In the News

South Los Angeles Report

May 28, 2010

Nonprofit provides safe, meaningful play for children ›

Three years ago, Emma Cueva, a fourth-grade teacher at W. Claude Hudnall Elementary School, noticed students walking around slowly at recess or roaming the playground with no destination. Some even…

AmeriCorps shirt
AmeriCorps shirt

NBC Philadelphia

May 17, 2010

The Teacher Says: Recess Coach ›

William Dick Public School in Philadelphia tests out a new program called Playworks where a recess coach teaches kids all about conflict-resolution.

ABC News Nightline

May 10, 2010

School Hopes ‘Recess Coach’ Will Pay Off in Classroom ›

Elementary School in Tough Arkansas Neighborhood Brings in 'Coach Coop' to Give Structure to Playtime In the orderly halls of Stephens Elementary in Little Rock, Ark., principal Sharon Brooks steers…

Houston Chronicle

May 8, 2010

Teaching kids how to play ›

Program brings structure to recess Five-year-old Timaria Sanders helps lead her kindergarten class in a chicken walk with Bill Vanark, a program director with Playworks, at North Forest's Lakewood Elementary…

Philadelphia Daily News

May 7, 2010

Recess coaches help kids play, and that helps them to learn ›

Program in 9 schools shows promise, but kids out-of-shapeBy DAFNEY TALESPhiladelphia Daily News Fourth-graders at the William Dick School, in North Philly, listened intently yesterday as they learned the rules…

Star-Tribune

May 3, 2010

St. Paul schools rethinking how kids do recess ›

Nonprofit demonstrates games that combine exertion and learning. Back in the day, recess on the playground was the time for boys to be boys and the fainthearted to step aside.…

Portland Public Schools

April 30, 2010

Playworks at PPS – Video Pulse ›

In an effort to maximize play time and minimize disputes, Portland Public Schools has partnered with Playworks, a nationwide nonprofit that provides play coaches to low income schools. See how…

Oregonlive.com

April 27, 2010

Playworks sets up its ‘recess coaches’ program in Portland ›

An Omamas reader recently alerted us to a New York Times article on “recess coaches” who help kids structure their recess time positively, without bullying or other conflict. The reader,…

kids playing with basketballs
kids playing with basketballs

Colorado Education News

April 16, 2010

“Recess” Coaches May Help Classroom Work ›

Recess went better at Denver’s Swansea Elementary School last week than any week Principal Mary Sours can remember in the past ten years. Kids were running instead of standing against…