Play. The best lesson plan for children growing up in the Information Era. - Page 2

[Britishmum]

Whether the child has better things to do will depend on what is happening in the classroom.

I don't believe that the traditional routine of lesson - break - lesson -break- lesson - break is the best way to learn. A good teacher will build in 'breaks' within a 'lesson' - and the 'lesson' will be suited to the learner. Therefore the learner will not be watching the clock longing for a 'recess'.

The aim should be that the children don't feel that they have 'more important things to do' - because what they are doing is too important!

The greatest feedback I would get as a teacher was when children ignored the bell for 'break' and stayed in the classroom. Certainly, opportunities need to be given for children to leave the room and do something more physical, or read, or play a different game. There is a problem with traditional 'recess' too - running around after a ball or hanging around talking by a wall is not necessarily a good 'break' for many children. Good schools provide a wide variety of choices for breaks - and good teachers make sure that what is happening in the classroom is not somethng that makes a child long for a break!

[Dot.mom]

IMO in the ideal setting, there would be no delineation btw "intructional time" and "recess". Children would be free to learn by playing and to play while they learn. If there is an imposed recess, then by default instructional time is also being imposed. Even if children do occasionally become so engrossed in their work during instructional time that they forego recess, I am willing to bet it is not all of the children all of the time. Some are falling through the cracks.

But then school is about groups and what is best for the group.