Teachers.Net Focus Session - High School Block Scheduling

Teachers.Net Focus
Wednesday, June 23, 1999
High School Block Scheduling

arc - Hello, I'm almost finished with my first year of teaching, We use block scheduling and personally, it works out great for my subject. I know that most of the teachers at my school prefer it.
libby - where are you from?
tp - My school is investigating block because we will have to go to some type of alternative scheduling for the 1999-2000 achool year. Any advice?
Lynne - My high school has block scheduling and the teachers seemed pressed for time this year. I am a substitute teacher, and have talked to them in the lounge. I am also a parent in this school district.
libby - tp, my advice to you would be to have a period where students can meet with other teachers for additional help. We have one and although there are a few kinks in it, I found that I was able to keep a closer watch on my students
tp - For those of you on block, how do you schedule your AP courses? I'm in Southeast Georgia.
Lynne - What I am interested in hearing is how high school teachers feel about block scheduling nation wide, and if it does demand more work after school for teachers.
ann - Ditto what arc has said. My high school and adjoining intermediate have been teaching since 1991 using the block schedule...students are enrolled for 6 classes, and attend periods 1,3,7 on Tues./Thurs. and periods 2,4,6 on Wed./Fri. Each period is 2 full hours. Monday has been set aside for the ole' traditional schedule of all 6 classes each consisting of 55 minutes.
Lynne - The students have said in a recent survey, that they feel the teachers have trouble correcting papers on time.
libby - in our school we run on a even/odd 4 day schedule. AP classes meet 3 of 4 days, where other classes meet 2 of 4
tp - In my visits to schools on block, teachers prefer block because of the additional time for planning. They also admit that block requires more planning than regular 6 period days.
Cheryl/Va - We have block in our middle school
libby - the block does require more in depth, and creative planning.
pcl - My concern is lost instructional time. When a year-long course is condensed into a block, approximately 8.5 weeks of instructional time is lost.
Lynne - In middle school, also? I thought block scheduling was meant to prepare students for the college schedule. Is that not the only reason? What are others?
libby - But I found that the lessons I taught were more in depth and covered using many different teaching methods.
tp - Block advocates say that the loss of instructional time is not a problem. Teachers have to pick and choose more carefully what it is that they will teach.
Cheryl/Va - We are connected to a high school so we all follow the block schedule
libby - you cannot expect to lecture everyday for 80 minutes and keep your students awake. It will not happen past the 1st two weeks
Cheryl/Va - Plus it eliminates all the hall movement 7 times a day
pcl - Did you have to eliminate information from your lesson plans?
tp - In my school, we will go to block for two reasons. The state has upped the number of courses needed for graduation, and if we go 4X4, we will spend less on textbooks.
Lynne - Oh, that explains it, Cheryl! Thanks. But what exactly IS the purpose of block scheduling??
Cheryl/Va - Most teachers move to two or three diff. activities. Our classes are 95 min long
libby - Sometimes you have to be more selective.
ann - First of all, no time is lost just because we include AP courses. Everything has equal time...in other words, we still see students for the 'traditional' 5 hours per week.
pcl - In this age of such high illiteracy, is fewer books wise?
Cheryl/Va - More time to practice learning math or science concepts. You can read a story and discuss it then plan a writing or assessment activity
Lynne - So it is to eliminate hall movement, tighten up lesson plans, and to have additional time for planning. Is that it?
arc - I meet with my students 4 days a week. Three are 45 minutes and one is an hour and fifteen. This allows me to do a preschool in Child Development, cook in foods, and visit local businesses in independent living.
Cheryl/Va - I love having 95 min. tp plan a unit, grade papers or contact parents all at one time
Cheryl/Va - We have one "anchor" class that meets daily for 45 min
pcl - I am curious as to how long each of you have been on blockscheduling?
Lynne - arc, I can see the advantage to having more time to focus on a subject, or to cook
Cheryl/Va - One disadvantage is when a kid is absent, they have a hard time catching up
libby - After teaching in the block for a year, the days that I was only given 40 minutes, completely screwed up
Cheryl/Va - This is our 3rd year. I really like it. You only do lesson plans every other day
ann - Yes, block scheduling prepares students for college time but there are so many positives. Tardies are not a huge probloem, teachers have an extra day to grade/record/prepare lessons, students have that same extra day to complete work/study for tests.
Lynne - Our high school just started this year. It took quite some adjusting for the high school teachers. They seemed really swamped, but said the second semester went better.
Cheryl/Va - Lynne, next year will be smoother when kids, and parents are used to it
tp - Only A/B block gives an extra day for grading. On 4X4, I am trying to figure out how I will grade the same number of papers in half the amount of time.
Cheryl/Va - Our days are orange days or blue days
libby - pcl, this is our first year
arc - any change is hard, but in the long run it's better for teachers and students alike
Cheryl/Va - The math teachers at my school do not like it. Elective teachers love it
Lynne - How do you get an extra day? We have four periods of 90 minutes each, and each teacher has one of those periods as a prep period.
tp - We are in the process of trying to figure out which type of block is best for us.
Missy - we have the same lynne
Kelli - Lynne, we also have the same with the exception of 96 minute blocks
libby - we are on a/b, the first month is a blur, because everyone was getting used to the schedule
pcl - Are you finding that more of your time is taken up with putting together makeup work for absent students due to extracurricular activities?
Missy - I'm a math teacher too Cheryl, and I do not Like block an all! We do not get to cover as much.
Lynne - SO there are different types of block scheduling. I think we really do need to rethink ours. We don't have every other day scheduling except for gym and foods and "minor courses".
ann - After working with block schedule for 8 years, I can tell you that our students and staff for the most part love it and really dislike the one day per week of traditional. Our 9th graders are better prepared for this type of schedule since they have already been involved with it for 2 years.
libby - lynne, are you doing semestering or accelerated block?
tp - Have any of you encountered the term "accelerated block?"
libby - there is a school near me that is doing it.
Kelli - I taught 7-12 special ed (resource room). And it was my 1st year - nothing prepared me for block scheduling
libby - there is mixed review of it
tp - How did block work with the special ed students?
Lynne - Libby, it's semestering. The marking periods go REALLy FAST. I was tutoring a student the whole year, and couldn't believe how fast the grades were due again.
ann - I would encourage anyone interested in block schedule to visit other sites and talk to all types of staff members and students.
Kelli - By "semestering" did each class only last half-year?
Lynne - It is hard for some students to be in one room that long, so the teachers really need to think up all kinds of different activities to keep them interested.
Missy - the school i'm at now has block and the students hate it. They get tired and do not work as hard. They say they are not motivated.
Lynne - Kelli, yes, each lasted a half year.
libby - tp, my class of students has special ed and I was very pleased with their state test results. Our state is also instituting higher standards for everyone
ann - Special ed. students really benefit from the increased classroom time especially since our sp. ed. teachers are with them in the regular classes.
Kelli - I tried to break the 96-minute up into 3 or 4 mini-lessons. Is this the best way or does anyone else have a better idea?
Missy - Lynne that is hard for math teachers especially algebra!
tp - Many students seem to like block because they have time in class to do homework. I have even heard parents say they like it for that reason.
pcl - There is one extensive website I found on this topic; try not to let the title of the website deter you from reading and drawing your own conclusions. http://www.athenet.net/~jlindsay/Block.shtml
Lynne - Yeah, our one math teacher was telling me that.
Missy - TP, my students don't start homework they just socialize.
tp - I'm afraid that the students at my school would spend their time socializing. Especially the 9th graders.
libby - I normally have 4-8 different activites, I try never to have more that 3 minutes free at the end of class for them. Homework is for home, not on my time
ann - Yes. Students do usually get the opportunity to at least begin homework in class and go away knowing how to do it. Monitoring of students should prevent 'social' time.
Missy - To get the kids motivated we do a group discussion at the begging and the end.
Lynne - I can see how the special ed students could benefit, because they could concentrate better. You ought to have seen our science students, though, after sitting on those benches beside the tables for that long!!!!!
pcl - It is my understanding that formerly semester classes are compacted in 9 weeks; is that your experience?
libby - tp, that is why you need that extra period for students to see their teachers. They can make up days lost from absence .
Missy - Ann, I work at a school for kids that have gotten in trouble and they don't listen especially since i am a student teacher!
Kelli - It benefits the spec. ed. students to have mini-lessons and LOTS of review but 96-minutes was too long for their attention spans no matter what I did.
Kelli - PCL, yes - the entire class only lasted 18 weeks.
tp - What extra period are you talking about? If we go to 4X4, there is no time for them to meet with teachers.
libby - if you try not to make any one portion of the period longer than 15-20 min., you can usually keep them with you.
ann - Structure and organization are the keys to being successful with block. Our teachers are trained during staff developments with techniques and strategies for teaching classes which are 120 minutes long...longer than others that I've noticed so far.
libby - we have a block set aside for students on even days. This is has worked pretty well so far. The problem is that we still need to work some kinks out. Is there anyone that is using an academic block or enrichment?
Kelli - libby, what do you do with the ones that can't keep up? I have some that are finished in 5 minutes & others that need 45.
ann - Missy, I'm sorry to hear of your struggles with and as a master teacher, I have never let my student teachers struggle with something such as this. We both work as a 'team' so that the mind set is not that of a 'student' teacher.
Lynne - Kelli, I noticed the same problem. Also the ones that say, "Oh, I have 90 minutes to get this done"--speaking as a substitute, now.
libby - kelli, i have switched to doing a good amount of group work in my class. Methods like jigsaw, for taking notes.
Wendy - I'm will be teaching on a block schedule for the first time this fall. I'm an English teacher and was wondering what tips you have for first timers in block scheduling. I have 10 years of teaching experience
Bill T - This is likely obvious to most, but the KEY to making a 90 or 100 or what have you minute long class a success if VARIETY. I know of a former high school teacher who lectured the entire time. Small wonder he was so turned off by the block schedule. So were his students.
Lynne - Libbi, What's jigsaw, or is that too invovled to explain.
libby - I would suggest the same as Ann, go to classes like Dimensions of the Mind, Multiple Intellligence that will give you ideas on how to present your information differently.
Bill T - I particularly liked the 90 minute blocks for my science classes.
pcl - Another high school I visited has traditional days for three days each week: M, Tu, Fri, and on Wed the 'odd hour' classes meet for 90 mins or so; then on Thursdays the 'even hour' classes do the same. Also, they have Seminar (70 mins or so) on Wed and Thu. During Seminar, make-up tests are taken at various places on campus, within the school day (kind of neat), club meetings (increased participation), among other things. A special hall pass system keeps track of all students' whereabouts. Also, ACT prep and Career Guidance occur.
Kelli - pcl, that seems to be the best of both worlds. How do the teachers & students like it?
Deb/WI - I'd like to know more about that schedule myself pcl.
Lynne - pcl, the club meetings during school hours is an interesting idea.
tp - pcl - I like that schedule, but I bet it is a scheduling nightmare.
Wendy - pcl that schedule sounds similar to one that I have taught under, but the "Seminar" or make-up sessions didn't work as well as they should have. Students started to use the make-up sessions as a crutch or just a social hour. We probably needed to enforce study and work more. That time needs 100% staff consensus to work
libby - lynne, jigsaw is when you give each student a letter and a number [i.e.A1]. All of the A's would read a passage, analyze it and agree on its merits etc. In the meantime all of the other letters are reading and doing the same to different passages. After a certain amount of time, I group them by the number and they teach each other.
pcl - Well, they are in their fourth or fifth year; Three teachers in the core subjects of Science, Math, and History say they love it. When we visited some of the classrooms, we saw it in action. The students seem to be thriving.
Wendy - Is anyone in here currently working under a 4x4
Hope - What's a 4x4
Lynne - Libby, an English teacher uses that, and I saw it work well, when I subbed for her using that format.
libby - the key is never to have too many kids in the jigsaw or they will not work
pcl - A 4x4 means each student only takes four classes per semester.
Ann HS/WA - Wendy, I teach on a 4x4
Wendy - Ann, I'm an English teacher, what is your field?
pcl - It all depends; usually 9-12 but I have read about some trying it in middle grades. Caution advised.
ann - A typical day in my 120 minute health class: 1) Daily Health Inventory Update 2) Some type of journal/quick write response to a prompt 3) National Park video no longer than 10 minutes with focus on environmental health 4) I read them some type of short story applicable to what we will be doing 5) Begin Lesssons which can include notes, videos, guest speakers, collaborative learning, group presentations/role plays. Everything is followed up by a student evaluation of what work they performed and an evaluation.
Lynne - Our school is currently using the 4X4 also. (high school)
Ann HS/WA - History, Wendy- I have been on a 4x4 for 8 years now
Lynne - ann, how long does it take you at night to grade all those activities??
Wendy - Ann, before you began teaching in the 4x4, what type of advance preparation did you do? My husband, who taught his first year under that schedule, says that a number of teachers have pacing issues
Wendy - Lynne, what subject?
Ann HS/WA - Pacing issues? We worked for a year to prepare for the block
tp - Many schools do put together pacing guides to help their teachers know how quickly they need to move.
Lynne - Ann was talking about her 120 minute health class schedule. I wondered how long it takes her to grade all those activities.
pcl - Details, please, of how you prepared.
Ann HS/WA - What is a pacing issue- is it how much to cover, how fast?
Kelli - tp, do they do that for spec. ed. as well or are they left to do their own thing like I am?
ann - Great question! I have trained my mostly 9th grade students to participate in certain types of grading procedures OR I have trained my 2 senior student assistants in grading. You would be amazed at how proficient they are, sometime even more critical than me. They even put all the grades into my computer. I'm amazed at how much less time I actually spend grading!
Wendy - Ann, I will be shifting from a modified block (where we only have block days 2 days per week), to a 4x4 in the fall. What will be the first struggle I encounter and how can I plan for it, I guess is my biggest questions
Lynne - Do parents ever question you on the grades the students give their fellow students?
Ann HS/WA - We visited a school that began a block schedule- Omak WA- went over there several times and then began to go through the curriculum-
ann - Wendy, which Ann are you referring to?
tp - Some schools don't allow students to help teachers, so we will have to grade ALL of those activities.
Wendy - I'm not sure what the pacing issues are, other than not getting through all they intended to in order to get to the collaborative activity for the day, etc.
Wendy - Sorry green ann, I mean Washington Ann
Ann HS/WA - Wendy, the best way is to break down the 90 minute period into segments- 15 to 20 minutes each segment.
Lynne - There's ann and Ann. :>)
Wendy - Okay, Ann HS, how do I plan for the big picture? Or do I? Do start with activities rather than goals?
Lynne - I subbed for an English teacher who always has the students trade papers to correct. Is there ever a problem with that method?
Ann HS/WA - I use a problematic approach to History- example: "In 1945, the US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima- then discuss, activity, share and lastly, lecture.
tp - Knowing that I need to change activities every 15-20 minutes make me feel as if I will be a sitcom complete with commercials.
Ann HS/WA - Goals, Wendy- but cut down your goals.
ann - Lynne, Don't get me wrong, I review all papers that students have graded. The best way to deal with this it to have Grading Rubrics for everything you do. That way, students know exactly what is expected of them work wise and just exactly how they will be graded. Students using the grading rubric find it very structured. My health department spend a whole staff development day creating Rubrics for most of our activities/projects. Obviously, some can be used over and over again. Hope that helps.
Ann HS/WA - tp- it gets smooth with practice- and their attention span matches the time betweencommercial
Wendy - Ann, when you lecture at the end of the class period, are they still attentive?
Ann HS/WA - I have entry tasks- for 5 minutes, present problem- group activity for solution- lecture.
Lynne - Yes, I really think rubrics are a big, big help. I wish teachers had done those when I went to school, back with the dinosaurs.
Ann HS/WA - Yep, because, their discussions have raised alot of questions they want answered- "Why DID he decide to drop the bomb?"
Kelli - Do ya'll feel that the block scheduling is another "pendulum swing" and will eventually go back to "normal" scheduling or is this here to stay? This comes from a panicked teacher getting ready for her 2nd year.
Ann HS/WA - I would hate to go back to a 6 or 7 period day
Wendy - Do you find yourself assigning more homework or about the same amount, etc. I'm wondering how much reading I can expect students to do a night or in a week
Ann HS/WA - You would see my claw marks along the hallways, dragging me down the corridors.
tp - I have noticed that many schools move to block after an administrator needs a topic for an advanced program. So whatever the next hot topic is, we will probably go after that one too.
ann - Kelli, we are going on our 9 year of block and have no plans to change.
Wendy - Ann HS, you seem to have it all together
Ann HS/WA - Less homework- more reading, more discussions, more simulations.
Kelli - Ann HS/WA ;-) That is about how I feel about the block schedule.
Lynne - I can tell by how the teachers left school this year that next year there will be some polishing done on our scheduling. We had no homeroom, proper. Now there will be one.
Ann HS/WA - I love it, but some content areas suffer- there are modified blocks that handle sequential learning classes better, I feel.
Wendy - Ann, wouldn't the reading have to be some of their homework in an English class? I know I won't get through as many novels, but shouldn't they still be doing some reading outside of class?
Ann HS/WA - Right, Kelli!
Lynne - Ann, why is there less homework? Help me out. The principal said that would be true, also. Why?
tp - Math, music, and AP programs seem to suffer on the 4X4.
Ann HS/WA - Yes, reading for the next day, Wendy- but you will have more time to act out your novels, or plots
Kelli - Wendy, one of my best friends teaches 8th grade English. Due to the curriculum plan, she HAD to assign 3 novels to be read totally on the students own time.
Ann HS/WA - Because Lynn, you actually cover less more in depth- You are right tp- foreign language, too.
Wendy - What about wrwriting? I usually give my students a week to complete a major paper--should that time be shortened?
Ann HS/WA - Perhaps your friend needs to look at her curriculum closer- would short stories serve the same purpose?
tp - You will have to shorten the amount of time for a major paper. One week is basically the equivalent of two under a traditional system
Ann HS/WA - Nope, Wendy- but I don't use an entire period to work on a paper.
Kelli - They have "set" novels for all the 8th graders. I don't think she has any leway.
Ann HS/WA - Oh, too bad, Kelli
Lynne - Ann, knock out novels??? Wendy, the English teachers in our school used some block periods for library time for research papers.
Wendy - Thanks tp--Ann, I wouldn't either. My vision is to break up the class segment like you suggested--some on journals (sponge activities), literature-discuss, project, presentation; writing, grammar
tp - Short stories don't fulfill the same function as novels.
Ann HS/WA - For instance, research - I only use a half period in the library- but we have the Internet in classrooms.
Wendy - Lynne, I think Ann suggested that for 8th grade. I don't think knocking out novels at say 11th would be appropriate
Ann HS/WA - No, you are right tp- but if they are trying to cover the same amount in a different time frame- it won't work well.
tp - It wouldn't be appropriate at 8th grade either. They need that basis when they come to us in high school.
Wendy - tp, I agree, but I think the novels selected would have to be of major significance since you could only teach around 3
Lynne - Wendy, I agree on that one!!! Also, an English teacher used review sheets to keep the students reading the novels and plays she had to cover.
Ann HS/WA - I'm not sure I would like the 4x4 for 8th grade
Ann HS/WA - 8th grade is awfully antsy
tp - I do get what you are saying. Instead of teaching four novels, we could accomplish much of the same with two. We do overkill sometimes.
Kelli - No, they actually teach 5 but of those only 2 are read in class.
Wendy - tp, linking short stories and poems to novels, I think, works well, but I wouldn't want to see novels go at any level
Ann HS/WA - right tp- you can go into those two novels more deeply
Lynne - I can't see 8th graders sitting in one classroom for that long. I think they need the variety of rooms and atmospheres.
Kelli - We have 7th - 12th on the 4x4 96-min. block. It is really hurting the students because due to scheduling, they could miss an entire year of math.
tp - Do most middle schools and high schools on block follow similar schedules?
Wendy - I don't know about you tp, but out of the 8 novels or so I taught even to 11th honors this year, I'm not convinced that they really read all of them
Ann HS/WA - Example- one of our English classes is Mideival Lit- so there is a lot that can be done there with activities- to enhance understanding
ann - To all of you! Time to complete things has NOT been an issue. For instance, our health department was given the opportunity to participate in the "Anywhere, Anytime Learning" formerly "Laptops for Learners". As it was in our already cramped learning semester, this 'another thing to teach' actually was an eye opener. Each health teacher taught a 2 week course implementing laptop computers in our curriculum. One did a lesson on nutrition, another health careers, and myself, a subtance abuse lesson. Students were paired up and completed a project which included a written paper with bibliography and had to present it using Power Point. I can't tell you how much fun that was and because I realized my whole semester could benefit from this type of learning, I will have the opportunity to teach my curriculum to one period where ever student will have their own laptop. NONE of this could be accomplished successfully in a traditional 50-60 minute class. You would no sooner get things going only to have to put things away!
Wendy - Kelli, I would think that's where counselors have to be very careful in scheduling students, to avoid that very problem, if that's possible
Ann HS/WA - On a modified block, some schools have left sequential learning in 45 min for the whole year- other classes are 90 minutes- the 45 minutes have to be even numbered,
tp - ann, sounds as if your school is doing something similar to what SERVE calls Senior Project.
Wendy - tp, what is SERVE?
ann - tp...could you explain what that is?
Ann HS/WA - you are right, ann- we can do a lot more with s=imulations and projects on a block
tp - Senior Project is a program through which seniors write a research paper, construct a visual project, and then make an oral presentation in front of a board of community members.
Ann HS/WA - also, the 90 minutes allows us to make better use of the internet in classrooms
Wendy - Ann HS, how good is the articulation at your site? I would think that would be of paramount importance for all courses
Ann HS/WA - what do you mean, articulation? Wendy- surely not speech pathology? Just joking.
Farmer Girl - We are on block 8..We have been on block for one year..my question is this..what do the studies show about the amount of minutes that the students loose per week as compared to the traditional learning
Lynne - So Ann, I hear you saying that you feel that we can cover the same concepts even though we can't cover as much quantity-wise?
ann - tp..Yes, I have heard of school doing this. We just graduated over 700 hundred seniors. How many did you have?
Farmer Girl - I love block for me, but am concerned about the students in the long run..
Wendy - Ann, you've been very encouraging. Do you recommend any educational materials about block scheduling? I.e. what did your staff read before going to the 4x4?
Ann HS/WA - Yes, Lynn- not as much junk.
Farmer Girl - We dont cover as much material...
ann - Farmer Girl..Students actually GAIN learning time since you don't lose all those extra minutes of passing time due to 6 or 7 period changes.
Farmer Girl - I am now teaching almost half as much as I used to teach...
Lynne - HALF! WOW that's a cut back.
Farmer Girl - I love it for labs, but our math dept is really worried about the amount of minutes they loose for the month..
Ann HS/WA - Wendy, our English Dept has been able to go to a literature based program- ex: Coming of Age; the Bible as Literature; Literature of War; Mass Media, etc
Wendy - Ann, sorry, I meant (by articulation), that in English we try to ensure that 9th teaches for instance the essay-thesis statements, topic sentences, so that then 10th grade can teach the essay--transitions, etc. more sophisticated writing techniques, etc.
Ann HS/WA - They will have a problem, Farmer Girl- but it is not minutes, its gaps-
Wendy - Perfect Ann HS! I teach thematically now, so it sounds like this won't be such a difficulty after all!
Farmer Girl - I went to many meetings before we went on block and so many teachers told us that in the long run...the students will end up losing..they said great for us but not for the students...I do hope this is not a nothing educational idea that sounds great but isnt..
Ann HS/WA - No Wendy- they cover paragraphs and short essays in 9th and after that- it is all grades in any class
tp - SERVE is a component of one of education's best kept secrets. SERVE stands for SouthEastern Regional Vision for Education. They specialize in school research and are funded by the government. Each part of the country has a similar organization. I am a part of their Senior Project, and I have also attended their school improvement seminars. They are a great network.
Farmer Girl - This was my easiest year in 28 years of teaching, but I am not sure that this is best for the students...
ann - Farmer Girl..the biggest complaints from our math and foreign language departments after 8 years have been students NOT remembering what that learned the last time they met since repetition is very important in those content areas. But, somehow they have managed to get through it via extra labs during lunch and after school. By the way, those lab teacher get a stipened!!
Ann HS/WA - We don't have a 10th, 11th, 12 grade English course any more
Wendy - Ann HS, I would just hate to think there is no "Scope and Sequence" for subjects like English where it's not necessarily chronological, but one year should build on the previous year.
Wendy - Ann HS, do you have instead of English 9, something like "Coming of Age Literature" like you listed previously?
Farmer Girl - I have taught in the open concept, new math, and have seen ita reading..they were great for awhile, but then all went back to the basic way...
ann - tp..how can I get more info on this secret?
tp - We tried mini-English courses back in the 70's. Students could study Western Literature, Science Fiction, etc., but the students did not want to take writing and grammar. Schools abandoned that after a few years.
Farmer Girl - Our chemistry teacher is very concerned...
Wendy - Farmer Girl, why do you think a 4x4 is not in the best interest of students? I have heard that students can actually take more electives? My concern would be their ability to fail more classes and still graduate
Ann HS/WA - Yes, Wendy- we have a grade 9, English A and B- so English for the whole year- than after that it is literature based
tp - ann, go to http://www.serve.org/. I am sure that from there, you can get the name of whatever organization is in your area.
Lynne - I'm still trying to figure out how there is less homework.
Farmer Girl - Another problem is new idea...old teaching methods...some teachers do not want to change and that is sad..90 minutes with those teachers can be very painful
tp - Most schools up their number of courses required for graduation to avoid that problem.
Ann HS/WA - writing and grammar are part of ALL the English course, tp
Wendy - tp, I couldn't teach literature without writing. For me they two are inseparable. I don't know how any
ann - tp Thanks. Again, how many seniors successfully completed their presentation?
Wendy - could teach only literature
Farmer Girl - Wendy...how many electives would you have wanted to take in high school..we dont even have enough classes to offer...nor will the corp. pay for more teachers to teach them...
tp - ann, We have started slowly and have used Senior Project only with our College Prep classes. Next year we will use it with our slow-level College Prep classes that we call CP/Average. We only had a few students who did badly on all three parts.
Ann HS/WA - Farmer Girl, I teach an elective- "Law"- and it is filled every year
Farmer Girl - Wendy for my Family and Consumer Science classes I love Block 8 but too many teachers choose to teach in the traditional manner...
Wendy - Well, Farmer Girl, at my old school, band students can't take band all 4 years unless they take driver's ed and P.E. and Health in summer school. They sort of get the short end of the stick
Ann HS/WA - same with the English classes- kids take them as electives
tp - Many school districts are not willing to add the electives.
sunny - About the time, we used to have 42 minutes every day, we now have 88 minutes every other day so we gained 6 hours of teaching time for a course over the year.
Wendy - Farmer Girld, we had a modified block and many teachers did the same old thing on those block days, lecture, lecture, lecture! Ugh
Farmer Girl - We are so small...only 250 students...With our block the students have "Choice" and study hall...
tp - Some teachers will lecture regardless.
Wendy - tp, I think you're right, the district has to support electives for the 4x4 to be meaningful
Farmer Girl - We have not seen grades go up...in fact..they have dropped...the students procrastinate..forget to do homework..etc...I am not convinced that block is better for the students...
ann - tp..thanks for the suggestion.
Farmer Girl - tp..yes...some still lecture for 90 minutes..ouch..
Wendy - Ann, just out of curiousity, what are the graduation requirements (units) at your site?
Lynne - How can you have the voice to lecture for 90 minutes???
Farmer Girl - I am afraid we are trying to make our highschools too much like college...and I dont feel that this produces stronger students...
Ann HS/WA - The major advantage that I see- I get to know my students FAR better on a block- and so I can have a lot more personal interaction- and that is much better
Farmer Girl - Lynn..dont know, but honestly we have some who do this...
Wendy - That's a great benefit Ann HS
Ann HS/WA - 30 credits, Wendy- 4 years of English- now five- 3 math, 3 science, 3 history-
tp - I wouldn't want to lecture for 90 minutes, but I could do it.
Ann HS/WA - I could not lecture for that long without falling asleep myself
Farmer Girl - My day is easy...I have one block..my prep...Choice..lunch and the two more blocks..less stressed and have more time to plan...but I still stay late...but am so much more relaxed...the students complain that the teachers pile on too much homework...we have eliminated block with grade 6 thank Goodness..they were really struggling...
ann - I feel sorry for schools where teachers don't want to make changes. How do they expect their students to do the same with that kind of attitude? We experimented with the modified block our first year so that all students/teachers then had a vote on what steps to take next. Our biggest advantavage was we were a brand new educational center (k - 12) and those choosing to apply or transfer pretty much new what we were about and could elect not to sign on.
Farmer Girl - We have had some teachers that have considered early retirement...
Wendy - In my new district the grad requirements are 220 units (10 per course) though students could potentially take 320 in 4 years. I'm not sure how many units of English are required; I'll have to look into that
Farmer Girl - Do you break your block into parts...for example..introduce lesson..mini lecture..activitiy...homework time...etc..
ann - Farmer Girl...I have an example of my typical 120 minutes health class some time back. Did you get a chance to see it?
Farmer Girl - All of us more "mature" teachers are waiting to see the results of block down the road...we have afunny feeling that it wont show much more learning took place, but the opposite..
Wendy - Before I leave, have any of you read any books on block scheduling? If so, would it be worth my while to read one this summer before I teach for the first time in such a schedule in the fall?
Lynne - I've taught for English the most, and the teachers definitely divide the time into lecture, review worksheets, writing assignments, videos, etc. and the social studies teachers are big on breaks for the students in the middle of the 90 minute periods.
Farmer Girl - No Ann....I have no problem teaching block because I have always taught upbeat..but my concern is still the students...
tp - There is a really good blocklist for those of you interested.
Farmer Girl - Yes, I cant think of all the ones we studied but they did help out...
Wendy - Farmer Grl, if STAR test scores are any indication, the district I'm moving into is doing fine under the block--they've had it for 5 years and their test scores remain strong, but I see what you're saying too--I don't think it's good for all kids
ann - Wendy, after 8 years of block schedule, I have never come across any materials but there might be some references in Educational Periodicals.
Wendy - tp, booklist or blocklist?
Tracy - I have taught math in block for 4 years and I love it!
Farmer Girl - It has not done much ...yet...time will tell..I am glad my own children are not in block..
Wendy - Yes ann, that's what I was talking about. I had a book order form somewhere, but I'm not sure where I've put it at the moment
Farmer Girl - Tracy....are you covering as much?
tp - Cannady is the block guru, and his book is supposed to be one of the best available. I haven't read the book, but I have heard him speak. He is quite reasonable.
ann - Overall, there is no schedule that is perfect for all types of kids. It's all about adjusting and making decisions, just like in real life.
Farmer Girl - ALL of our math teachers are not happy with the loss of math skills...
Tracy - I cover quite a bit - maybe not quite as much, but more students have better understanding of the topics I do cover
Farmer Girl - I would not want to go back to traditional, but I hope we are not hindering our students and making it easier for us, the teachers...
tp - An administrator at a school I visited made a very poignant remark. He stated that whatever a school's weaknesses are before block, then those weaknesses will be maginified under block.
Farmer Girl - tp..We have a four star school..some of the best teachers in the area and yet they all agree that block is not the remedy to produce top students..
ann - Farmer Girl...What do your students say about block? We make sure visitors to our site always go out at break/lunch to mingle with students to get a true report of what they think rather than select the leadership type kids to meet with them.
Farmer Girl - Our math and science teachers are some of the best in the state and they are very concerned about what the impact block will be later on down the road...
tp - Students that I have spoken to on block like it mainly because they have less homework.
Tracy - I work at a school with primarily weaker students who need a lot of different approaches to master material
Farmer Girl - The majority love it, but so many of the students we see coming through are so lazy and choose to do just the minimal..even the top students...
Farmer Girl - Our students have more homework..that is what they say..but they wait until the night before to do their work..
tp - We have those same lazy top students.
Farmer Girl - I am still not convinced that block is the best way..it just seems to be something new...time will tell...
Tracy - I know some school in NH who have been teaching in the block for quite a while.Where are you from Farmer Girl?
Farmer Girl - I have taught so many years..have seen so many trends..it will be interesting to see how block fairs...some corp. are going back to the traditional..after 8 years of block..what does that tell you??
tp - Farmer Girl - I agree with you. I am not opposed to block, but I have been around long enough that I have seen many trends come and go. This is another one.
Farmer Girl - Do you remember new math and open concept...
tp - Farmer Girl, I sure do remember new math. I never could do old math, so I was lost with the new.
Farmer Girl - Indiana...and almost all of our schools in this area have gone on block eight or four..I do not like block 4..we had a chance to do block four but the teachers were very oppossed to this ...
Farmer Girl - I taught new math...have a double degree..elem and secondary...
ann - Farmer Girl...I hate to inform you but block is NOT new. I attended high school which used block my first 2 years (66 & 67) and being the baby boomers, we had over 1000 in our graduation class. It went so well that we even got to experience something called a flexible modular schedule my last two years. As a student, I love both types. What goes around comes around! I can tell you that I personally adapted to the Cal. State. Uni. system easily my first year including the 3 hour night classes because of my HS preparation.
Farmer Girl - Yes I had that too..but we called it modulers...it didnt last..did it??
tp - No block is not new. It has been around before, but it didn't last. People are just re-finding it.
Farmer Girl - I am a l965 hs. grad...been there done that..
tp - Modulars lasted just about as long as open classrooms. Remember the schools without walls?
ann - As always, things just get 'new' names. Ex. "diary" - ''journal" - "learning logs" - "prompts".
Farmer Girl - My major concern and so are 75% of our staff about the impact on the students...fearful that they wont be ready for college challenges...not enough learned..
ann - Our only high school with the open walls has just finished being remodeled with walls!
Farmer Girl - We too..just got our rooms closed..totally remodeled school..so awesome...
Tracy - I would ask how the classtime is being used. I usually can cover 2 or 3 sections in a text in one period because so much of the material is related.
Tracy - Or I can go much more in depth.
ann - Farmer Girl...You really need to get a list from the colleges your graduates attend. They can provide you with their GPA's, accolades, and graduation rates. Afterall, we think that 90% of our students will go onto 4 year colleges/universities when in reality, it's probably less than 10 percent. Then rate is even lower for those who then manage to stay on to comlete their degree.
Tracy - ann - are you teaching in a block currently
ann - Yes, I have been teaching full block for 8 years. Feel free to e-mail me if you want at: apetrella_howell@hotmail.com Thanks everyone!