Recess

Oh recess...what a love-hate relationship I have with you...

Let me clarify, we are talking about the extra 10-15 minute recess I sometimes take my kiddos out for in the afternoon (not the lunch recess).

I LOVE:
-a breath of fresh air
-getting a chance to glimpse blue sky and green grass rather than cinder block walls and brownish-orange carpet
-seeing my kids run around and actually act like the 10 year olds they are, rather than the 18 year olds they try to be
-how excited they are outside
-how some days they are SO ON when we come back in, just because their brains and bodies got a break

I HATE:
-how some days it takes so much time to settle down once we come back inside
-when the kiddos complain that i am taking them in earlier than they think i should be
-when they COMPLAIN COMPLAIN COMPLAIN that I don't take them out enough (they seem to feel recess is a RIGHT rather than a PRIVILEGE, no matter how frequently I stress the contrary!)


Usually I make the kids earn recess with good behavior throughout the school day, spelling the letters RECESS on the board.  Today, I looked at the clock with 10 minutes left in our writing time, decided it wasn't worth starting somethign new, and announced, "We have 10 minutes left.  I think...we should go outside."

The kids' incredulity was priceless.  "What?? Are you serious?? YES!!!"  It was actually kind of cute to see how shocked they were, and to catch them in a moment when they weren't begging for recess.  Now, tomorrow, when they beg, I will remind them that sometimes I surprise them with recess when they are just being good and not asking for it.  Stealthy teacher trickery at its finest. ;)

Extra exciting moment of the day: box of day old bagels from panera sitting in the lounge this morning, including special october  pink ribbon bagels!  yum!  :)