Recess question

[lo]

You want teachers to step in over slightly bothersome issues? Kids need to work that out themselves. Of course physical and bullying issues should be addressed. I am a teacher and thankfully do not have recess duty. I hate monitoring unstructured times with kids… give me a lesson to teach and I’m great but watching them all run around in different directions, teasing each other, roughhousing, ugh, no thanks. I get enough of that with my own kids.

[maudefindlay]

If there is a pattern of something going on that truly needs adult intervention then teachers are more than happy to watch out for it when brought to their attention.

I had to drive into town to DS1's school 2x today, see other post. His middle school's parking lot is backed up by an elementary school. The elementary school's playground is bordered by a maybe 3ft stone wall. When I was getting ready to back out I saw an elementary kid had hopped the wall and was up under the car down from me retrieving a ball. I did intervene and told that kid not to do that as they could be run over then walked them back over and waved to make sure the teachers saw that I was returning a rogue kid. One of them immediately came over to address it and I left.

What are the issues you feel are bothersome?

[af1212]

I’m sorry. I see how my words were offensive. I think that paraprofessional are a valuable part of the educational experience and my words did not reflect that.

I was thinking that if a teacher was supervising it would be just their class so therefore the numbers would be way smaller and the teacher would be aware of any issues that had cropped up earlier that day so would have context.

If recess aides were supervising it would likely be 100 kids all together mixing from different classes - it’s a more chaotic experience. A recess aide wouldn’t necessarily know that two kids had been bickering all morning or whatever.

Either way OP I think the first weeks of school is a time when everyone - kids and staff are getting to know each other and the routines. This is true whether or not covid is happening.

[outnumbered]

If you have questions just reach out to the teacher.   6 year olds are not always the best purveyors of information.  What seems chaotic and out of control to him might be just typical recess behavior.  He will adjust quickly.

And you have no idea if the teachers are really standing around and talking.  They could be talking about the students and their work day.  

ETA:  The playground is the perfect place for kids to learn how to work it out.  Teachers do not need to step in all the time.  I am sure that there is plenty of social/emotional learning and coaching going on inside the classroom.  Recess is the time for students to practice those skills.

[rachelgreen]

Aug 27, 2021 10:59:31 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

Aug 27, 2021 10:41:51 GMT -5 macmars45 said:

My hackles are raised by all the people making assumptions that recess paras are uneducated and can't handle conflict resolution. In WA state (where I am) as a para you have official training and tests you need to complete and/or have an AA/BA. In addition to that there are trainings 2-3x/year.
Recess paras often are also aides in kinder classes, resource rooms, SpEd classrooms, the library and/or work in the reading program, supervise in the lunch room and are crossing guards before & after school.

I know! It’s not like we flag down random people on the street to be recess monitor for a day.

They are school staff. There’s nothing special a teaching certificate does for monitoring recess. I don’t recall a single college course in recess, lunch, or bus duty.

I’m also not sure what major conflict resolution and deescalation happens at other schools’ recesses. 99% of the recess problems I have can be solved with a <2 minute conversation. The rest are usually trying to get a kid back inside from recess, not directly impacting peers.

(agreeing with you) Our schools utilize Playworks and there is training/courses for school staff.
Signed, a recess aide 😆

[edwardo123]

At both the school I work at and the school my youngest attends, the teachers don’t do recess duty. Paraprofessionals, specials area teachers(gym, music, etc), and parent volunteers take care of recess. It’s hard because they don’t often know the kids at the beginning of the year.

[pittpurple]

I remember this bothered me when my daughter started school - going straight from a nursery setting with teachers everywhere to a massive school ground with 4-11 year olds all doing whatever. Teachers (here) definitely don't step in and are purposefully in a specific area of the playground so they can be found if there's an issue. Issues seem to be physical stuff or bleeding - otherwise kids just work it out. Teachers also get very little time (here) to talk things through with each other so I'm glad they get a little bit of space during break times.