Descriptive Essay : ' The Playground '

Most teachers want good attitudes, but they won’t get any without recess. People are fighting back against this. Moms are mad that their kids get off the bus sad, “ unfair that my 9-year-old was being denied something as basic as a respite from her classroom “. This article wants to tell that their kids are not getting enough recess,

A never-ending issue has loomed over the head of our nation-- education. According to the Institute of Education Sciences, 63.7% of American students are below proficient in reading and 65.7% in math. In order to improve educational standards and increase student achievement, Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act (also known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act) in 2002. Designed to increase the role of the federal government in education, it holds schools accountable based on how students perform on standardized tests. Statistics show that the average student completes about 110-115 mandatory, standardized tests between pre-kindergarten and end of twelfth grade (an average of eight tests per year). Standardized testing utilizes

In every K-8 graders day recess, call it what you will, lunch hour, break, flex time, is a time to look forward to. In the New York Times “Do Kids Need Recess” Michael Gonchar quotes professional opinions in his educational article to prove the importance of recess. Recess is taken away on a regular bases, yet it’s scientifically proven to boost academic, social, and cognitive achievement. Recess an important part of the school day, and should not be taken away.

This proposal serves as a detailed description as to why I believe that elementary school students should be required more free recess time. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) highlights the important of recess because it help the children create social skills that can lead to a happy and healthy adult life. Not only would longer or more recesses promote socialization but also promote a healthier life style for the children. Over the past few years we have begun to notice and trend in childhood obesity and through more recess we can promote a more active and for healthy lifestyle. Free play time has been shown to produce higher cognitive performance and better memory. Schools should not be restricting recess time because they see recess

Adopted by forty-two out states in 2010, the Common Core State Standard Initiative strives to provide an educational structure which details what English language arts and mathematics should be taught from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The initiative is the federal government’s attempt to ensure all students who graduate from high school are adequately prepared to enter a two or four year college or the workforce. Despite their intentions, the Common Core has caused much controversy in the education community. The thought behind Common Core is very valid and has the potential to help students, however changes must be made to unrealistic standards and wordy statements. Common Core must first be rewritten so that the language is clear and can be easily understood by the general public. Next ask experts on childhood development and elementary school teachers to review the standards and rewrite standards they see as unneeded or irrelevant as well as unrealistic.

Recess is a period of time during the school day in which students take a break from learning and socialize with each other. The students get to do whatever they want, and they have fun with each other. A typical recess involves unstructured play which means that the students engage in their own activities without adults. Recess can also be structured which means that teachers set up mandatory activities for the students to play instead of letting them be free. There has recently been debate about whether or not recess should become structured or unstructured. Schools should agree with structured recess because the students can be able to interact within the same activity. It can also promote teamwork and teach the students how to help each other out.

Standardized testing has diminished the true intention of schooling, for it “deliberately orchestrate[s] [an] assault on public education” (Ravitch 106). In an ideal world, students would look forward to receiving a diverse education; however, the current craze on standardized testing does not allow anything close to learning diversities. During a budget cut, a school’s first thought is to reduce “the non tested subject[s]”, which means everything besides math and reading (Ravitch 106). State required tests target the mathematic and reading subjects intensely; therefore, why should one teach anything else? “[F]ederal policies value only test scores”, hence the enthusiasm of schooling institutions

Following the passing of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002, US students have slipped from being ranked 18th in math in 2000 to 27th in 2012, with a similar decline in science and no change in reading. Standardized tests are unfair and discriminatory against non-English speakers and students with special needs [E. (2011, January 01)]. A 2007 national study conducted by the Center for Education policy revealed that since 2001, 44% of school districts had reduced the time spent on science, social studies and the arts by an estimate of 145 minutes per week in order to focus on reading and math while neglecting the other areas of study.

Recess is as important as classroom time. It is critical in development and social interaction (Rochman). Students should be able to go blow off steam, run around for a half hour, let out some energy halfway through their day. Recess can also teach young kids responsibility. If he or she gets in trouble, the school can take it away from them. This teaches children that their actions have consequences. It helps children practice conflict and resolution. “Play time benefits extend beyond the physical development in students but affects social, emotional and cognitive development,” (Rochman). After they have a break, they will be more able to focus on their studies. Who doesn’t need a break during the day? Most adults get an hour break in the middle of the day, most students get twenty

The educational system in the United States was originally developed using concepts from around the world, created using ingenuitive ideas from countries such as China, Japan, and Korea. However, as the United States quickly moved into position as the leading country for state-directed educational standards, America looked less and less to the systems of other nations and more into how we could improve what was locally and currently being applied in education. Consequently, an improved type of education instruction was officially launched in 2010. These new state standards, practically titled Common Core, were declared to focus on developing a child’s skills in reasoning, problem solving, communication, and competition (Conrad, et al. 52). While the standards are professed to be an extremely practical and beneficial method of teaching today, there are issues which have recently surfaced and raised some concerns. The Common Core State Standards are emerging as the subjects of a provocative controversy in society today as they prompt discussion on global economic efficiency, nationwide academic standards, and the ultimate well-being of school-age children.

Tests implemented by Common Core have become an end in themselves as they have only increased-higher hurdles, being unreasonably difficult, creating a hostile learning environment and higher-stake and stress levels for children and teachers throughout the year. Proficiency from the percentage of students in both public and private schools dramatically dropped to the low 30s in 2015, with minimal improvement the next year (Singer, Results Are In: Common Core Fails Tests and Kids). The Common Core’s massive increases in standardized testing has not only seen a rise of resentment towards school, but a plunge in support among the general public.

Imagine this: you’re dreaming about your old school playground. The place is filled with laughter and a soft breeze picks up. You look around and there are vibrant slides that shock you in the sun, squeaky but colorful seesaws, and the creaking noises of the swings. Some students already have recess, but in recent times, schools have been taking away recess for more time to prepare for tests and learning. This new change sparks debate amongst children, teachers, principals, and administrators.

As a result to this the author states ¨For this reason, some of the that countries outshine the U.S in test scores, including Finland and Japan, have multiple recesses a day¨. In fact this can work for adults to like Google has a Lego station, Facebook has an arcade at their headquarters. Not only can recess help with learning but it also keeps kids healthy. American Academy of Pediatrics in 2013 statement policy was ¨After recess for children or after a corresponding break time adolescents students are attentive

Rethinking the common core standards. The common core is hailed as “the next big thing” in school reform, but is it “the next big thing? The reform was implemented to resurrect a failing school system, brought on by “No Child Left Behind” once the reform was put into action it was supposed to make some extensive improvements; however, this change brought about some unsuspected

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) was first implemented in 2010, nine years after I graduated from high school. Although I wasn’t personally affected by the new academic standards, it has a direct impact on the current and future generation of leaders, innovators, and world changers including my future children. The initial purpose of the Common Core Standards is to set high-quality learning goals designed to prepare students to be college and career ready. Given the current controversies surrounding CCSS, studies have shown that although the intent was to benefit students in the long-run it may actually be hindering their mathematical and reading skills. To further explore the arguments behind the Common Core initiative, I will