COPPERAS COVE, TX — Copperas Cove ISD issued a statement on Wednesday on the positive benefits of recess and its impact on student academic performance.
When students arrived for recess on their first day of school at Martin Walker Elementary, frisbees, basketballs, jump ropes, hula hoops and other playground equipment awaited them.
The district says activities like running, jumping and playing on certain playground equipment not only improve a student's overall health, but also teaches students how to play well with others and develops their social and leadership skills.
"Texas state law requires a certain amount of physical education for students, around 135 minutes a week, but it doesn’t include language about recess time," said the district in a release. "Copperas Cove ISD pre-K and elementary schools set aside time daily for student recess in addition to physical education classes."
Last year, CCISD also implemented mental breaks for its junior high students during the day. High school students are able to take breaks after their lunch period or in between classes based on their schedules.
"Teachers find that students are less fidgety and more focused following recess and mental breaks from the rigorous classroom lessons," said school officials. "They listen more attentively, follow directions and
try to solve problems on their own instead of coming to the teacher to fix everything. There are fewer discipline issues."
According to the district, a 2010 survey by the CDC found several positive associations between recess and academic performance, including fewer discipline issues, improved student focus, unique socializiation opportunities and enhanced brain power from sunlight.
