Parents, do you mind your kids having short breaks in Distance Learning?

[Anonymous]

I'm an ESOL teacher. I teach students for 30 minutes, most of the day, in a small group (virtual) pull out class.

*I* need a break to move around at least every 60 minutes. I assume the students need more.

When I get my students into my Zoom class, I set a timer for 3 minutes at the start and have them take a short bathroom or water break. (It usually takes 5 minutes but I set the timer for 3 minutes.) Really, I just want them to go away from the computer for a little bit. They will get another longer break later in the morning.

When we are really in a school building, they get this break anyhow. I pick them up from class; we walk 5 min down the hall to my class; maybe stop at the bathroom or get a drink from the water fountain. So to me, it seems normal.

But I wonder what parents think. Would you be upset that your child isn't getting the full 30 minutes of specialist instruction?

[Anonymous]

My DD’s Kindergarten teacher does breaks with a quick song that she leads or sometimes a dance video and she’ll make it clear that everyone needs to stand up and stretch and that it’s a good time to use the bathroom if you need to. This is during an hour-long morning session. For 30-minute sessions she’ll do a quick game like Follow Follow or have everyone do Head Shoulders Knees and Toes. I don’t have a problem with it, but we also are getting 3-3.5 hours/day of total live instruction so breaks seem wise, not wasteful.

[Anonymous]

I don't care but I'd prefer you let them out early, because it seems better to focus once at the beginning and break at the end as usual...just a few seconds early.

There's also better optics to saying "Ok - we're finished! Now you have a few minutes to use the restroom or get a snack. See you next time!" as opposed to "Go take a break and we'll start up again in a few minutes" which may feel rushed or stop-and-go.

I'm also a teacher.

[Anonymous]

I like the push through and wrap up early method too. Also builds some resilience and you can coast on momentum when people/kids hit their stride.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

There's also better optics to saying "Ok - we're finished! Now you have a few minutes to use the restroom or get a snack. See you next time!" as opposed to "Go take a break and we'll start up again in a few minutes" which may feel rushed or stop-and-go.

I agree, but I am getting my students after 45 min to 60 min of whole group instruction, so I feel they really should have the break up front, not at the end of my time with them!

[Anonymous]

My children don't need all of the breaks given. I'd prefer the day ended earlier with a much shorter lunch break, and less breaks in between.

[Anonymous]

Are you pulling them all out of the same class? If so, ask that teacher when the least break was. If it was within 30 minutes, I wouldn't spend 5 minutes on another one if you only get 30 minutes with them.

[Anonymous]

I mind because it takes my son literally 2 minutes to go to the bathroom, and then he comes and asks me what he should do for the next 8 minutes. I tell him I don't care, but he needs a prompt to get back online, so it doesn't fully take him off my plate.

[Anonymous]

I have a HSer with ADHD. One of his teachers told me today that he takes breaks. I wouldn’t know otherwise. I don’t care. Whatever it takes.

[Anonymous]

I would not mind if they are coming to you literally from the other long block. That is not a good schedule though really to not have a break between.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why the school isn't leaving five minutes between classes for just that reason. Maybe not every single transition, but at least some of them -- kids need to use the bathroom, get a snack, or just move a little.

That said, I'd rather the five minutes was at the end. It seems too disruptive at the beginning. The kid gets settled at the computer for the class, and the first thing you do is send them off to use the bathroom or whatever, and then they have to get settled again.

[Anonymous]

I think breaks are important and you’re doing the right thing. If parents complain, you have a mountain of research behind you supporting the need for physical movement for attention, eye health, learning, etc. It sounds like you’re a teacher who is concerned about the whole student. Keep it up, good job, high five!
-fellow educator

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My children don't need all of the breaks given. I'd prefer the day ended earlier with a much shorter lunch break, and less breaks in between.

That’s not the best timing for learning, though. The breaks allow the brain to exit the plastic learning mode before entering a new learning session, which makes for better learning outcomes. We learn more effectively in small doses, rather than long ones. So many things are not ideal with distance learning...this one can at least be managed well.

[Anonymous]

I would prefer that the main homeroom teacher give them a break and not the specialist. Can you talk to the homeroom teacher about letting them out 2-3 minutes before you get them? Time with a specialist (reading, ESOL, disability, whatever) is more valuable to the child in question and I'd prefer that they get the full 30 minutes with you and 3 minutes less of whatever random thing the homeroom teacher is talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

That said, I'd rather the five minutes was at the end. It seems too disruptive at the beginning. The kid gets settled at the computer for the class, and the first thing you do is send them off to use the bathroom or whatever, and then they have to get settled again.

It's not like the kids physically move from their class to my breakout room. They remain seated at the screen the whole time -- the screen just changes from their teacher's face to my face. They've usually been doing a whole group reading lesson where the teacher read a book out loud and was asking them questions. Some times I come in after an Art or Guidance lesson.

I need to give them the break so they can focus on MY lessons.