Playworks: Day 3

Wednesday the 21^st

Wednesday began as early as the rest of the week, with us rolling out of our sleeping bags at 7am. After the daily shower, packing of lunch, breakfast, and 30 minute car ride, we were all at our schools. The OG’s made the terrible, terrible mistake of not bringing sunscreen. Throughout the week, we would spend a grand total of roughly 30 hours outside, and the Denver sun was not as forgiving as the Kansas sun. We participated, ran, and helped lead the 4 classes that Coach Roo typically does on Wednesdays. Once again, we played many versions of Tag, follow the leader type games, and much more. The real challenge came around recess time. Whittier had a “rolling recess”, different than anything I had ever seen. In my elementary days, each grade level had their separate recess. This helped stop any disadvantages or advantages based on grades. A “rolling recess” implies that recess will first begin with kindergarteners, then first graders, then second graders, and so on. All the way up to middle school. By the time the middle school children arrive outside, every single student in Whittier is outside on the recess yard at the same time. This proves to be such a challenge, that I am amazed that Roo is able to handle this every day of the school year. The middle school students are the most challenging age, as they constantly fist fight, tackle each other, and argue. Coach Roo explained that it is impossible for her to be able to fix the gigantic problematic behavior of the middle schoolers while still trying to address and fix the problems of the elementary aged children. She felt that the elementary aged children are where she needs to focus her attention because establishing proper recess behavior at a young age will carry into their middle school years. This is really hard for me to grasp as a hopeful educator myself, as I hate to think that any age to be considered a lost cause. It’s hard for me to not worry about the middle school aged children, because I can see what they are exemplifying for the elementary students who are on the playground at the same time. But Roo handles herself well, expending the most attention and effort on the elementary aged children. At the end of our day, the 7 of us combine forces with the other Alternative Spring Break group staying at the church and play Apples to Apples. Had a lot of fun, but were pooped by 10pm and found ourselves asleep by roughly 10:01pm.