Anonymous
Post 01/10/2016 22:51     Subject: Kids no longer sitting in the Fence doing resscess
The only reason kids need more exercise and recess is NOT the school's issue. School has been the same amount of hours and there has always been one recess a day. The problem is BEFORE and AFTER school. Kids used to walk to school or at least walk pretty far for a bus stop. Now we have parents who drive their kids to school and heck, even drive them to a bus stop. After school? Kids used to play for hours outside no matter what the weather. Now they are in structured activities or sitting in front of a screen.

So instead of parents whining about how little recess kids are getting, how about you keep up your end of the bargain at home. I am sure you have plenty of days you take away recess before and after school.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2016 22:28     Subject: Kids no longer sitting in the Fence doing resscess
I am curious what everyone thinks should be done. Most kids have zero discipline at home and the teachers now can't do anything before a helicopter mom is zooming into school crying foul.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2016 21:01     Subject: Kids no longer sitting in the Fence doing resscess
when my kids were in elementary they'd be kept in at recess if they didn't finish or forgot homework. The teachers would also make the whole class sit out all or part of recess if a few kids were misbehaving. I really hated that policy. School is a long day of mostly sitting inside, and taking away the recess time just makes no sense to me. There are other ways of delivering consequences.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2016 20:56     Subject: Kids no longer sitting in the Fence doing resscess
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:A lot of kids act out because they have trouble sitting still in a classroom setting for so long. Taking away recess will exacerbate the problem.

Why aren't you making sure DD finishes homework before sending her to school? Shouldn't you be teaching her to do her work rather than having the school punish her to teach her?



I do and sometimes She lies to me and tells me she didn't have any homework. I wish my dd was perfect but she isn't!


That's on you, not the school. You want her punished to learn a lesson, punish her.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2016 20:52     Subject: Kids no longer sitting in the Fence doing resscess
We don't have kids sit at recess either. Kids need to move!

Instead, the consequence is to walk around the parameter of the basketball court - that way they're moving but not playing. Sometimes it's partial recess, sometimes full.

You need to reinforce and give consequences at home for lying and not completing homework, and work with the teacher to find ways to help your daughter remember and be better organized.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2016 20:20     Subject: Kids no longer sitting in the Fence doing resscess
Re: withholding recess--if it worked, it wouldn't be the same kids losing it every time. In the school where I teach, teachers used to be allowed to send kids out to recess with work to complete. They were supposed to sit by "the wall" and finish their work before they got to play. Sometimes they finished, usually they didn't. Every day, it was the same kids. We got a new principal who said teachers could keep kids in for a maximum of five minutes AND the student had to be with the teacher during that time, not sitting outside while the teacher had her lunch. Somehow everybody found new, different ways to motivate students to get their work done.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2016 19:34     Subject: Re:Kids no longer sitting in the Fence doing resscess
How will your kid learn their lesson? I believe if my DD wants to misbehave in class and talk to her friends, she should be punish.


And the only way you think that can be done is by withholding recess? If a teacher is unable to think of an appropriate consequence, she should contact her grade level team or an administrator - or she shouldn't be teaching.


NP here. I'm definitely against withholding recess for any reason. However, I'm also curious, PP, since you're obviously a teacher, what you think is an appropriate consequence for misbehaving in class that isn't disruptive to the rest of the class?


I am not a teacher but have kids with SN and a lot of experience with setting kids up to succeed and to get desired behaviors. The key is to identify the cause of the problem. Is the kid sitting too close to her friends? The first step (after warnings), is to move the child. This could be closer to the teacher, away from friends, etc. If the behavior happens on the carpet/during circle time, the child can remain seated in a chair, sit next to the teacher, sit off to the side, etc. Put the child somewhere she isn't encouraged/drawn into chatting. If she continues to be disruptive from a distance then it's time to call a counselor/administrator. It is not typical of kids to engage in that behavior from those positions and it's likely there are extenuating circumstances. Find out what those circumstances are. I have a kid that gets wound up after sustained mental effort. He needs a break. The teacher sets a timer, he works independently for 10 minutes and then bounces on a ball for 50 times. He then goes back to work for 10 more minutes. (Withholding recess from him would be highly counterproductive).

Depending on the age of the child and motivation, reward systems certainly work (as PP noted). It could be iPad time, sitting in the teacher's chair, lunch with the teacher with chosen buddies, stickers that can be redeemed for prizes, etc. We routinely worked with the teachers so their was continuity and support in all environments. For example, for each day a kid had positive behavior at school, he'd get a token for an extra 10 minutes for video games on the weekend. If he had positive behavior 5 days in a row, he'd get a bonus 20 minutes. I have another kid who wasn't motivated by video games but did like to watch particular show with me. She got 10 minutes of the show for every positive day. As the kids got older, what they were motivated by changed and so we adapted.

One huge motivator for one of my kids happened in 4th grade. He wanted to be on safety patrol. He didn't get selected that year and we discussed the reasons why - he hadn't demonstrated he was responsible enough. We then discussed what he needed to do to demonstrate responsibility. He had developed enough maturity to be able to work towards a long term goal. No way he could have done that at a younger age - he needed more immediate results.

Anonymous
Post 01/10/2016 18:40     Subject: Kids no longer sitting in the Fence doing resscess
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think that these days everyone realizes the importance of kids getting exercise and free time during the day, so the consequence for poor behavior or not completing homework will likely be something other than missing recess.


Which is why it is against FCPS to withhold recess. Sometimes teachers at our school aren't aware or choose to ignore this. When my kids tell me, I'm quick to alert an administrator.

The research is quite clear about the benefits of movement opportunities and unstructured free time. This policy is appropriate.


How will your kid learn their lesson? I believe if my DD wants to misbehave in class and talk to her friends, she should be punish.


And the only way you think that can be done is by withholding recess? If a teacher is unable to think of an appropriate consequence, she should contact her grade level team or an administrator - or she shouldn't be teaching.


NP here. I'm definitely against withholding recess for any reason. However, I'm also curious, PP, since you're obviously a teacher, what you think is an appropriate consequence for misbehaving in class that isn't disruptive to the rest of the class?


Different poster. My son's teacher has a "break chair" for disruptive classroom behavior like talking. For things like missing homework, she's in touch with parents. My son has had trouble with his attitude in math. If it's the least bit difficult, he clams up, shuts down, and does nothing. She can't sit there and cajole him into doing the work at the expense of other kids, so she's instituted a "star" reward system. He doesn't have to get the math right, but he does have to pay attention, focus on the lesson plan, and ask her if/when he needs help. If he does that, he gets a star for the day. If he comes home with 5 stars for the week, I give him a Sweet Frog treat on Friday evenings. It helps teach him very specific, concrete steps he needs to improve during math. And over the past 6 weeks, it's worked really well. He no longer shuts down when it gets tough.

There are many things like that a teacher can do, depending on the situation.

OP, talk to the teacher.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2016 18:09     Subject: Kids no longer sitting in the Fence doing resscess
Kids in FCPS need more recess. Kids are burned out from excessive testing.

You need to start discipline at home.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2016 18:06     Subject: Kids no longer sitting in the Fence doing resscess
Anonymous wrote:Is this an fcps policy policy or just the school itself? My DD is in 4th grade and even if she gets in trouble or doesn't complete her homework she doesn't miss recesss. Back in the 90s when I attend elementary schoool I would of had to sit in the fence and watch the other kids plays.. It taught me how to behave and that I have to complete my homework. We moved to Fairfax from Richmond so I don't know about this policy. How do you fell about it ? I don't think they learn anything by just having to fill out a "think sheet" but what is your views on this?


Interesting. I grew up elsewhere, but we also were sometimes punished for bad behavior with recess time-outs (sitting on steps). I have absolutely no recollection of what my bad behavior was or why I got time-outs or any learning or reflection during this time. However, as a chubby and unathletic kid, I hardly considered missing recess punishment (and it probably would have been better for me to miss math or reading or something I actually excelled at).

My personal opinion from watching my own extended family members become parents and try to handle the cultural changes between our childhoods (many in a different country and much stricter culture) and our kids' childhoods is that those who want to rely on others to provide structure and discipline for their children are often sorely disappointed. They send their kids to school with a strict "Do what the teacher says" and are at a loss when it becomes apparent that this is not the culture of schools for many parents and children. I think as PPs suggested, OP, that you are not going to be able to rely on your child's school or teacher to discipline her and that you have to come up with a structure at home that will help her succeed at school.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2016 17:33     Subject: Kids no longer sitting in the Fence doing resscess
When I was in elementary school we had PE 3 times a week and 2 recesses a day (fcps) so it wasn't a huge deal to eliminate one recess because there were plenty more opportunities for movement. Not so these days.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2016 17:31     Subject: Kids no longer sitting in the Fence doing resscess
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:A lot of kids act out because they have trouble sitting still in a classroom setting for so long. Taking away recess will exacerbate the problem.

Why aren't you making sure DD finishes homework before sending her to school? Shouldn't you be teaching her to do her work rather than having the school punish her to teach her?



I do and sometimes She lies to me and tells me she didn't have any homework. I wish my dd was perfect but she isn't!


Your child is a liar and you are making it a joke.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2016 17:30     Subject: Re:Kids no longer sitting in the Fence doing resscess
Anonymous wrote:Let me guess, you failed English class?[/quote

Not the OP but buzz off, jerk.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2016 17:05     Subject: Kids no longer sitting in the Fence doing resscess
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think that these days everyone realizes the importance of kids getting exercise and free time during the day, so the consequence for poor behavior or not completing homework will likely be something other than missing recess.


Which is why it is against FCPS to withhold recess. Sometimes teachers at our school aren't aware or choose to ignore this. When my kids tell me, I'm quick to alert an administrator.

The research is quite clear about the benefits of movement opportunities and unstructured free time. This policy is appropriate.


How will your kid learn their lesson? I believe if my DD wants to misbehave in class and talk to her friends, she should be punish.


And the only way you think that can be done is by withholding recess? If a teacher is unable to think of an appropriate consequence, she should contact her grade level team or an administrator - or she shouldn't be teaching.


NP here. I'm definitely against withholding recess for any reason. However, I'm also curious, PP, since you're obviously a teacher, what you think is an appropriate consequence for misbehaving in class that isn't disruptive to the rest of the class?
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2016 14:32     Subject: Kids no longer sitting in the Fence doing resscess
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think that these days everyone realizes the importance of kids getting exercise and free time during the day, so the consequence for poor behavior or not completing homework will likely be something other than missing recess.


Which is why it is against FCPS to withhold recess. Sometimes teachers at our school aren't aware or choose to ignore this. When my kids tell me, I'm quick to alert an administrator.

The research is quite clear about the benefits of movement opportunities and unstructured free time. This policy is appropriate.


How will your kid learn their lesson? I believe if my DD wants to misbehave in class and talk to her friends, she should be punish.


And the only way you think that can be done is by withholding recess? If a teacher is unable to think of an appropriate consequence, she should contact her grade level team or an administrator - or she shouldn't be teaching.