What is it all about?

• Solid blocks of instruction
• Quality time for daily physical activity and play
• Built in time for students to “feed their brains” during the school day
• Improved student concentration and energy levels
• Solid Blocks of Instruction Balanced with Scheduled Nutrition and Activity Breaks

What are the benefits of the Balanced School Day?

Academics

• More instruction time with fewer interruptions
• Longer lessons can be continued with interruption (ie. Solid blocks of literacy time; science activities, art classes, and talent development activities that require more time to complete; an opportunity to schedule some 50 min Phys. Ed. classes versus 40 minutes for our students., etc.)
• Time and flexibility to program writing, reading, and oral activities a more integrated way without interruption.

Nutrition

• Research indicates that children need frequent food breaks during the day
• Balanced School Day Schedule provides two opportunities for students to sit down and eat in their classrooms through nutrition breaks as opposed to eating on the run at recess or during instruction time.
• Students who are nutritionally satisfied can concentrate better.
• Creates a culture of calm and healthy eating in the classroom

Physical Activity

• Allows students two longer opportunities to play and engage in games
• Quality activity time energizes students, helps them concentrate on school work, and promotes a healthy lifestyle.
• Built in snack and transition times allow students to engage in a full twenty minutes of activity during the nutrition/activity break
• A second opportunity during the school day for students to engage in intra-mural activities

Feedback from other schools

Eating

• We have a longer time to finish our snack and lunch
• We don't have to rush when we eat
• We don't get hungry by the afternoon
• We don't have to save food from our lunch for an afternoon snack

Recess

• We have more time to get into a game
• There's more time for us to use more energy
• We have more time for intramurals