#developmentallyappropriate

[cindyjt]

50: SPECIAL EPISODE: Coronavirus Closings - Staying Connected with Students

[deannachappellbelcher]

More Recess!

Part of my crazy plan for this school board race is to talk to people I see around town who have kids.  I show them my list of concerns.  The kids love my “more recess & less homework” planks.  In Oregon we are considering lowering the voting age to 16, but why don’t we just lower it to 6?  I would win in a landslide! I was talking to the cutest kinder kid and his dad the other day. The child was hiding in his dad’s neck until he heard the “more recess” part, then he piped right up!  “Yes! More recess! Then I could play with my friends.”  It was adorable, but also it made me sad.  How are you not playing with your friends in the classroom? It’s kindergarten!

It seems that kindergarten is no longer a place for learning through play in a lot of places -- they are too often high-pressure zones for academic drill and kill learning.  WHY?  Must we ensure they are “college and career ready” at five and six years old?  Here is what I wrote to the House Education Committee in Support of HB 2318, the “Too Young to Test” bill a few months ago:

I am not going to cite studies, but if anyone wants me to send them a bibliography, let me know.  But **studies show** that recess is important for mind, body, mental health, social development and EVEN for academic learning.  Young children don’t learn more by more “time in the chair” and they certainly don’t learn more by taking standardized tests. The 4j School Board should know this.