Classes used to be places where serious learning took place. Flexible frameworks that can be modified … In addition, some schools drop a period from the morning, and one or two from the afternoon each day. that you and the students will need. Lecture for the full 90 minutes, which bores students to tears, can lead to behavior problems, and ultimately has a negative return, since student attention spans can’t be sustained for longer than about 15 minutes. An “A/B” or “alternating-day” block schedule in which students take eight 90-minute classes that meet every other day. Modified block schedule faribault middle school. Students take half of their eight courses during the first semester and the other half during the second semester. 1st Block Period 1-2 8:00 – 9:25 a.m. 2nd Block Period 3-4 9:30 – 10:55 a.m. Students get restless when they are required to sit still or do the same thing for long periods of time, so unless they are working on a task that will truly engage them for a full hour (and we’ll get to these later on), look at your class period as a series of 15- to 20-minute chunks of time and switch activities in each chunk. Block scheduling has resulted in less emphasis on core content and more on gimmickry. This results in a full eight courses taken per year. I conducted a lab-style block class in ELA recently and I think it was fairly successful, with plenty of movement and valuable activities. By Paul Katula-Wednesday, December 13, 2017. Block scheduling a modified way to divide time into instructional blocks ranging from 20 to 110 minutes. This can work with any schedule, whether a four block, eight period, etc. Many teachers want block schedule, but several subjects are concerned about not getting face-to-face time with kids daily for that repetition/daily practice (mainly math, foreign language, and music). Or, some schools may choose to rotate the flex period as well. Like other schedule examples in pdf, you only need to have a defined purpose for you to determine what should be included in the maintenance schedule. Now teachers are no longer teachers, but merely guides — glorified baby-sitters, if you will. ! Instead, use a variety of instructional strategies, many of which we will get to in a little while. First-year teacher (who should have been prepared better) thinking lecture (the way he was taught) delivering content is the only way to teach. I always appreciate your thinking! Maybe the other teachers were using some highly effective techniques that he was just unfamiliar with. I work at a school that already ran on a compressed calendar, with 90-minute periods. An example table of a possible schedule is provided below. Great stuff. Card sorts, four-corners, scavenger hunts, etc. I shared your article and it made a lot of difference. The preview images include the detailed usage instructions I provide as well as images to show the planner layout. I think that some subject areas, and some teachers who by their natures are not aligning well to block scheduling, should be allowed to stay as 45-minute school periods. This would look the most like a typical lesson, except you would have time to do it right and include ALL the bells and whistles that we all know a good lesson should have: Whitney Schultz, who teaches 80-minute blocks of English at a high school in Baltimore, MD, uses this kind of structure on most days, mixing up the activities within each of the segments. So in this case, you’re “covering” a lot of material, but students aren’t learning it. is that all of the training and examples, info, websites, etc is geared towards all school subjects such as math, English, social studies, etc EXCEPT for foreign languages. Each yearlong class only meets for one semester. By making minor adjustments, many schools have successfully implemented a flexible block. When adding a flex block, some schools have just shaved about 8 minutes, give or take, off of each block. “I am…a first year high school math teacher. Take care! Advisory Period 5 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. Here are just a few possible activities you could include: So whether you’re brand-new to block scheduling or you’ve already been doing it for years, I hope you’ve found at least one new idea to help you make the most of that extended class period and never again be accused of running a “glorified playtime period.” ♦. One of the challenges of block scheduling is “fitting in” all of the content you might be used to teaching on a daily schedule. Block Scheduling Pros . This year, I relocated and will be teaching 7th grade math on 90 minute block. The pros and cons of teaching in block schedules. CHAIR, GRADUATE STUDIES Scott B. Watson, Ph.D. iii Abstract Gayle Hawkins Hughes. 4) Reflective writing & sharing: What was the benefit of using textual evidence? We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Oct. 2012 Student, parent and staff surveys . Lastly, if you haven’t already, the Cult of Pedagogy Virtual Learning Pinterest board is a great place to scroll, and 9 Ways Online Teaching Should be Different from Face-to-Face and Distance Learning: A Gently Curated Collection of Resources for Teachers are really good posts for right now. In this structure, students would spend the majority of time working on their own projects. Some schools call these ‘A/B’ days — a similar approach to a rotating schedule, but maybe a little simpler. Thoughts? This coming 2021-2022 school year is making many schools rethink scheduling. To learn more about how to create a flex block, watch our video to the left of this page in the box How Can You Create a Flex Block?. There is also the discussion and discovery process. “If I have a class that is tremendously behind, then it is a matter of looking at the ‘extras’ and either cutting those out completely to get to the content needed OR if it is a class that is up for a challenge, then I give them extended time to complete it on their own.”. This cycle continues as the week progresses, so students are meeting for all 8 classes in the rotation. I have been teaching HS math for three years and have been very successful at teaching on traditional schedule. Such schedules (traditional) were created under an industrial model and prioritized factors such as: 1) structured use of time, 2) easy staffing, and 3) the Carnegie Unit. No more. Under block scheduling, the students are now in groups trying to “discover” facts that used to be communicated instantly when teachers actually taught. Each day the rotation of classes differs. Try to predict what could go wrong or where confusion might occur and plan ways to avoid or use these moments as opportunities for growth and deeper thought. A Flex Period could occur at the same time every day within this rotation, as shown in the example. The schedule for Ironwood High School is a “4 x 4” block schedule. What Do Schools Think of Block Scheduling?
“At Kings Park High School, which serves 1,000 students in grades 9-12, it was the vision of the principal, John Merone, that led to the implementation of block scheduling. But these often value “coverage” over actual learning. For example, on Mondays and Wednesdays (Block A), students may have: Geometry, History, English, and Biology. Meagan Brockway, a high school history teacher in Greencastle, PA, says, “Block scheduling requires planning for more than you can accomplish and then continually readjusting based on student needs.” This readjustment may vary from student to student and class to class. Strategic plan / high school schedule advisory committee. A rotating schedule might be more complicated to get started, but gives students so many options and increased flexibility. Here’s another article to check out that you might find helpful: The Pros and Cons of Block Schedules. Queen, J.A. First, we feel for you and your situation. Under a 4x4 block schedule, instructional time for each course is generally between 85 and Classes used to consist of core subject material being communicated to students by individuals rich in knowledge and experience. It discusses block scheduling in elementary, middle, and high schools, and includes an indepth case study of an exemplary elementary-school curriculum. Some schools split their flex block into multiple periods. SAMPLE REMOTE SCHEDULE - BLOCK SCHEDULE HIGH SCHOOLS TIME PERIOD CLASS PLATFORM PRIMARY INSTRUCTION TYPE 8:30 9:20 10:10 11:00 11:50 12:40 1:30 CVA CTLS CTLS GAVS CTLS CTLS Personal Fitness American Literature Chemistry A Lunch Japanese I A US History A Geometry A Asynchronous with synchronous support Synchronous with asynchronous work sessions High School Schedule … 2011-2012 Site visits, readings, discussions. Great podcast – my district is going to block scheduling for the first time. But one issue with block scheduling seems to persist, a problem that is highlighted in the letter above, a problem that is still voiced by teachers and students today: The ineffective use of the longer block of instructional time. I don’t know how you’d ever do science lab s with shorter class periods. Because if teachers don’t have a well-rounded repertoire of instructional strategies, methods that they know are effective, they will only use lecture to teach, and that gives them one of two choices: Do not rely solely on lecture. What words did you use to introduce the evidence? (2002). Here’s a line from his letter again, where he longs for the good old days of traditional scheduling: “Classes used to consist of core subject material being communicated to students by individuals rich in knowledge and experience.” What could he possibly mean besides lecture? If you’re using Zoom, certainly utilize breakout rooms, and you could also check out a few tools like Parlay for discussions or elink for curation projects. Unfortunately, too many teachers (as well as too many administrators, parents, and students!) Simulations or role-plays, which can be incredibly useful in helping students understand complex social studies or science concepts. The High School schedule features seven rotating blocks with time allotted for meetings, electives and sports. Instead of project based learning, physical education is more interactive. I’m sure I’m preaching to the choir…but learning doesn’t end with the bell . If you’ve ever finished your planned activities in a 50-minute period and found yourself with ten awkward minutes to kill, imagine how much worse it is when you have 30. The late educator Grant Wiggins, who always offered incredibly insightful ideas on authentic learning, wrote a great post on designing pacing guides that help teachers hit the most essential standards but also build in time for re-teaching and extension when necessary. Oct. 2011 Parents joined Block Schedule committee . Or maybe, if his school was like some who don’t invest enough in training teachers in different methodologies, they really were just screwing around. But it really doesn’t have to be. There are a variety of different options as well. I have no idea where to start. April 2012 Second parent forum (included elementary) Oct. 2012 Two . Your email address will not be published. I have contemplated taking a personal day so that I can listen to old episodes and plot and plan the implementation of all the strategies I’m learning about. Using tools like class schedule templates can provide you with a number of different advantages, and so can school schedules in general. For example, in an 8 period rotation they may drop Period 3 and Period 8 on day one, then add those back to day two and drop Period 2 and Period 6 on day two. For example, I may not have any time on Tuesday or Friday to do blog work, and I may only have an hour on Monday, but I can schedule in four hours on Saturday. “The Cult of Pedagogy” has become my most valuable source of professional development. THANK YOU for the concrete examples! We’ll start by looking at the mindset that causes a lot of block scheduling’s biggest problems. Meanwhile, the teacher would circulate, conferencing individually with students as needed or using an appointment system like the one used at the Apollo School. These issues can often be solved with creative scheduling tweaks. “Block Scheduling in Texas Public High Schools.” The idea of adding an extra block to an already busy schedule might seem like it’s going to be a lot of extra work for staff. What we can recommend, however, is to look at this post (the 90-minute block post) and see which structure aligns most closely to what you would normally do in class. • Numerous variations exist. Contact Us, Sponsored by Raymond Geddes and Kids Discover. Being subjected to the “expert” reading a PowerPoint for 40 or 80 minutes (or 5 hours during traditional teacher PD workshops) is the worst way to learn. I work with teachers to improve practice and I am currently coaching a new high school teacher who is struggling with how to structure an 80-minute block. Regular Daily Bell Schedule – Modified Block Blue/Gold Day Schedule – Tuesday - Friday Block Time Duration Blue Day Gold Day Sunrise Block 7:30 – 8:30 60 min 0 0 Depending on a school’s vision and goals, how they schedule flexible time may differ. I only had three classes where I felt the time was not used effectively and it was great not having to break my back lugging home homework from every class at once. Modified block schedule high school examples Pattonville high school bellschedule. Is there research either way on the benefits of seeing students every day in those subject areas? And in many cases, schools have been successful with block scheduling. I am using Google Meets and Canvas this year, teaching 4 different courses. Bell schedules southwest early college high school. Each semester class only meets for a quarter. A flex block may be held on different days, alternating with advisory or another block with a specified purpose. Time is taken from each block to form the flexible block. In this way it’s similar to the rotating schedule mentioned above. Scheduling guidance. Create “The Need to Know” and set the ball in motion. Today the purpose of education is to teach students to how to learn. One big, focused activity takes up most of the class period in this structure. Another option is to schedule two different lengths of time for your flex block. Periods 7 and 8 are ‘dropped’ from the rotation, and then added to the beginning of ‘Day 2.’ On day two, periods 5 and 6 are dropped from the rotation. SMALL STEPS. That may have been true back in the day, but the accessibility of the internet has made that somewhat obsolete.
“At Kings Park High School, which serves 1,000 students in grades 9-12, it was the vision of the principal, John Merone, that led to the implementation of block scheduling. But these often value “coverage” over actual learning. For example, on Mondays and Wednesdays (Block A), students may have: Geometry, History, English, and Biology. Meagan Brockway, a high school history teacher in Greencastle, PA, says, “Block scheduling requires planning for more than you can accomplish and then continually readjusting based on student needs.” This readjustment may vary from student to student and class to class. Strategic plan / high school schedule advisory committee. A rotating schedule might be more complicated to get started, but gives students so many options and increased flexibility. Here’s another article to check out that you might find helpful: The Pros and Cons of Block Schedules. Queen, J.A. First, we feel for you and your situation. Under a 4x4 block schedule, instructional time for each course is generally between 85 and Classes used to consist of core subject material being communicated to students by individuals rich in knowledge and experience. It discusses block scheduling in elementary, middle, and high schools, and includes an indepth case study of an exemplary elementary-school curriculum. Some schools split their flex block into multiple periods. SAMPLE REMOTE SCHEDULE - BLOCK SCHEDULE HIGH SCHOOLS TIME PERIOD CLASS PLATFORM PRIMARY INSTRUCTION TYPE 8:30 9:20 10:10 11:00 11:50 12:40 1:30 CVA CTLS CTLS GAVS CTLS CTLS Personal Fitness American Literature Chemistry A Lunch Japanese I A US History A Geometry A Asynchronous with synchronous support Synchronous with asynchronous work sessions High School Schedule … 2011-2012 Site visits, readings, discussions. Great podcast – my district is going to block scheduling for the first time. But one issue with block scheduling seems to persist, a problem that is highlighted in the letter above, a problem that is still voiced by teachers and students today: The ineffective use of the longer block of instructional time. I don’t know how you’d ever do science lab s with shorter class periods. Because if teachers don’t have a well-rounded repertoire of instructional strategies, methods that they know are effective, they will only use lecture to teach, and that gives them one of two choices: Do not rely solely on lecture. What words did you use to introduce the evidence? (2002). Here’s a line from his letter again, where he longs for the good old days of traditional scheduling: “Classes used to consist of core subject material being communicated to students by individuals rich in knowledge and experience.” What could he possibly mean besides lecture? If you’re using Zoom, certainly utilize breakout rooms, and you could also check out a few tools like Parlay for discussions or elink for curation projects. Unfortunately, too many teachers (as well as too many administrators, parents, and students!) Simulations or role-plays, which can be incredibly useful in helping students understand complex social studies or science concepts. The High School schedule features seven rotating blocks with time allotted for meetings, electives and sports. Instead of project based learning, physical education is more interactive. I’m sure I’m preaching to the choir…but learning doesn’t end with the bell . If you’ve ever finished your planned activities in a 50-minute period and found yourself with ten awkward minutes to kill, imagine how much worse it is when you have 30. The late educator Grant Wiggins, who always offered incredibly insightful ideas on authentic learning, wrote a great post on designing pacing guides that help teachers hit the most essential standards but also build in time for re-teaching and extension when necessary. Oct. 2011 Parents joined Block Schedule committee . Or maybe, if his school was like some who don’t invest enough in training teachers in different methodologies, they really were just screwing around. But it really doesn’t have to be. There are a variety of different options as well. I have no idea where to start. April 2012 Second parent forum (included elementary) Oct. 2012 Two . Your email address will not be published. I have contemplated taking a personal day so that I can listen to old episodes and plot and plan the implementation of all the strategies I’m learning about. Using tools like class schedule templates can provide you with a number of different advantages, and so can school schedules in general. For example, in an 8 period rotation they may drop Period 3 and Period 8 on day one, then add those back to day two and drop Period 2 and Period 6 on day two. For example, I may not have any time on Tuesday or Friday to do blog work, and I may only have an hour on Monday, but I can schedule in four hours on Saturday. “The Cult of Pedagogy” has become my most valuable source of professional development. THANK YOU for the concrete examples! We’ll start by looking at the mindset that causes a lot of block scheduling’s biggest problems. Meanwhile, the teacher would circulate, conferencing individually with students as needed or using an appointment system like the one used at the Apollo School. These issues can often be solved with creative scheduling tweaks. “Block Scheduling in Texas Public High Schools.” The idea of adding an extra block to an already busy schedule might seem like it’s going to be a lot of extra work for staff. What we can recommend, however, is to look at this post (the 90-minute block post) and see which structure aligns most closely to what you would normally do in class. • Numerous variations exist. Contact Us, Sponsored by Raymond Geddes and Kids Discover. Being subjected to the “expert” reading a PowerPoint for 40 or 80 minutes (or 5 hours during traditional teacher PD workshops) is the worst way to learn. I work with teachers to improve practice and I am currently coaching a new high school teacher who is struggling with how to structure an 80-minute block. Regular Daily Bell Schedule – Modified Block Blue/Gold Day Schedule – Tuesday - Friday Block Time Duration Blue Day Gold Day Sunrise Block 7:30 – 8:30 60 min 0 0 Depending on a school’s vision and goals, how they schedule flexible time may differ. I only had three classes where I felt the time was not used effectively and it was great not having to break my back lugging home homework from every class at once. Modified block schedule high school examples Pattonville high school bellschedule. Is there research either way on the benefits of seeing students every day in those subject areas? And in many cases, schools have been successful with block scheduling. I am using Google Meets and Canvas this year, teaching 4 different courses. Bell schedules southwest early college high school. Each semester class only meets for a quarter. A flex block may be held on different days, alternating with advisory or another block with a specified purpose. Time is taken from each block to form the flexible block. In this way it’s similar to the rotating schedule mentioned above. Scheduling guidance. Create “The Need to Know” and set the ball in motion. Today the purpose of education is to teach students to how to learn. One big, focused activity takes up most of the class period in this structure. Another option is to schedule two different lengths of time for your flex block. Periods 7 and 8 are ‘dropped’ from the rotation, and then added to the beginning of ‘Day 2.’ On day two, periods 5 and 6 are dropped from the rotation. SMALL STEPS. That may have been true back in the day, but the accessibility of the internet has made that somewhat obsolete.