The Effects of Recess on Classroom Behavior Kara Beauregard
Erin Curtis Allie Garver Matt Gentile
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Problem Statement Although recess is an established educational
practice, students are often denied this important break during the
school day. Jambor and Guddemi (1992) and Pellegrini (1995)
identified three major arguments that school systems have used to
justify the abolition of recess: (a) There is no time for recess
because more instructional time is needed to raise test scores; (b)
recess disrupts the work patterns of the children, causing high
levels of excitement and subsequent inattentiveness; and (c) recess
encourages aggression and antisocial behavior. However, research
suggests that lack of a recess break for students may have a
negative impact on behavior and learning (Jarrett, 1998). Research
also suggests that for most children, uninterrupted instructional
time may be a paradoxically inefficient use of instructional time
(Jarrett, 1998). Listening, sitting, and working on assigned tasks
for prolonged periods are inappropriate for young childrenthey need
to be actively engaged with materials, and integrated types of
learning should take place indoors and outdoors (Holmes, 2006). The
research literature clearly documents the positive role of recess
in maximizing primary school childrens attention to classroom
tasks: that is, children are less attentive as the duration between
break times increases and, correspondingly, they are more attentive
after the breaks than before (Pellegrini & Smith, 1993). More
research needs to be conducted in order to identify the
relationship between recess and classroom behavior in order for
instructional time to be used most efficiently. Our research will
indicate whether teachers perceive students who are allowed recess
to be more focused in the classroom and will contribute to our
overall understanding of recesss effect on classroom behavior.
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Hypothesis Students who are given a recess break during the
school day show increased levels of focus and appropriate in class
behavior compared to students who are not given a recess
break.
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Sample All participants enrolled in EDU738 at Salem State
University during the Spring 2012 semester and was found using
convenience sampling. Participants are, at the time of the study,
pursuing a masters degree in an education-related field at Salem
State University. Participants reside in the Massachusetts area and
are most likely employed in Massachusetts schools. Participation
was voluntary.
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Research Design Participants were first contacted via email and
asked to participate in our research study. Through this email,
they were asked to send a signed informed consent form in reply if
they choose to participate. Participants were then be sent a link
to the questionnaire which was hosted by Survey Monkey. The
questionnaire should have taken participants between 10 to 15
minutes to complete.
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Instruments Participants completed a brief questionnaire
regarding their teaching experience, recess policies of the schools
that they work at, as well as their students behavior and focus
before and after recess. This questionnaire consisted of 26
multiple choice questions and 2 open response questions, which were
all written by members of the research group conducting this study.
This questionnaire was hosted by an online survey-hosting website,
SurveyMonkey and can be found at
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/recessbreak
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Questionnaire Results Results are presented in crosstabular
format, however the open response answers have been omitted in
order to maintain full confidentiality.
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#1 1. I have read and understand this information and agree to
participate in this study. Answer Options Response PercentResponse
Count Yes 100.0%11 No 0.0%0 answered question 11 skipped question
0
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#2 2. Please choose the answer that best describes you. Answer
Options Response PercentResponse Count I am currently teaching.
63.6%7 I have worked as a teacher in the past but do not currently.
18.2%2 I have never worked as a teacher. 18.2%2 answered question
11 skipped question 0
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#3 3. How long have you been teaching? Answer Options Response
PercentResponse Count Less than 1 year 14.3%1 1-3 years 42.9%3 4-6
years 28.6%2 7-10 years 0.0%0 More than 10 years 14.3%1 answered
question 7 skipped question 4
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#4 4. How would you describe the district you teach in? Answer
Options Response PercentResponse Count Urban 14.3%1 Suburban 71.4%5
Rural 14.3%1 answered question 7 skipped question 4
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#5 5. How would you describe the school in which you teach?
Answer Options Response PercentResponse Count Public 71.4%5 Private
14.3%1 Charter 14.3%1 answered question 7 skipped question 4
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#6 6. What is the grade level in which you are currently
teaching? Answer Options Response PercentResponse Count Preschool
0.0%0 Kindergarten 0.0%0 First 50.0%3 Second 0.0%0 Third 0.0%0
Fourth 0.0%0 Fifth 0.0%0 Middle School 16.7%1 High School 33.3%2
answered question 6 skipped question 5
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#7 7. How many students do you have in your classroom? Answer
Options Response PercentResponse Count 15-20 50.0%3 21-25 50.0%3
26-30 0.0%0 30 or more 0.0%0 answered question 6 skipped question
5
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#8 8. How many boys/ girls? Answer Options Response
AverageResponse TotalResponse Count Boys 11.67706 Girls 6.67406
answered question 6 skipped question 5 NumberBoysGirls 178 2912
3173 471 5187 6129
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#9 9. Does your school have a building level recess policy?
Answer Options Response PercentResponse Count Yes 50.0%3 No 50.0%3
answered question 6 skipped question 5
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#10 10. If recess is not offered at your school, what is the
reason? (Check all that apply) Answer Options Response Percent No
available outdoor space 0.0% No available indoor space 0.0% Safety
and security issues 100.0% Not enough time during the school day
100.0% Lack of adults to supervise recess 100.0% Other (please
specify) answered question skipped question NumberOther (please
specify) 1Special Education Program
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#11 11. Please choose the answer that best describes the recess
policy at your school. Answer Options Response PercentResponse
Count Students have at least one recess break during the school
day. 66.7%4 Students do not have recess, but they do have breaks
during the school day. 33.3%2 Students have no recess or other
breaks during the school day. 0.0%0 answered question 6 skipped
question 5
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#12 12. How many times a day do your students get a recess
break? Answer Options Response PercentResponse Count 1 25.0%1 2
75.0%3 3 0.0%0 Other (please specify) 0 answered question 4 skipped
question 7
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#13 13. What time of day does recess occur? (Check all that
apply) Answer Options Response PercentResponse Count Early morning
(before 11am) 50.0%2 Mid morning/ afternoon (11am- 2pm) 100.0%4
Afternoon (after 2pm) 0.0%0 answered question 4 skipped question
7
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#14 14. How long is recess? (If more than one recess break
during the day, check all that apply) Answer Options Response
PercentResponse Count Less than 10 minutes 0.0%0 10-15 minutes
75.0%3 15-20 minutes 25.0%1 20-30 minutes 0.0%0 More than 30
minutes 0.0%0 answered question 4 skipped question 7
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#15 15. Are your students ever kept inside during recess?
Answer Options Response PercentResponse Count Yes 50.0%2 No 50.0%2
answered question 4 skipped question 7
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#16 16. For what reasons are your students kept in for recess?
(Check all that apply) Answer Options Response PercentResponse
Count To make up work missed due to absence 100.0%1 To make up work
not completed during class 100.0%1 For test retake 100.0%1 As
punishment for behavioral issues 100.0%1 Other (please specify) 1
answered question 1 skipped question 10 NumberOther (please
specify) 1Rain
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#17 17. On an average day, what classroom activities are your
students engaged in before recess? Answer Options Response
PercentResponse Count Sitting at desk, listening to teacher 0.0%0
Independent work 50.0%1 Group work 100.0%2 Free choice 0.0%0 Other
(please specify) 3 answered question 2 skipped question 9
NumberOther (please specify) 1lunch & math 2 Not sure as some
other teacher is with this class. 3snack/lunch
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#18 18. On an average day, what activities are you students
engaged in after recess? Answer Options Response PercentResponse
Count Sitting at desk, listening to teacher 66.7%2 Independent work
100.0%3 Group work 100.0%3 Free choice 0.0%0 Other (please specify)
2 answered question 3 skipped question 8 NumberOther (please
specify) 1Specials & Snack 2The lesson is very structured with
an opener, a sharing activity, an instructional activity and a
follow up activity.
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#19 19. On an average day, how would you describe your
students' behavior in the classroom before recess? Answer Options
Response PercentResponse Count Very good (students follow
directions, are respectful and polite, don't speak out of turn)
0.0%0 Good (students follow most directions, are respectful and
polite, may speak out of turn) 100.0%4 Fair (students follow some
directions, may be slightly disrespectful and impolite, may speak
out of turn) 0.0%0 Poor (students following little or no
directions, are disrespectful and impolite, frequently speak out of
turn 0.0%0 answered question 4 skipped question 7
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#20 20. On an average day, how would you describe your
students' behavior in the classroom after recess? Answer Options
Response PercentResponse Count Very good (students follow
directions, are respectful and polite, don't speak out of turn)
25.0%1 Good (students follow most directions, are respectful and
polite, may speak out of turn) 50.0%2 Fair (students follow some
directions, may be slightly disrespectful and impolite, may speak
out of turn) 25.0%1 Poor (students following little or no
directions, are disrespectful and impolite, frequently speak out of
turn 0.0%0 answered question 4 skipped question 7
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#21 21. During an average week, how frequently do your students
display inappropriate behavior before recess? Answer Options
Response PercentResponse Count Every day 0.0%0 Most days 0.0%0 Some
days 100.0%4 Never 0.0%0 answered question 4 skipped question
7
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#22 22. During an average week, how frequently do your students
display inappropriate behavior after recess? Answer Options
Response PercentResponse Count Every day 0.0%0 Most days 0.0%0 Some
days 100.0%4 Never 0.0%0 answered question 4 skipped question
7
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#23 23. Do you think that a recess break has any effect on your
students' behavior? Answer Options Response PercentResponse Count
Yes 100.0%4 No 0.0%0 answered question 4 skipped question 7
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#24 24. Please choose the answer that best describes your
thoughts on the effects of recess on your students' behavior.
Answer Options Response PercentResponse Count Students show more
inappropriate behavior in the classroom when they have a recess
break. 25.0%1 Students show less inappropriate behavior in the
classroom when they have a recess break. 75.0%3 Students' behavior
in the classroom is not affected by recess. 0.0%0 answered question
4 skipped question 7
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#25 25. Recess should be a part of the school day for all
elementary students. Answer Options Response PercentResponse Count
Agree 90.0%9 Slightly agree 10.0%1 Neutral 0.0%0 Slightly disagree
0.0%0 Disagree 0.0%0 answered question 10 skipped question 1
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#26 26. Students who have missed or not completed class work or
homework should be kept in for recess. Answer Options Response
PercentResponse Count Agree 10.0%1 Slightly agree 30.0%3 Neutral
0.0%0 Slightly disagree 20.0%2 Disagree 40.0%4 answered question 10
skipped question 1
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#27 27. Recess should be taken away from students as punishment
for misbehavior. Answer Options Response PercentResponse Count
Agree 10.0%1 Slightly agree 40.0%4 Neutral 10.0%1 Slightly disagree
10.0%1 Disagree 30.0%3 answered question 10 skipped question 1
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#28 28. Recess is an important element of classroom management.
Answer Options Response PercentResponse Count Agree 55.6%5 Slightly
agree 22.2%2 Neutral 11.1%1 Slightly disagree 0.0%0 Disagree 11.1%1
answered question 9 skipped question 2
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Summary of our Findings Our study found that elementary
teachers believe recess does have an effect on their students level
of appropriate classroom behavior. Elementary teachers feel that
their students show less inappropriate behavior after they engage
in a recess break lasting between 10- 15 minutes in duration. The
study showed that our one middle school teachers perception was the
opposite to that of the elementary teachers. The middle school
teacher perceived his or her students level of classroom behavior
as being appropriate before recess and observed an increase in the
level of inappropriate behavior after recess. This teacher did
report that their students were with another teacher before recess
so the level of appropriate behavior may be skewed for this
study.