field and it was not uncommon for their teachers to tell a kid to take two laps, then come in and sit still. It was usually boys with no real problem; just lots of energy. They were the kind who, at age 10, would run a 42 minute 10k race, then play a whole game of travel-level soccer, then go home and play outside for the rest of the day. When my older sons (gifted, no LD, no ADD/ADHD) were 3-6 grade, their classrooms had doors to the playing field and it was not uncommon for their teachers to tell a kid to take two laps, then come in and sit still. It was usually boys with no real problem; just lots of energy. They were the kind who, at age 10, would run a 42 minute 10k race, then play a whole game of travel-level soccer, then go home and play outside for the rest of the day.

]]> By: Jim Miller http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/02/reading-riting-rithmetic-and-recess/#comment-44361 Jim Miller Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:01:46 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7781#comment-44361 This is politically incorrect, but I can't help wondering about something not mentioned in the NYT article or the abstract: Could recess be especially important for boys? On the average, of course. This is politically incorrect, but I can’t help wondering about something not mentioned in the NYT article or the abstract: Could recess be especially important for boys? On the average, of course.

]]> By: Brandyjane http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/02/reading-riting-rithmetic-and-recess/#comment-44360 Brandyjane Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:44:09 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7781#comment-44360 We have a twenty minute recess after lunch, and on most days we have a ten-minute break around mid-morning. If I can't fit in a full morning break, I at least take them all outside and let my kids run around the track one time to burn off some extra energy and clear their heads. We have a twenty minute recess after lunch, and on most days we have a ten-minute break around mid-morning. If I can’t fit in a full morning break, I at least take them all outside and let my kids run around the track one time to burn off some extra energy and clear their heads.

]]> By: Tracy W http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/02/reading-riting-rithmetic-and-recess/#comment-44359 Tracy W Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:25:17 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7781#comment-44359 Thanks Joanne for explaining further. Thanks Joanne for explaining further.

]]> By: Margo/Mom http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/02/reading-riting-rithmetic-and-recess/#comment-44358 Margo/Mom Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:50:29 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7781#comment-44358 I agree, it's common sense. On the other hand, too many schools, particularly those educating low-income students, have cancelled recess in order to "concentrate" on academics. Kids with behavioral difficulties frequently get less recess, not more (because someone is always taking it away for things that they did wrong). I love the trampoline story, but I am also aware that there are schools who use the "time out room" instead--locking kids into cells for ever longer periods of time in order to somehow deal with their "anger issues." I agree, it’s common sense. On the other hand, too many schools, particularly those educating low-income students, have cancelled recess in order to “concentrate” on academics. Kids with behavioral difficulties frequently get less recess, not more (because someone is always taking it away for things that they did wrong). I love the trampoline story, but I am also aware that there are schools who use the “time out room” instead–locking kids into cells for ever longer periods of time in order to somehow deal with their “anger issues.”

]]> By: Darren http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/02/reading-riting-rithmetic-and-recess/#comment-44357 Darren Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:35:26 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7781#comment-44357 I'm with Jay. This finding is just common sense. I’m with Jay. This finding is just common sense.

]]> By: Joanne Jacobs http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/02/reading-riting-rithmetic-and-recess/#comment-44356 Joanne Jacobs Thu, 26 Feb 2009 20:52:18 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7781#comment-44356 These studies deal with mainstream children and with normal recess periods. These studies deal with mainstream children and with normal recess periods.

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