Persuasive Writing

Writing consists of developing great ideas and organizing them well.  Writing to expresses your opinion demands great passion, which I've tried to incorporate into our units.  Here is a brainstorm for why we should have two recesses.  Once we brainstorm, we spend time organizing our ideas into categories.  It's been an issue to not cross categories (you cannot talk about health benefits during teacher benefits, for example.)  I encourage you to discuss what you are passionate about with your kids as well as what they are passionate about to make change.  Our heroes are great examples!  "Be the change you wish to see in the world!"

Why we should have two recesses:

Goal:  two recesses

Audience: teachers and principals, Superintendent Audience goals:  learn- get a great education, love learning, have fun while learning, socialize and interact in a healthy way (make friends)

General goals- most people want...

-economic effects

-happiness

-intelligence, increased education

-healthy

Managing tensions:  how can more recess help us learn better???? 

Anticipate argument: 

-kids will be crazy

-it wastes learning time (school is made for learning!)

·        to find time in the school day, teachers can create more cross-curricular lessons to free up time for more recess but still teach everything necessary

·        use bell time or other creative ways to increase recess time

-play after school

·        Our response:  not enough time because of homework, extracurricular activities (practice, class/lessons),  babysitter/caregiver (no supervision)

Ideas:

Exercise/health:

-healthy amount of play time outside – exercise

-physically educated – you get to be outside and work out more (we only have it two days a week!!)

-we only have 15 minutes of recess (sometimes we also go out late, so we only have a little bit of time)

-Strong4Life, the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta program, recommends 60 minutes of activity everyday (only happens two days a week for us because of recess and PE)

Socializing

-kids wouldn’t be so talkative because they’ve had more time to socialize during recess

-have more time to make friends

-if there is a new student especially, they need more time to socialize

-see friends from other classes

Teacher Benefits

-teachers would have more opportunities to plan

-teachers have a chance to socialize/take a break for a few minutes

-teachers can communicate, conference, collaborate with peers (other teachers) to help solve problems  

Academic Benefits

-let kids create using scrap paper and art supplies which could give kids time to increase creativity

-extra recess gives kids time that they can develop and use their imaginations more (engaging in pretend games during recess which increase their creativity)

Other benefits:

-you’ll be energetic throughout the day rather than sleepy and drowsy

-sometimes miss out on recess because it is still too cold in the mornings

-fresh air

-if you are stressed, this is an opportunity to cool down

-kids can enjoy themselves!