A weekly chat covering topics related to teaching with a global perspective. A rotating cast of guest hosts include education experts and influencers. A must-follow for all educators who would like to open their classroom to global opportunities! Hosted by @HSingmaster and sponsored by @AsiaSocietyEDU
I'm Heather Singmaster from the Center for Global Education @AsiaSocietyEDU and organizer of #Globaledchat. I used to love playing down by the creek behind my house when I was growing up in Wisconsin.
Hello everyone! I am Spencer Grisvard. I am currently part of The Ohio State University's middle childhood program with a concentration in Science and Social Studies. My favorite activity while outside had to be anything with using my imagination! #globaledchat#osussmce
Rachel Peters, music teacher, VA. I loved the outdoors as a kid- still do! I have always been a fan of fishing, but also love reading in a hammock. #GlobalEdChat
My name is Anna Gordon, a student at Elon University majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in Environmental Education and Geography. My favorite outdoor activity as a child was playing with mud with my friends in the backyard. #globaledchat
Hi! My name is Marin and I currently study Environmental Studies at Elon University. My favorite outdoor activity as a child was playing in the snow! #globaledchat
A2: it’s so important! As a specialist, I don’t get to see the social and cooperative learning that happens, but I know how important it is for in classroom focus! I can tell when they have had indoor recess. #globaledchat
My name is Anna Gordon, a student at Elon University majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in Environmental Education and Geography. My favorite outdoor activity as a child was playing with mud with my friends in the backyard. #globaledchat
A1: When I was in grade school, my school would prioritize #outdoorplay by giving us a recess break everyday. When I got to middle school and high school, classes would sometimes be held outside. #globaledchat
I know that Illinois is one of only a few students that has PE as a daily requirement to get kids moving. But I don’t know if every district really complies with that. #globaledchat
A1: Glad to see students even having recess at my MS placement. Didn't even have it when I went to MS. Kids need to move around freely, especially when they're growing and developing in Middle School! #globaledchat#osussmce
A2: Recess has a HUGE impact on students. Giving students a break to run around and release all of their energy they have built up throughout the day is important for their mental and physical health. #globaledchat
My thinking is—we don’t know our kids home life. School recess might be the only 15 minutes of they day when they have balls, toys or friends to play with. #globaledchat
#globaledchat a1: my school prioritizes outside play at the university level by encouraging us to enroll in classes such as #edu431 , Environmental Education, so that we in turn can encourage the next generation of students! #ElonEd
A2: While I think recess impacts students to get out their energy, it can also seems a bit aggressive in its release during recess. Interested in looking up ways to help students decompress in a calmer manner. Heard Deleware, OH schools are doing yoga. #globaledchat#osussmce
A2: As a middle school teacher I try to get these youngsters moving as much as possible, but I also know that they just need time to chill. Recess for them is about taking a mental break...and it can get physical
#GlobalEdChat
We all need mental breaks during the day - as well as some exercise. I got a dog in part so that I would take a break during the work day and get some exercise - and take a mental break! #globaledchat
A2: in every school I’ve been in, my own experiences included, I’ve seen recess have a massive impact on students’ mental health and overall well-being. Especially at lower levels, classrooms would look very different without recess! #globaledchat
In our research Globally, teachers think playing outdoors develops key
skills for life, including:
- social skills (97%)
- imagination and creativity (94%)
- improved fine motor skills (90%)
- ability to focus on a task (65%). #globaledchat
#globaledchat Hey everyone, Bronwyn from Australia.
Q2 Recess is vital for the kids at our school to get our burn energy and to reset their minds for learning. We found that anymore then 30mis outside though the kid get bored or highly stimulated and social conflicts begin.
And more than that Teachers think playing outdoors helps children when
they return to the classroom, as they are:
- more able to retain information (62%)
- more engaged with learning (79%)
- better behaved (67%)
- happier (88%). #globaledchat#globaledchat
Oh yeah, they are good with that. I was dog sitting for about three weeks and miss those chances to detach and just walk for 20 minutes with them at night....I have to force myself to walk now
#GlobalEdChat
#globaledchat
Q1 Prioritising outdoor play happens with our Ss going out for 2 x 30mins breaks a day. An hour of PE a week and every Friday we alternate free play with year level specific outdoor activities in the afternoon.
I had an interview with a school in China yesterday and they said they have two recesses too, and before school is recess, and then at the end of the day. That's what's up!
#GlobalEdChat
As I was late can I say how excited I am to be her today chatting with you all. #Globaledchat is one of my favourite chats around the world and being in Australia I usually miss out due to classroom teaching duties.
@BeckettHaight Haha, should you feel like tackling on yoga with any younger kids, here is a resource that can bring in their imaginations to the mix too. https://t.co/m0Rve8XhA0 No leg placing behind the head required! #GlobalEdChat#osussmce
A4: Maybe helping structure the play is helpful. Having different activities to choose from, modeling social interactions, encouraging less screen time....
#GlobalEdChat
A3: @BeckettHaight Haha, should you feel like tackling on yoga with any younger kids, here is a resource that can bring in their imaginations to the mix too. https://t.co/m0Rve8XhA0 … No leg placing behind the head required! #GlobalEdChat#osussmce
behaviors and energy levels that are expected in the classroom and can be disruptive to the flow of a day's lesson plan. This can leave students frustrated and create skewed associations of recess being fun and class not fun #globaledchat
#globaledchat
Q4 Our school caters for Ss interests. We have a animals area with rabbits and chickens etc kids can go and chill out and relax at. We have a friendship are with board games, dolls etc if a kid needs a friend and we organised games such as cricket, football etc
A3: Teachers should be strong advocates for having #outdoorplay in schools. Having recess is beneficial to teachers as well because once kids burn off all of their energy and get a breath of fresh air, they will pay more attention and will be ready to learn. #GlobalEdChat
A3: More a tip for my fellow music teachers: when teaching singing or music games, always remind students they can sing and play them at recess, too! Transferring their favorites to recess helps their learning be meaningful and builds real world musical experiences. #globaledchat
A3: Taking the interests of students into account (as much as possible) when planning recess activities is essential. Some students may not be entertained with a patch of grass and could be more motivated to play w/ their classmates when presented with alternatives #Globaledchat
Q3 OK this is fascinating - do you think you'd see the same answers in Europe? on our global research the USA gets by FAR FAR FAR the least recess. #globaledchat
Q3 OK this is fascinating - do you think you'd see the same answers in Europe? on our global research the USA gets by FAR FAR FAR the least recess. #globaledchat
A4 in our research 87% teachers worldwide want to increase time for
outdoor learning. In the US, 93% of teachers would like
to increase outdoor learning.... what do you think? #globaledchat#OutdoorClassroomDay
#globaledchat
Q3 And I forgot our Vice Prin brought a book music player with an Amp and the kids also do singing and dancing at recess and lunch play as well.We have found implementing interest based outdoor activities in to recess student behaviour in the yard has decreased.
A4: I've only seen the autumn semester at my placement so far, but we did manage to do a 'get to know each other' day in a closed off section outside there! Hopefully when spring comes around, we'll be able to do some engaging science lessons outside. #GlobalEdChat#osussmce
Q4 sometimes! I know I do from time to time, but generally it’s more spontaneous- playing a game that works better outside and it’s a nice day. I need to be better about planning intentional outside lessons. #globaledchat
A4
Rarely, we have an amphitheater outside, but the window of time in Illinois to use it is limited. September it’s full of bees, after that it’s cold until April. :(
#globaledchat
Q4 #GlobalEdChat Teachers definitely have the option but do not take it up enough. I had my class out experiencing ice the other day.We were writing about a snow picture and the kids had never been to the snow. They held ice, stepped in it, tasted it and had fun outdoors.
For recess, it’s 0 F (I’d have to do the math to get to Celsius).
For our outdoor amphitheater, teachers don’t want to take students outside for a lesson unless it’s optimal weather. #globaledchat
A4: In college, I am taking a class called environmental education #EDU431 where my classmates and I are in the outdoor classroom for every time we have class. This outdoor classroom teaches us the many ways we can share environmental education with others. #globaledchat
A5: intentional lesson planning will be key. Although I do love spontaneity, to really reconnect kids with nature, it will take intentional planning. Lessons, field trips, games, but also planned time to just play and explore. #globaledchat
I find kids like recess no matter the weather. In Anchorage, as a kid, the snow plows would pile all the snow up at the edge of the playground--a four month long game of King-of-the-Mountain would immediately commence! #globaledchat
A5: The @FPConservatory would be a great place for a field trip in my area, but I'm sure other regions have to have a decent conservatory as well! While it may be 'inside', it can still be a great way to get 'outside' during the winter months! #GlobalEdChat#osussmce
In reply to
@OutdoorClassDay, @RichLouv, @FPConservatory
A5
It’s tough because our field trips need to be connected curricularly, but take advantage of forest preserves, state parks, national parks etc. #globaledchat
A4 One of my fave responses from teacher on 'what stops #recess: "‘Note our weather restrictions are tornados, frost bite and
hail so large it can cause concussion. ‘(Teacher in Canada) #globaledchat
A5: Reconnecting children to their environment can be done with simple practices such as reading outside, going for walks, sitting outside, and even bringing crafts outside. Anything that is done OUTSIDE can help give children the #vitaminN they need. #globaledchat
#globaledchat for our school we added the role of environmentalist to our leadership roles, they work in the garden, care for the animals, recycle, collect food scraps, look after the school bins. Kids love this role.
We connect the trip to the compelling question in the unit we’re studying. Also: we call it field WORK (a “trip” implies a simple destination; work is more complex). #OutdoorClassroomDay#GlobalEdChat#fieldwork
#globaledchat I love how @venicesensei students lead their learning but campaigning in their school yard at Venice High about Global Issues. These students are using their recess etc time to lead their peers in learning.
A6: To be honest, I'd be more surprised to find those that were against this than for. As the 'stereotype' goes, it seems that most kids stay inside all the time. #recess pushes them outside and even under supervision of teachers. What's there not to like? #globaledchat#osussmce
Q6 Some suggestions we've had include setting ‘outdoor homework’ that challenges families to get outdoors after school, on the weekends and in the holidays. Ask children to report back on what they discovered. #GlobalEdChat#OutdoorClassroomDay
Q6: our school has a clear policy of recess is only taken away when absolutely necessary. This sends a strong message of admin support and a strong mess to parents on the importance of recess. #globaledchat
Make sure you join us for #Globaledchat next week when @hloewecke will lead a discussion on Civics Education! And for those of you in the US, don't forget to vote next week!
Ever wonder what's different about all of these new science standards? How is today's vision of STEM education providing next step opps for kids? Join the conversation on #NGSSchat starting in 2 min! #globaledchat#kyedchat#gaed
#globaledchat
Q6 This is not really a problem at my school but I think we need to realise for kids to succeed they need time to rest and rejuvenate their brains. Something we overload and why our results are poor.
A6: Schools can send the message that #recess and #playtime is important by showing others the results of #outdoorplay on children's mentality, attitudes and assignment/test scores. Children can focus more when outside and are more positive individuals. #globaledchat
