时差N小时:休息对学习的重要性

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

雅艾尔：嘿，唐，你在小学时最喜欢的课程是哪一门?科学课，是吗?

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

唐：我爱科学课，但我在学校最喜欢的当然还是休息。

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

雅艾尔：真的吗?我一直认为你是那种刻苦的孩子。

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。我爱学习。但休息还是最棒的。我不太记得我在三年级时学了什么，但是我真切地记得在课间时分到处乱跑的情形。事实是这样，休息对于学习很重要。许多研究都证明课间休息会帮助记忆和改善大脑功。不论是对有课间休息的孩子们，还是对在工作期间能抽空喝杯咖啡的成人，间断地学习才最有效率，反之，长时间连续学习效率则不高。还有一种说法是，在学习中大脑需要周期性的休息以补充对形成长期记忆很重要的化学物质。

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?

雅艾尔：好吧，但如果休息如此重要的话，那么在过去十年里为什么有那么多的小学缩短休息时间，甚至取消休息时间。

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，这并不是因为休息对学习不重要。许多学校都面临着较大的教学压力，要求学生的数学和阅读水平达到一定的标准。所以老师们经常拖课，以便让学生死记硬背更多的课本知识。然而这却违背了科学，大多数的数据证明休息有助于学习。而且，自由玩耍和体育活动更有助于提高学生的身心健康。

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

雅艾尔：这么说学校应该增加而不是缩短休息时间。

Don: That's true, according to science.

唐：对，科学来讲是这样。