How+does+recess+or+recreational+time+affect+a+childs+classroom+behavior

1. Parker, Tara (2009, January 28) School Recess Improves Behavior. Retrieved November 26, 2009, from []
====This article discusses the need for recess in a child’s school schedule. Tara Parker writes about the ironic mistake that teachers make by punishing their students for bad behavior in class by taking away their recess. According to researchers in the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, by taking away a child’s recess they are more likely to act up in class; “Our brains can concentrate and pay attention for 45 to 60 minutes, and in kids it’s even less. For them to be able to acquire all the academic skills we want them to learn, they need a break to go out and release the energy and play and be social.” The common mistake of taking away a child’s play time is being spread. New schools are currently being built without large enough out door space for their students. Also Tara Parker is not only a supporter of longer recess but supports breaks during class as well. Breaks during class time are being strongly overlooked but play a large role in keeping a child's attention. This problem is not being taken seriously and is slowly spreading worldwide.====

2. Feeney, William (n.d) The Case of the Vanishing Recess. Retrieved November 30, 2009, from []
====This article discusses the reason for shortened recess time and the detrimental effects that come along with this mistake. The main cause of shortened recess time is the new bill passed in 2001, No Child Left Behind law. Although this law helps every student receive a fair chance in getting an equal education, it comes with bad consequences as well. Since this act focuses on giving a child more ‘learning time’ as opposed to ‘playtime’, recess was shortened in many classes to make time for longer classes. Not only does this author believe recess can be beneficial to a child’s classroom behavior but also their developmental skills. Child psychologist Amy Rogers noted that recess is an important part of a child’s life where they can develop “many important motor, social, and problem solving skills”. With out this significant time in a child’s schedule he or she could be missing out on an extremely important part of his or her learning experience.====

3. (2009, April 15) Education Psychology Can Save Recess (I Hope). Retrieved December 1, 2009, from []
====This strongly opinioned article shows how hardheaded it is to take away recess and some solutions to fix this unnoticed problem. This article also discusses a few major problems that come with taking away recess. One being that kindergartners in New York City and Los Angeles spend four to six times as long being taught, tested and instructed as in free play; statistics show kindergartners in these areas only have 30 minutes of free time. Another problem is that classic toys children re given to play with, such as blocks, sand and water tables are taking a large disappearance. Lastly, schools no long value recess; it is seen as a waste of time, instead children could be in the classroom learning in stead====

4. (2006, March 13) Recess is at Risk New Campaign Comes to the Rescue. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from []
====As oppose to focusing on how important recess is and why it is unintelligent to taking it away or shortening it, this article focuses on fixing the problem. The National Parent Teacher Association organization has made it their top priority to save recess. Their first attempt is to get children involved; children all across the country were asked to write heart-felt letters to their local and state school officials explaining why they needed recess in their schedule. In this article it shows a survey proving that not only to teachers and students believe that recess is a necessary part of a child’s schedule but parents do as well. A great contributor to the “Rescue Recess” campaign is the Cartoon Network. At the end of the letter writing campaign, Cartoon Network will award more than $300K in grants to the top participating PTA units within each of 50 states and the District of Columbia. Among that a $50,000 grant will be awarded to the top state with the highest participation. All together Cartoon Network has worked with the National PTA organization to save recess and has also pledged to do donate 1.3 million dollars to the cause! ====

====5.School Recess and Classroom Behavior. Retrieved November 27,2009, from, []====