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This year Florida requires 150 minutes/week (elementary is only one I know for sure) of "structured physical activity". Last year teachers were counting walking b/t class and lunchroom, but now it must be 30 straight minutes.
My school does not offer recess for the youngest students (pre-k and kindergarten). That is one of the reasons I would never have my child go to the school where I work (if I had kids). Recess is important. Children need free time. They need to let loose.
We still have recess a scheduled 20 min. recess. I believe it is code in VA for the students to have 20 min., but I will have to check on that. I know it is part of the state accredidation process.
The students have phys ed. for two 35 min. periods and music for another two 35 min. periods each week. Art is a one hour class each week.
Last edited by tgbwc; 11-07-2008 at 07:19 PM..
Reason: detail
We have recess (15 minutes in the morning and approximately 15 minutes after lunch too, depending on when the kids get done eating). We also have to do PE 30 minutes a day (with the regular teacher, no PE teacher).
No music or art though.
Teachers need recess too. It's the only time to pee.
We have recess (15 minutes in the morning and approximately 15 minutes after lunch too, depending on when the kids get done eating). We also have to do PE 30 minutes a day (with the regular teacher, no PE teacher).
No music or art though.
Teachers need recess too. It's the only time to pee.
No music or art? That's suprising, and a shame. No PE teacher either? When do you have planning periods?
At the primary level, the kids get out an hour earlier than the 4th-8th graders (2 instead of 3). So we get that hour per day after school for planning. The older kids do get one art class a week, allowing for a planning period for those teachers. But nobody gets music. Yes, it is a shame... but it was the same at other school where I taught. In fact, I haven't heard of any schools nearby who have separate PE, art, or music.
We do songs and some movement/dance activities, and I break out the paints fairly often but it's not the same as a real music or art class.
If I ran the world, all children would get two recess breaks per school day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. For at least 30 minutes each time.
At the primary level, the kids get out an hour earlier than the 4th-8th graders (2 instead of 3). So we get that hour per day after school for planning. The older kids do get one art class a week, allowing for a planning period for those teachers. But nobody gets music. Yes, it is a shame... but it was the same at other school where I taught. In fact, I haven't heard of any schools nearby who have separate PE, art, or music.
We do songs and some movement/dance activities, and I break out the paints fairly often but it's not the same as a real music or art class.
Just to compare, each week we get the four 35 minute specials, one 1 hour art period, and the students are dismissed 2 1/2 hours early every Monday.
I teach Kindergarten in central FL. Due to NCLB, we have had both rest time and recess eliminated from our day. According to state law we are required to make sure they get 30 minutes of exercise per day so on non-PE days we take them out, but it cannot be free play. It has to be teacher directed and usually involves just walking and jogging around the back part of the school or dancing in the pavilion. We are a full day program. Its really sad. What I am expected to do on a daily basis with these children goes against everything I ever learned in my early childhood classes.
Nancy
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