The Clubhouse Method™ · Why it works

They learn the skills in class. Recess is where they practice.

Grounded in special education and school psychology practice, aligned to the standards your school already uses, and measured with real data from your own recess.

Become a founding schoolSee the research
  • Fully cleared and insured
  • No class time
  • No teacher prep
  • Real data
Kids taking turns in a group game at The Clubhouse
95%of principals are concerned about student mental health1
80%of public school leaders say the pandemic's effects still hurt students' behavioral development2
Fewer than 3 in 10U.S. elementary schools report having trained recess supervisors3
69%of public schools struggled to fill non-teaching jobs, like aides4

The approach

Practice in the real moment, with support that fades.

Kids rarely struggle because they don't care. They're missing a skill, or the words, at the moment they need them. Instead of just monitoring behavior, trained staff help kids join in, model the words and coach them through frustration.

01

Modeling

One skill a week, modeled the same simple way every time.

02

Fading support

Kids try their own fix first. Staff step in only as needed.

03

Real settings

Skills are practiced where they're used, so they carry back to class.

04

Carry it over

Aides, teachers and families get the same words all week.

The goal isn't to stop every disagreement. It's to help kids handle those moments on their own over time.

Alignment

Fits what your school already does.

Nothing to replace. It completes the work you're already doing.

All five CASEL competencies
PA Career Ready Skills Continuum
PBIS, MTSS Tier 1 and climate goals
Works alongside your classroom SEL
No instructional time or teacher prep
IEP and 504 accommodations followed

Go deeper

The long view and how we measure.

Tap any topic to open it.

01Why early mattersSkills built at recess now show up for years

Being surrounded by people can still feel lonely. We help bridge that gap, one invitation at a time.

1 in 5young people feel lonely, highest among teens; about 1 in 4 adolescents is socially isolated8
55%of U.S. high schoolers feel close to people at school, down from 62% two years earlier9
50%of U.S. teens spend 4+ hours a day on screens, not counting schoolwork10
02How we measureData from your own recess, never labels

Every pilot starts with goals agreed with you and a baseline. We track peer conflicts, how often children work problems out on their own and how quickly classes settle after recess, all at the class level. You receive a halfway check-in and a written results report.

We're honest about where we are: The Clubhouse Method is research-based and in its first school pilots, with an independent evaluation planned with a university partner.

03Recess and SEL todayTime is short, and schools feel it
72%of schools with an SEL curriculum say time limits get in the way of using it1
55%of K-12 teachers say recess at their school lasts just 15 to 20 minutes11
Share and negotiateThe CDC names recess as time for social and emotional growth12
04The pandemic gapWhy so many schools are feeling it now
83%of public school leaders say the pandemic's effects still hurt students' social-emotional development2
75%of educators name student behavior a major concern this year13
20×One first-grade teacher paused her lesson nearly 20 times in the first hour14
Limited to a few schools

Spring 2027 · Founding Schools

Be first.

A small group of founding schools will launch The Clubhouse Method this spring and set the standard for what recess can be. 10 weeks, February to April, with data before, during and after.

Become a founding school

Starts with a free call and demo recess. Sign by January 15.

The full programEvery recess on your day for 10 weeks. Not a sample.
Results you can useA before-and-after report for your board, climate and MTSS goals.
Founding-school benefitsFirst choice of days for 2027-28, a pilot credit toward next year, and a voice in how the program grows.

Let's talk

Social skills aren't just taught. They're practiced.

A 15-minute call, then a free demo recess. No cost, no commitment.

Become a founding schoolFree demo recess

Questions? 610-390-2873 or nweirich@theclubhousewc.com

Sources

Sources

  1. National Center for Education Statistics. (2024, April 16). Most schools report some concern about students meeting academic standards and issues related to staffing shortages [Press release]. School Pulse Panel, 2023–24 school year. ies.ed.gov
  2. National Center for Education Statistics. (2024, July 18). About one-quarter of public schools reported that lack of focus or inattention from students had a severe negative impact on learning in 2023–24 [Press release]. School Pulse Panel, May 2024. nces.ed.gov
  3. Tsai, M. M., Olarte, D. A., Hager, E. R., Cohen, J. F. W., & Turner, L. (2024). Prevalence of recess and supportive practices at a nationwide sample of public elementary schools in the United States. Journal of School Health, 94(4), 366–373. 559 schools; data collected 2019–20. doi.org
  4. National Center for Education Statistics. (2024, October 17). Most U.S. public elementary and secondary schools faced hiring challenges for the start of the 2024–25 academic year [Press release]. School Pulse Panel. nces.ed.gov
  5. Arnold, J. P., Stellino, M. B., Özkoca, N., Belcher, D. J., & Massey, W. V. (2025). The role of adult support in mitigating students' feelings of unwelcomeness at recess. Journal of School Health. 483 elementary students, four time points across one school year. doi.org
  6. American Academy of Pediatrics. (2026, May 13). Updated policy statement on recess in school. Pediatrics. First new AAP recess guidance in 13 years. doi.org
  7. Ha, C., McCarthy, M. F., Strambler, M. J., & Cipriano, C. (2025). Disentangling the effects of social and emotional learning programs on student academic achievement across grades 1–12: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Review of Educational Research. 40 studies, 33,700+ students. doi.org
  8. World Health Organization. (2025, June 30). Social connection linked to improved health and reduced risk of early death [News release]. Report of the WHO Commission on Social Connection. www.who.int
  9. Stephens, C. P. (2024, October 8). Students feel less connected to school. Here's why that matters. Education Week. CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2021 and 2023. www.edweek.org
  10. Zablotsky, B., Arockiaraj, B., Haile, G., & Ng, A. E. (2024, October). Daily screen time among teenagers: United States, July 2021–December 2023 (NCHS Data Brief No. 513). National Center for Health Statistics. www.cdc.gov
  11. Heubeck, E. (2025, November 19). Do students get enough recess? What teachers think. Education Week. EdWeek Research Center survey of 464 teachers. www.edweek.org
  12. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, July 1). Recess. Physical Activity Education. www.cdc.gov
  13. Blad, E. (2026, August 3). 75% of educators expect student behavior to be a challenge this year. What else? Education Week. EdWeek Research Center survey of 1,000+ teachers and school and district leaders, April–June 2026. www.edweek.org
  14. Mader, J. (2026, February 17). Biting, kicking, wandering the classroom: Teachers say there's a rise in misbehavior even among the littlest kids. The Hechinger Report. Reports NCES School Pulse Panel data, 2022–2025. hechingerreport.org