Recess for Kindergartners in MoCo schools

[Anonymous]

What's interesting to me is that all MoCo publics are supposed to have the same curriculum, the amount of recess, etc. Surely the snack policy should be the same across schools too. But instead, there are obvious differences across schools. Somerset, in a very affluent area, has a schedule that sounds more like a private school.

How do parents know how much recess time their kids actually get, as opposed to how much they're supposed to get? All my friends know is that their kids get no snack.
Supposedly all MoCo schools have an hour of recess a day, according to some people I've spoken with, but this doesn't seem to actually be the case at some schools. I've heard there's one real recess a day at our downcounty public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's interesting to me is that all MoCo publics are supposed to have the same curriculum, the amount of recess, etc. Surely the snack policy should be the same across schools too. But instead, there are obvious differences across schools.

I don't know, I wouldn't expect that every school would have an identical schedule. Same curricular goals, yes, but also some freedom in execution.

FWIW, at our school my child had no snack one year (because lunch for that grade was supposedly early enough) but did have snack the next year (because lunch was later).

[Anonymous]

18:40 again. It seems to me that all children at all public schools within a district should have the same opportunities for recess. Downcounty kids don't need any less recess time than kids in more affluent areas. I have no data to support this, but I suspect kids in schools with lower test scores get less recess.

[Anonymous]

My son is in a downcounty school and gets 30 min of recess/day.

Definitely not consistent across the county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I have no data to support this, but I suspect kids in schools with lower test scores get less recess.

Which makes no sense because children at that age need play to learn, not rote test teaching. That is one of the reasons that those who are able to MAY decide to put their children in private schools.

[Anonymous]

My child is at Rosemary Hills in K and they get 30 mins of recess after lunch. I wish they had the Somerset model. I also heard that Somerset has a before-school exercise program for kids, which friends have described as a great way for active boys to get some extra time for releasing some of that energy - helps them focus better during the school day. I wonder how we can find a way to persuade other schools to adopt these sorts of ideas?

Another thing to consider for the OP and others is weather - on wet days at RH, the kids have indoor recess. They mostly seem to be given "dittos" to color at tables (two classes are put in the same room for indoor recess, with usually one aide presiding.) It seems awful to me, although when I've volunteered the kids seem to have learned to take in stride.

[Anonymous]

my son is a bethesda elem school- stated recess is 30 minutes but the kindergarten teachers know they need more than that and they let them out for 1-2 additional "recess" periods each day depending on the schedule for the day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I have no data to support this, but I suspect kids in schools with lower test scores get less recess.

Which makes no sense because children at that age need play to learn, not rote test teaching. That is one of the reasons that those who are able to MAY decide to put their children in private schools.

I totally agree, and am guessing taht there is data out there to support this, but doubt we can convince Jerry Weast of it.

It makes me angry that kids in more affluent areas get more recess/outdoors time. It's very unfair. Isn't part of the point of a county school system to make good practices uniform?

[Anonymous]

There is tons of research about the lack of playtime and how it is affecting kids. For starters see the report at
http://www.allianceforchildhood.org/

I also totally agree that the schools with the lower test scores spend more time prepping kids for the tests by taking time away from recess. That's one of the reasons we switched schools. If the parents of MoCo are so smart, why do most people ignore the research and blindly accept that test scores matter more than the health and well-being of their kids?! Homework for K? That goes against any research but few people argue with it. Hey, MoCo has great schools so they must know what they're doing, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is at Rosemary Hills in K and they get 30 mins of recess after lunch. I wish they had the Somerset model. I also heard that Somerset has a before-school exercise program for kids, which friends have described as a great way for active boys to get some extra time for releasing some of that energy - helps them focus better during the school day. I wonder how we can find a way to persuade other schools to adopt these sorts of ideas?

Another thing to consider for the OP and others is weather - on wet days at RH, the kids have indoor recess. They mostly seem to be given "dittos" to color at tables (two classes are put in the same room for indoor recess, with usually one aide presiding.) It seems awful to me, although when I've volunteered the kids seem to have learned to take in stride.

Yes they do. The gym teacher developed the program and runs it.

[Anonymous]

So the kids have to arrive early to school to be able participate? It's nice that there is that option for those that can handle the logistics but it doesn't help much for young children who need a break at least every couple of hours.

[Anonymous]

OP, my ds is in a private school in MC (Norwood). The first graders get 30 minutes of PE every day and 50 minutes of lunch and recess combined. That is not much more than the public schools. However, there seems to be more art and music to let them relax during the day. Plus there is snack time and chapel.

[Anonymous]

The public Bethesda elementary school that I work in has 30 minute recess periods and a 15-20 min. break (outside if weather permits) EVERYDAY!

[Anonymous]

18:31 PP, would you mind sharing which PS you work for? Signed- a parent that is trying to understand what MC has to offer. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The public Bethesda elementary school that I work in has 30 minute recess periods and a 15-20 min. break (outside if weather permits) EVERYDAY!

Is that a lot?