J. W. Walker School
Balanced Day
Rationale for The Balanced Day
- Based on the Brain
Compatible Teaching/Learning research, it has been found that optimum
learning conditions result when nutritional needs are fulfilled and balanced
day is created. Thus, by creating morning and afternoon nutrition
breaks, we increase the opportunity for students to be in their most desirable
learning phase for all 6 Teaching/Learning periods.
- By providing only
two recess breaks during the day, we will increase the total amount of
classroom teaching/learning time. This results because students
will not be spending a third time dressing and undressing for outdoor
play.
- Currently, the
60 minute lunch recess means that students are spending an uninterrupted
40 minutes outdoors on a daily basis. This is an on-going concern
during the extreme cold. The proposed schedule of two 45 minute
breaks reduces uninterrupted outdoor time to 25 minutes, lunch is
much safer during the extreme temperature months.
- Twenty-five minutes
of outdoor play provides an effective amount of time for the students
to use the washroom facilities and still be involved in an outdoor activity.
It provides the opportunity for decisions on play, time to play - but
little opportunity for the play to deteriorate into disagreements!
Conversely, our 15 minute recess breaks are often not enough time for
the students to become involved in a practical play situation when a majority
of those 15 minutes are spent using the washroom facilities and dressing
in outdoor clothing.
- By inserting the two 45 minute recesses, we create a balanced teaching/learning division of the day.
