Kindergarten teacher: Too many tests, 'no time to play'
(Photo courtesy of David Boucher)
Kindergarten teacher David Boucher wants time to play. "I would like to see more recess because studies show that more play time makes kids more attentive. It is hard for them to stay focused without play or movement. In fact, it leads to more behavior problems."
Time to play is extremely limited in Boucher's classroom and school. He spoke about his experience as a teacher of young children as part of our Focus on Teaching series, with specific attention to the Minneapolis Public Schools’ current instructional mandate of Focused Instruction.
A Minneapolis resident, David Boucher has a long relationship with the Minneapolis Public Schools, as a student, as a parent of one graduate and one current student, and as a kindergarten teacher at Folwell School, a K-8 Performing Arts Magnet in south Minneapolis.
Can you describe the students in your classroom to me?
I have 27 students, although this number can fluctuate because, on average, six kids transfer in or out during the school year. On average, the kindergarten classrooms at Folwell have between 26 and 28 students. Out of the 27 I have, around 50 percent of them are ELL students, and 14 percent qualify for Special Education services. My school also receives federal Title 1 funding because of its high percentage of ELL students and those who qualify for free and reduced lunch.
What is an average day like for these students?
My students have five-ten minutes of recess a day; there is no time to play. They are required to