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Group,

I asked for information on block scheduling and several people asked for
copies.  To make sure I do not overlook someone, I am sharing the results
with the entire network.  Thank you for all responses.  I'm sharing them
with the faculty at my building.

Betty
On Sat, 8 Jan 1994, Betty Dawn Hamilton wrote:

> LM_NETters,
>
> Our Principal's Advisory Committee is exploring various block scheduling
> possibilities.  The one that seems to fit our needs has scheduled classes
> on alternating days.  If you are using such a plan, will you advise us:
>
>         1. How do you schedule teacher conferences (every day, every other day
 ,
>  all at the same time at the end of the day, etc.)
>
>         2. If your athletic program is last period, does it meet every day?
>
>         3. If blocking increases your schedule to 8 periods (from the usual 7)
 ,
> do your teachers have fewer students dispersed over the 8 periods or do you
> have fewer teachers?
>
> We will look at options, present the information to the faculty, and then
> submit the plan to the Site Based Decision Making Committee as
> consideration for next year's Campus Improvement Plan.
>
> Thanks for any ideas.
>
> Betty
>                             bhamilt@tenet.edu
***********************************************************************
> I am an instructor at a high school in Austin, Texas.  Our school seems to
> be headed in the direction of block scheduling.  I am looking for
> information (research or personal experience) which supports the block
> model in which students finish a "year of study" in one semester via
> extended class periods.
>
> Our principal is leaning toward the "every other day" model in which
> students attend different classes on different days of the week.  The
> students still finish a semester of work in one semester.
>
> I would like to hear about the pros and cons of each model.
>
> I am especially concerned about the total student load per teacher with
> the "every other day" model.  As I see it, if I teach six different
> sections, I have the potential to have a 180 student load.
> --
> Perry Willis                 psw@tenet.edu
> Anderson High School         512-345-5020 (Work)
> 8403 Mesa Drive              512-338-1293 (Fax)
> Austin, Texas 78759          512-477-2663 (Home)
***************************************************************
Perry:

We are in our first semester of block scheduling at Wilson Jr/Sr High School.
Ours is on an every day basis for a full credit in one semester.  We have
band 1st period and athletics last period and each are 50 minutes long.
Other courses are 90 minutes long for one semester. Courses like
government, health, and economics, are over in 9 weeks. (we just finished
our first mini-semester (9 wks).  Out of 100 students 7-12 we lost only 6
to failure during the first 6 weeks.  Each high school students has three
subjects besides band and athletics (or other electives).  Students 7-8
have band or desktop publishing first period and 2 academic courses before
lunch. after lunch their schedule consists of 3  50 minute periods.  Each
teacher currently has 90 minutes of conference and planning, but this may
change in the spring.  Students like the longer class periods and
suprisingly, so do our teachers.

Bob Williams, Principal
Wilson Jr/Sr High School
Wilson, TX 79381
******************************************************

>A team of people from our school recently visited Champlin Park High
School in the Anoka Hennepin school district north of Minneapolis.  They
have a four period block schedule with 85 minute periods.  Students complete
a year long course in a semester and teachers see half of their students
one semester and half the second semester.  Someone said it really was an
eight period schedule with four periods each semester.  They felt the
advantages for students included having four classes at a time.  Teachers
worked with fewer students.

This is a new high school in second year of operation.  I believe it has
around 2200 students.  The principal is David Bonthuis (612) 493-8900.

David Sparks
Blue Earth Area High School
315 E. 6th St.
Blue Earth, MN 56013          in%"dsparks@vax1.mankato.msus.edu"
***************************************************************
In response to the person who wondered if the sitcom environment has caused
shorter attention spans- I heard someone mention that years ago when speaking
of Sesame Street.

My feeling on the block scheduling is I can see how it would take awhile to
get settled into having the longer classes, some teachers have followed the
same lesson plans for years becuase they work.  Rewriting the plans to
last 2 hours and keep them interesting will be a task.  Wouldn't longer
classes allow for more hands on experiences?  My middle schooler learns
so much better when teachers use hands on.
Judy ORahood
**************************************************************************
The biggest problem that we have faced with our 90 minute block
courses(which meet every day for one semester-for a full credit) is one of
dealing with transfer students. At the end of our fall semester our
students will have a year's credit in some courses and none in others.
This becomes a problem for them if they transfer, with the biggest burden
being placed on migrant students.

Teachers probably need more conditioning than students.  I have found in a
few cases, that the periods are not fully utilized, especially from an
active learning standpoint, which was our original intent in implementation.

Overall, students and teachers have supported our plan and have already
asked through Student Council and Campus Based Planning that we continue
with it next year.

Bob Williams, Principal
Wilson Jr/Sr High School
Wilson, TX
*****************************************************************************
Betty,

In answer to your block scheduling question, I would like to say that my
6th grade daughter seems to love it.  In watching her do her homework and
other school preparation I think it works very well.

She goes to 4 classes each day.  All classes are every other day, no
matter how vacation days fall (eg. if they have Friday off for some
reason, the Monday class schedule is opposite what the Thursday schedule
was.  Her school labels the days Green Day for 1st-4th periods and Yellow
Day for 5th-8th.  Teachers get a conference period every day, so they
still have 6 classes to teach.  The conference period might be at a
different time the two days.

Several of our schools are changing to the block scheduling and all seem
to love it.

Barry M. Bishop
Pasadena ISD, Texas
bbishop@tenet.edu
****************************************************************
Subject: Re: Block Sched & Teacher Conf

I am sending you a copy of our schedule.  Our scheduling requirements are
different than yours, I believe.  We run 8 blocks and all students take 8
courses.  Teachers are scheduled into 7 blocks of classes with one block
for prep time.  We are running a morning CONTACT which is our teacher
advisor time and we also have an 18 minute Tutorial time for students to
work on homework, etc.  This is a time when peer tutoring/helping can also
occur.  I am sending a copy of our schedule which is on a 4 day cycle.  If
this is of use or you have questions, feel free to contact me.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bruce Chisholm, Principal
c/o Bert Bowes Junior Secondary School
9816 - 106 Street
Fort St. John, B.C.     Canada    V1J 4E6
(604)785-6717(w) (604)785-8890(h)  FAX: (604)785-5043
Internet: bchishol@cln.etc.bc.ca

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**********************************************************
Information requested!

My attendance supervisor has asked me to post the following question:  Our
school system is considering going to 4 period/semester block schedules.
We currently have a policy that states 7 unexcused absences results in
loss of credit.  What are school systems on block schedules such as the
one proposed doing for absentee policies in regards to unexcused absences
and loss of credit?

Debra Warren
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
***************************************************************
From: Sandra M Barron <sbarron@tenet.edu>

We have had block scheduling for 2 years at Tomball. 8 classes alternating
days. On Monday a "compact" 8 period day is run with all classes meeting.
Tuesday-Friday alternate schedule 1 and 2. If there is a holiday, workday,
etc. the "compact" day is dropped to even out days.  We currently require 24
credits for graduation, 28 class slots are available over four years.  Athletics
and band meet every day thus taking 2 class slots per year.  This is during
period 5 or 6 in middle of day everyday.

Teachers have a conference/duty period everyday, the state mandated 45 minute
conference plus 45 minute duty time--lunch, hall, tardy office, attendance
office, departmental supervision etc. etc.  We've had many visitors to our
campus last year and this.  Last year was rather hectic but this year has
been great with most faculty and staff positive on the change. It  works
well for lab classes and in the library.  If you would like to contact our
administration, call 713-357-3220  Robert Todd, principal or Linda
Schuelke, Dean of Instruction.

Sandy Barron
Tomball HIgh School
Tomball, Texas
***************************************************************
From: "Gail A. Richmond" <grichmo@eis.calstate.edu>
Subject: Re: Block Sched & Teacher Conf (fwd)

Hi, Betty,

Scripps Ranch High School opened last fall for its first year of
operation.  We have focused on _Second to None, a Vision of the New
California High School_ for our guiding principles.  Block schedule was
implemented.  Our district, San Diego Unified, has 18 other comprehensive
high schools.  Most run a 6-period day, beginning class at 7:30 and
ending at 2:10.  (Of course, buses determine the schedule!!)

We received a waiver from the state to convert 8 staff development days into
Interdisciplinary Team Planning Time  (IDT) each Friday morning.  We have
periods 1-3-5 on Mon and Wed, 2-4-6 on Tues and Thurs, and on Friday we
have late start.  Teachers begin at their normal report time of 7:15, but
classes don't begin until 8:45 and attend all six classes.  To further
complement matters, we have a 40 minute advisory on Monday through
Thursday just beofre lunch, but that done _not_ meet on Friday.

In order to make time equal for all classes, we have 6A days (all six
classes plus advisory) on 7 days throughout the year to cover Monday
holidays, etc.  We also have staff development minimum days 4 time per
year, which also have a special schedule.  Sounds zooey, but people and
especially the students, have adapted extrememly well.  I can send a copy
of the schedule to you as soon as I have my scanner set up to scan it
in.

Athletics:  Since there is long block, and the usual period for athletics
is 6th period, we haven't had too many problems.  We did move tennis
outside the school day.  But since we finish at 2:10 anyway, our biggest
problems were the fact the football field wasn't finished until November
1, and our gym still is not complete.  Next year will probably provide a
better example of how things will go.  We do have one SDUSD school that
has used block schedule for 15 years--not identical to ours, but similar.

We still have the same number of teachers as we would have if there wre
no block.  Teachers have no prep period two days per week.  Our regular
faculty meetings are once per month on Monday after school.  But we do
have weeekly group time--for technology inservice, school-to-work
transition inservice, department or interdisciplinary team planning time,
etc.--every Friday morning.  Yes, we still have a lot of meetings outside
the school day.  We have an advisory committee that meets monthly, as
well as a staff planning committee for IDT time.  We have a GATE
advisory, comprised of teachers, students, and parents that meets outside
of the school day.  Our site governance council meets one evening per
month.  So, the day is still long, but the quality class time has
increased.  I think it is great!

Hope this information helps you out!!

                    . . . Gail
*******************************
** Gail Richmond, Librarian  **
** Scripps Ranch High School **
** San Diego, California     **
** Voice:  (619) 621-9020    **
**********************************************************************
From: Robert Williams <rlw>
Subject:      Re: Restructuring of School Day

The biggest problem that we have faced with our 90 minute block
courses(which meet every day for one semester-for a full credit) is one of
dealing with transfer students. At the end of our fall semester our
students will have a year's credit in some courses and none in others.
This becomes a problem for them if they transfer, with the biggest burden
being placed on migrant students.

Teachers probably need more conditioning than students.  I have found in a
few cases, that the periods are not fully utilized, especially from an
active learning standpoint, which was our original intent in implementation.

Overall, students and teachers have supported our plan and have already
asked through Student Council and Campus Based Planning that we continue
with it next year.

Bob Williams, Principal
Wilson Jr/Sr High School
Wilson, TX
**********************************************************************


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