TIME FOR A “BRAIN BREAK!”

Why We Need A “Brain Break” With the rise of childhood obesity and social and

academic pressures, middle school students may need recess now, more than ever before.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says, “Recess is a necessary break in the day for optimizing a child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. In essence, recess should be considered a child’s personal time, and it should not be withheld for academic or punitive reason. (Physical activity should not be used as a form of punishment either. – ie walking laps)

Even a 15 to 20 minute break once a day offers academic, social, emotional and physical benefits.

Academic Benefits

Studies show that after recess students fidget less and remain more on-task. (Jarrett, Maxwell, Dickerson, Hoge, Davies, & Yetley (1998)

Study found children with more than 15 minutes of recess were better behaved in class than children with no recess or shorter recess. (Pediatrics)

Research shows that students raise their hands more and perform better on literary tasks after recess. (Cady, J.R. (2009)

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says, “Cognitive processing and academic performance depend on regular breaks from concentrated classroom work. This applies equally to adolescents.”

Academic Benefits “Although specified time afforded for recess diminishes with

age, the benefits of periodic breaks in the academic day to

optimize cognitive processing applies equally to adolescents

and to younger children.”

“Ironically, minimizing or eliminating recess may be counterproductive to academic achievement, as a growing body of evidence suggests that recess promotes not only physical health and social development but also cognitive performance.”

“After recess, for children or after a corresponding break time for adolescents, students are more attentive and better able to perform cognitively.”

The Crucial Role of Recess in School

Pediatrics, Official Journal of the American

Academy of Pediatrics (Vol. 131, #1, Jan. 2013)

Social and Emotional Development Benefits

According to the AAP recess is a unique compliment to the classroom, providing lifelong skills for communication, negotiation, cooperation, sharing, problem solving and coping.

Recess provides an opportunity for adolescents to interact with teachers and administration.

Recess serves as a stress reliever for students and helps reduce anxiety and tension. (Newman, Brody & Beauchamp (1996)

Unstructured peer interaction encourages and improves the ability to make better moral decisions and increases the students awareness of social responsibility. (Newman, Brody & Beauchamp (1996)

Physical Benefits Studies show unstructured

play encourages physical activity in a different way than PE classes.

Students who did not have recess were actually less active after school, which points to the notion that inactivity breeds inactivity. (Dales, Corbin & Dale (2000)

“Minor movement, even standing, counterbalances the sedentary time students spend sitting in classrooms.” (American Academy of Pediatrics)

Recess/ Breaks In Other Countries Japanese students get 10-15 minute breaks after every

45 minutes of learning. This is due to the thought that attention spans begin to wane after 40 to 50 minutes of intense instruction. (Stevenson, HW & Lee, SY, 1990)

Students from Finland (and Turkey) have 15 minutes to play after each 45 minutes of work. (Walker, Tim, The Atlantic, June 30, 2014)

Study by Anthony Pellegrini of the University of Minnesota found that after these mini-recesses, students appeared more attentive in class.

Pellegrini also found that if the breaks are teacher-directed, they lose their value.

State Boards of Education that Support Recess/Breaks Recess or Physical Activity Breaks: Section 401 of the Healthy Students Act of 2010 states that

schools shall have the goal for children to engage in physical activity for 60 minutes each day. Schools shall promote this goal and seek to maximize physical activity, including promoting active recess. - Washington, DC 

Recess or Physical Activity Breaks: The model Iowa Association of School Board's model Wellness Policy(2010), include a physical activity component. Specifically, at least 20 minutes a day of recess are recommended, preferably outdoors, that encourages moderate vigorous activity and discourages more than two hours of inactivity a day. The policy also recommends withholding recess should not be used as a tool for punishment. – Iowa

Recess or Physical Activity Breaks: No state policy specifically requiring recess. However the Statewide School Wellness Policy (2006) requires each local education agency to designate at least 30 minutes of time daily for physical activity at all grade levels K-12. – Nevada

General Physical Activity Requirement: No state policy. However State Board of Education Policy 1110-6 (2006) requires the Department of Education to establish regulations or guidelines for physical activity. The resulting Wellness Guidelines (2006) requires public schools to provide all students in all grades with at least 20 minutes a day of supervised recess, during which schools must encourage moderate to vigorous physical activity. - Hawaii

Recess or Physical Activity Breaks: Although there is no specific recess requirement, State Board State Board of Education Policy GCS-S-000 (2005) requires schools to provide a minimum of 30 minutes daily of moderate to vigorous physical activity to all K-8 students.  Recess is often used to fulfill this requirement. In addition, the policy prohibits taking away structured/unstructured recess and other physical activity from students as a form of punishment. In addition, it prohibits using severe and inappropriate exercise as a form of punishment for students. – North Carolina

Representative and Education Chair, Brooks Coleman recommended:

How to Advocate for a Break

Research the topic of why schools (and students) need recess/breaks and provide facts that can be verified.

Present your findings to your school principal and school council. Gwinnett County is an IE2 school system which allows for greater flexibility at each individual school to create policy and procedure.

Apply for time to speak with your Gwinnett County Board of Education.

Continue to learn and research how you can make a difference in your local, state and federal government. Stay involved!

“Brain Break” Survey ResultsWould a MIDDLE SCHOOL "BRAIN BREAK" benefit your student's education?

Yes 437 85%

No 44 9%

Unsure/No Opinion

36 7%

Do you think THE LACK OF A MIDDLE SCHOOL “BRAIN BREAK” is a problem in our state of Georgia?

Yes 455 88%

No 20 4%

Unsure/ No opinion

42 8%

“Brain Break” Survey Results

1 284 55%

2 87 17%

3 63 12%

4 31 6%

5 50 10%

2nd Everyone benefits from a break. 344 67%

5th Recess increases focus. 232 45%

7th Natural light improves wellness. 163 32%

1st Recess reduces stress. 352 68%

6th Recess develops social skills. 205 40%

3rd Exercise is healthy. 289 56%

4th Physical activity feeds the brain. 248 48%

“Brain Break” Survey Results An article by Rae Pica titled, "Why Kids Need

Recess," outlined the benefits of recess. Based on this article, we asked survey takers to pick their top three favorite benefits of recess to your students' education?

Top benefits of a “Brain Break” as selected by survey takers:

“Brain Break” Petition Results After removing duplicate signatures, we

were left with 481 unique values in favor of a “Brain Break”.

367 were student signatures 112 were parent signatures 2 were teacher signatures

Example of Class Schedules with the “Brain Break”

Sixth Grade (Mon & Fri)Sixth Grade (T/W/Th)

8:50-9:10 Homeroom

9:15-10:18 First Period (1:03)

10:18-11:21

Second Period (1:03)

11:21-11:26

Locker Break

11:26-1:07 • Third Period (1:03)

• Brain Break (:15)• Lunch (:20)

1:07-2:10 Fourth Period (1:03)

2:10-3:30 Connections

3:30-4:05 Advisement & SSR

8:50-9:10 Homeroom

9:14-10:25 First Period (1:11)

10:25-11:36

Second Period (1:11)

11:36-11:40

Locker Break

11:40-1:30 Third Period (1:11)Brain Break (:15)Lunch (:20)

1:30-2:41 Fourth Period(1:11)

2:41-2:45 Locker Break

2:45-4:05 Connections

Example of Class Schedules with the “Brain Break”

Seventh Grade (Mon & Fri)

Seventh Grade (T/W/Th)

8:50-9:10 Homeroom

9:15- 10:18 First Period (1:03)

10:18 – 10:20 Change to 2nd (:02)

10:20-11:40 Connections

11:40-1:19 2nd Period (1:01)Brain Break (:15)Lunch (:20)

1:19-1:24 Locker Break

1:24-2:27 Third Period (1:03)

2:27-3:30 Fourth Period (1:03)

3:30-4:05 Advisement & SSR

8:50-9:10 Homeroom

9:15-10:27 First Period (1:12)

10:27 – 10:30 Change to 2nd (:03)

10:30-11:50 Connections

11:50-1:36 2nd Period (1:09)Brain Break(:15)Lunch (:20)

1:36-1:41 Locker Break

1:41-2:53 Third Period (1:12)

2:53-4:05 Fourth Period (1:12)

Example of Class Schedules with the “Brain Break”

Eighth Grade (Mon & Fri)

Eighth Grade (T/W/Th)

8:50-9:10 Homeroom

9:15-10:18 First Period (1:03)

10:18-11:59 2nd Period (1:03)Brain Break (:15)Lunch (:20)

11:59 – 12:04

Locker

12:04 – 12:05

Change to 3rd (:01)

12:05-1:25 Connections

1:25-2:27 Third Period (1:02)

2:27-3:30 Fourth Period (1:03)

3:30-4:05 Advisement & SSR

8:50-9:10 Homeroom

9:10-10:22 First Period (1:12)

10:22-12:10 2nd Period (1:13)Brain Break (:15)Lunch (:20)

12:10 – 12 :15 Locker – go to 3rd

12:15-1:35 Connections

1:35-2:48 Third Period (1:13)

2:48-4:05 Fourth Period (1:12)

Thank you for your time! “Play is the only way the highest intelligence of

humankind can unfold.” 

~Joseph Chilton Pearce, American Author

“It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them.”

~Leo F. Buscaglia, Author and Motivational Speaker

“Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn.”

~O. Fred Donaldson, American Author and Professor

“Even adults have regularly scheduled breaks!” ~ Stacy Jones, Education Advocate and Mom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tjRPWPhIfA

A Child’s Right To Play!