Our naptime is about 40 minutes start to finish (including getting mats out and putting them up). I personally dont like it, but the kids are tired at the first of the year especially and need time to rest. I usually stop naps about 3rd quarter if most kids are not sleeping.
I use the time for assessment of students who rarely sleep. I avoid testing those that sleep much of the time, even if they are awake that particular day, because, I dont think they will probably do their best on the testing. I have found that some children sleep consistently and some never sleep!!!
I darken the room and play quiet classical music. I allow NO talking, NO moving mats, and NO body parts off of mats (within reason, if they are tall, feet can hang off of course). I start out allowing the students to lay on their mats where they wish as long as their mat isnt touching anyone else's and is not under furniture. Children who consistently have problems either following rules or finding a spot to lay down, end up with assigned spots. Sometimes, I tell certain ones they cannot lay by certain other ones, but they are allowed to choose a spot that meets that criteria. Depends on the situation.
If students misbehave at naptime (more that one verbal warning) they have to stay in at recess the next day and practice napping. They also lose their reward (a stamp on their hands) at the end of the day for following class rules. If they continue to misbehave, I will have them move their mat or give them an assigned place. Needless to say, we have few naptime problems past the beginning of school, when some children have to test the boundaries.
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