Doubt you know this, but the most common instructional hour for students and teachers in Finland is to have 45 minutes of instruction followed by a 15 minute break -- for both the kids & teachers. This is at all grade levels: primary, lower secondary (middle school), and upper secondary. Everyone takes breaks. (Some of the schools I visited - especially middle school (gr 7-9) --- have adjusted the schedule to have 75 or 90 minute periods followed by 15 minute breaks.)
Teachers typically go to the teachers' lounge, share a cup of coffee, and return to their class refreshed. (Hmm - I am lucky to see many of my colleagues over a 45 minute lunch break and my preparation period, however, most of my CPS colleagues in 450 elementary schools have not seen or had a break with their colleagues once their school day started.) We could benefit from a few more breaks in our school day with colleagues and without students.
So our own kids who are in 2nd grade and 5th grade here in Helsinki typically have 3 to 5 fifteen minute recesses a day. In these grades, the students go outside year round (cold, snow, or light rain) for some fresh air and exercise. I believe many of the younger kids in Chicago have at least 1 break in the day, but all of our grades (primary, intermediate, and middle school) could benefit from a few more breaks.
All or most teachers take one turn a week supervising the kids during a recess or lunch.
Hmm, do you think Chicago teachers would supervise kids one day a week to build in more breaks to the instructional day?
No comments:
Post a Comment