時差N小時:休息對學習的重要性

Yael: Hey Don, what was your favorite subject ingrade school? Science, right?

雅艾爾：嘿，唐，你在小學時最喜歡的課程是哪一門?科學課，是嗎?

Don: I loved science, but my favorite part of schoolwas definitely recess.

唐：我愛科學課，但我在學校最喜歡的當然還是休息。

Yael: Really? I always thought of you as being a kindof studious kid.

雅艾爾：真的嗎?我一直認為你是那種刻苦的孩子。

Don: Oh, I was. I loved learning. But recess was thebest. I don't really remember exactly what I learned in third grade, but I vividly rememberrunning around outside during playtimes. And the thing is, recess is important for learning.Many studies have shown that taking breaks helps improve memory and brain function.Whether its kids playing during recess or adults taking a coffee break at work, learninghappens best when it's broken up into chunks instead of happening over one long, continuousperiod. Another way to put it is that during learning, the brain needs periodic rests toreplenish chemicals important for forming long-term memories.

唐：啊，我很刻苦。我愛學習。但休息還是最棒的。我不太記得我在三年級時學了什么，但是我真切地記得在課間時分到處亂跑的情形。事實是這樣，休息對于學習很重要。許多研究都證明課間休息會幫助記憶和改善大腦功。不論是對有課間休息的孩子們，還是對在工作期間能抽空喝杯咖啡的成人，間斷地學習才最有效率，反之，長時間連續(xù)學習效率則不高。還有一種說法是，在學習中大腦需要周期性的休息以補充對形成長期記憶很重要的化學物質(zhì)。

Yael: OK, but if taking breaks is so important, then why have so many elementary schoolsshortened recess or gotten rid of it completely over the past decade?

雅艾爾：好吧，但如果休息如此重要的話，那么在過去十年里為什么有那么多的小學縮短休息時間，甚至取消休息時間。

Don: Well, it's not because recess isn't valuable for learning. Many schools are underpressure to reach certain performance standards in math and reading. So administratorsoften cut recess in order to cram in more instruction and class work. But that goes againstthe bulk of the scientific data that suggest recess helps improve learning. Plus, notsurprisingly, free play and physical activity have been shown to be good for kids' mental,social, and physical health.

唐：嗯，這并不是因為休息對學習不重要。許多學校都面臨著較大的教學壓力，要求學生的數(shù)學和閱讀水平達到一定的標準。所以老師們經(jīng)常拖課，以便讓學生死記硬背更多的課本知識。然而這卻違背了科學，大多數(shù)的數(shù)據(jù)證明休息有助于學習。而且，自由玩耍和體育活動更有助于提高學生的身心健康。

Yael: So schools should probably increase recess time, not cut it.

雅艾爾：這么說學校應該增加而不是縮短休息時間。

Don: That's true, according to science.

唐：對，科學來講是這樣。