How much recess does your FCPS elementary schooler have?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15-20 minutes is more than enough time. Kids are only in school 6.5 hours a day. That gives parents plenty of time to get their kids outside, our school ends at 3. By 4:15 the kids are done and outside playing until I call them in for dinner. School is for learning. After school is for playing.

My kids don't get out of school until 4. They get off the bus around 4:40. In the fall/winter, it's dark soon after. Recess is important.

[Anonymous]

There are not many FCPS elementary schools that end at 3:00 with the half day Monday setup. I think 20 minutes is ok even if I'd prefer 30. 15 minutes is too short. My child plays tag every day at recess now because that's all you can do in 15 minutes.

[Anonymous]

20 min sometimes 5 extra class min if they have received enough "good points" 30 min PE twice a weekand 15/20 of rest/down time per day(K)

[Anonymous]

wait until january and feburary arrive and they have day after day of 'indoor recess'.

[Anonymous]

15-20 min T-F, sometimes less. Playground is very crowded. Yes, lots of 'indoor recess' in the winter time regardless of the temperature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:wait until january and feburary arrive and they have day after day of 'indoor recess'.

I teach elementary students and we go outside through most of the winter. The last thing I want to do is stay in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:20 minutes in 2nd grade

same for my 2nd graders at Shrevewood

[Anonymous]

Wow..short recess...short lunch periods...not really doing anything super academically challenging....what gives? Why the short periods??? If the public schools r not challenging the kids academically, then why not at least give them more recess and lunch time?!!

Mom of K and 1st grader

[Anonymous]

PP-- where are you picking up that kids are not being challenged academically? Do you just know this from your vast experience observing in actual classrooms? Are you a researcher? Are you a teacher?

[Anonymous]

My ds gets on the bus at 8:30 and off the bus at 4:40 every day. There isn't much time before dinner/baths/bedtime to play. Especially in the winter when it gets dark. I would prefer less academic time and way more recess.

[Anonymous]

This is why the Asian countries have all the engineers and scientists, recess is an extra, 20 minutes is fine. Learning is vital. Parents, how about you cutting your day to get home earlier so your kid can play or if already home, pick them up. 40 minutes on the bus is a waste of recess time at home or outside, and since this is your concern, you can make that change. Easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why the Asian countries have all the engineers and scientists, recess is an extra, 20 minutes is fine. Learning is vital. Parents, how about you cutting your day to get home earlier so your kid can play or if already home, pick them up. 40 minutes on the bus is a waste of recess time at home or outside, and since this is your concern, you can make that change. Easy.

I completely disagree with your premise. It is not normal to expect small children to be still for 8 hours a day. Kids need physical exercise and their brains don't work or learn as well without it. Using the school bus routes are the most efficient use of resources--imagine the gas wasted if every parent did pick up and drop off in personal vehicles?

[Anonymous]

The amount of extra time needed to meet the recommended time of 20 minutes per day is an extra 20 minutes added to the school week. How about we push the school board for this change verses asking parents to come to the school to pick up which is already a hassle for the schools to deal with. They are already dealing with new schedules to accommodate high schoolers and AAP busing anyway this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why the Asian countries have all the engineers and scientists, recess is an extra, 20 minutes is fine. Learning is vital. Parents, how about you cutting your day to get home earlier so your kid can play or if already home, pick them up. 40 minutes on the bus is a waste of recess time at home or outside, and since this is your concern, you can make that change. Easy.

I completely disagree with your premise. It is not normal to expect small children to be still for 8 hours a day. Kids need physical exercise and their brains don't work or learn as well without it. Using the school bus routes are the most efficient use of resources--imagine the gas wasted if every parent did pick up and drop off in personal vehicles?

Not the PP, but it's not a premise, it's a fact. I'm a white guy who spent much time in Asia in the military and my kids went to the local school. Elementry school is 7:30-5:00 each day. No bus....walk. There was no "recess" but they had PE twice a day. Outdoor in the afternoon (usually soccer) and indoor in the AM (usually TaeKwonDo). Plenty of exercise and study. For reasons that don't make any sense we have 6.5 hour days here. Not enough at all. We need much longer days.

Of course there was no TV which I think is the real difference....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP-- where are you picking up that kids are not being challenged academically? Do you just know this from your vast experience observing in actual classrooms? Are you a researcher? Are you a teacher?

I am a very involved mom who is a teacher, cook, nurse, engineer, disciplinarian, etc that doesn't just dump my children off thinking that everything is peachy. I want to see and know what is going on at school for 7 hrs a day. I can't stand defensive and judgmental people like you. You r so clueless. So sad for you.