Instructing a three hour science lecture means attention to breaks is imperative! I have struggled with how to arrange breaks and also with guidelines for students on breaks.
After years of feeling breaks are “their free time”, I now set guidelines and remind students of our time limitations for learning the material together. I want breaks to refresh them!
Day one I discuss the brain’s need for oxygen and how blood flow makes that happen so exercise or at least stretching will help. I also address phone distractions and have a policy that states phone use must be outside of our classroom. (This is included in the syllabus.) Now when I announce breaks I remind the class we need to stretch and move and be back at this specific time. I try to write the time down as I usually have a student to talk with or some email to check too! I try to role- model by moving in the room and taking a good break too.
Do some of you have guidelines for breaks?