| Author |
Message |
Gina Whittle
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 9:23 am: |       |
What is the maximum amount of minutes can a 1st grader handle? Our schedule next year is proposing 50 minute classes. We had 40 minutes this year and the 1st graders really struggle to keep on task. I just don't believe they have that kind of attention span.
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janmille
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 9:24 am: | |
I'd personally give my right arm to have that much time--however, perhaps suggesting a compromise of two classes--one 35 min. the other a 15 min exercise/ aerobic short session to reinforce the skills you're teaching or to make up fitness testing. |
Carolina31
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 9:25 am: | |
50 min. classes are just way too long for 6 yr olds! Our 1st graders also struggle with the 40 min. P.E. time. Their attention span (even to things they love) is just not that long, - no to mention that they are just not physically able to maintain activity SAFELY for an extended period of time. The issue here is the same as always. It has nothing to do with what makes sense for the program - it is about giving classroom teachers larger blocks of planning time.
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luisa
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 9:26 am: | |
It would seem more logical to have two 25 min. periods a week, preferably with at least a day in between. I also understand that scheduling is very difficult, but it should not be done at the expense of the children or the program.
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Florence A. Evans
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 9:26 am: | |
At the school system that I teach at, Kindergarten, First,Second and Third graders have 30 minutes of physical education twice a week. All Fourth grade students have 40 minutes of physical education twice a week. I believe when they move on to the middle school students are scheduled for physical education everyday for 50 minutes for a 9 week period.
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anna other
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 9:27 am: | |
Here we have 45 minute lessons for Kindergarten through Grade 3 (and some double periods for older students) twice a week.
It is a myth that G1 cannot concentrate for 50 minutes. It suggests to me that you are expecting the students to be following the teacher for that whole time. In that case, 50 minutes is too long for almost anyone. If you break your 50 minutes down into shorter time slots; with plenty of free play / self-experimentation, as well as time to stop for a drink and some skills-orientated and less cardio tasks, the time will fly by. Remember kids this age needs loads and loads of time to experiment. |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 9:27 am: | |
I see all my students once a week for a 40 minute period. The problem I have is with Health classes, I only see the kids a total of 18 times (40 min per) for the entire year. Does anyone know if there are requirements to meet the standards or where to find recommendations?
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Mark Quigley
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 09, 2005 - 10:50 am: | |
Here where I teach I see all classes 40 min a week with Mondays class again on Friday. We have a rotating schedule so every four weeks students get Physical Education twice a week (80min). The specialists (PE, Library, Music & Computers) rotate the first graders on their own. We break them up into 20 min periods a day and switch with another specialist. So all 1st graders recieve PE at least twice a week (20min classes) and every other week they rotate and get it three times a week. We have done this on our own and in reality they still get their 40 or more of PE a week. I know our state standards require 100 min a week of physical education. The classroom teacher is held accountable of making up the extra time missed. |
Donald J. Levine (Ctmanpe)
Junior Member
Username: Ctmanpe
Post Number: 4
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 1:01 pm: | |
We have a large school that is K-3. Does anyone have a 9 period schedule per day that would show Health, Physical Education, Media, Music and Art. We meet twice a week for Physical Education and once for each of the others. The time frame would be 40 minute periods. Send to my email address or respond here. Thanks, Don |
elijah soojin lee (Ohsooj84)
Junior Member
Username: Ohsooj84
Post Number: 2
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 08, 2005 - 10:18 pm: | |
Having 50 minutes set aside for PE is awesome! The last school I was at only had 20. I like janmille's response to the post. Having 35 minutes for an activity and the remaining 15 for an aerobic session. 1st graders can stay on task for 50 minutes. Do not put it past them. I think having a variety of activities for one certain topic for example the parachute. The kids would and could stay on task for 50 minutes. It definetely takes planning and good management strategies to keep the kids focused and on task. We should all be grateful for the time we have, even if it is in PE. Pretty soon we may have no time at all for the arts and physical education. |
Ryan Curl (Ryan_curl)
Junior Member
Username: Ryan_curl
Post Number: 3
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 5:46 pm: | |
Though I like the idea of adding ore time for students in P.E. class, I think that 50 min. of class time for lower elementary students (K-3) is too much as far as getting the students to stay on task, stay involved/active, etc. Where I am teaching, the K-3 students have P.E. for 30 min. twice a week, and the upper eleentary (4-6) come once a week for 60 min. I find that even the 4-6 gr. students have enough trouble focusing for the entire time. |
George V Harnick (Gharnick)
Junior Member
Username: Gharnick
Post Number: 8
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 3:53 pm: | |
All of my classes are 32 minutes in length, but from what I have experienced, they can go much longer if and only if the drills/activities are not too boring. If the activities are fun enough and include enough games, your 1st graders should be fine. Activities that are useful and take up time are easy to make up and find on the internet. Warm up games that relate to the material and games that relate to the skills taught in class are great ways to burn time and still be on task regarding the learnable piece for the day. Be creative and it will work.
George |
Jim Perry (Perryja5)
Junior Member
Username: Perryja5
Post Number: 3
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 6:47 pm: | |
The elementary school I am teaching at has 45 minute classes for grades 1-5 and 30 minute classes for kindergarten. I think this has been pretty appropriate for the students. As long as you are able to mix up the class enough to keep interest in your students, they should be able to handle the longer period. My mentor teacher and I like to start with a good warm-up jog followed by stretching, short instruction and then get into activity. We might break things up with a drink or just switch to a similar activity that is new for them. As Phys. Ed teachers we should be happy with any extra time we can get. |
