Serveral people wanted a hit, but I didn't get much. David Lininger's
comments were "right on", I think. Thanks for your comments. I hope you don't
mind my putting your names with your responses. GA
I would like to know the responses you got. We, too, are thinking about
switching back to a 7 period day. The reasons - Graduation and Advance
Placement exams. Many feel that we would have a higher percentage passing
both if we were on a 7 period day.
Vaneesa Thompson
Computer Education Teacher
East Lawrence High School
Trinity, AL
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
We had block scheduling for several years, and switched back to a 7 period
day this year. The reason we switched to block scheduling in the first
place was to increase time on task, since each block would be nearly two
periods long, but would not have the travel time between classes,
attendance, announcements, etc. We switched back to seven periods to
increase time on task.
It seems that several teachers still taught only one lesson per day with
the block schedule, even though they really needed to teach two. Part of
the argument here was that our test scores two years ago were way down.
Last year, though, they came back up. Unfortunately, the decision had
already been made and implemented before we got the scores. (Tests are
given in the spring, and results come back in the fall.) It seems to me
that there is too much "bandwagon" and not enough thinking, but that's a
different story.
There are some teachers who like having their classes meet daily, such as
the music teacher, but others would really prefer having the longer class
session, such as the lab classes. Others don't really care. If it was my
decision, I'd try a mixed schedule, say two blocks before lunch, and three
or four daily classes from lunch on. All of the lab classes would have to
be in the block part, music and foreign languages would be in the daily
part, and others would fall where they may. Of course, I've not tried to
create such a schedule.....
David Lininger,
Library Media Specialist
Hickory County R-1 Schools
Urbana, MO 65767
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******************************************************************************
Our school is facing leaving our 4 block period day
and going back to a 7 period day because of the way
the state is budgeting money. I believe our test
scores have stayed the same or improved. The majority
of teachers want to stay with the block schedule, as
do the students and parents.
Deb
=====
Deb Lanthier
Library Media Specialist
Wright Junior Senior High School/Cottonwood Elementary School
Wright, Wyoming
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Last week at our faculty meeting, our principal brought up the idea of
going back to a traditional 7 period day. We have been on a block
schedule for at least 5 years. He said that research proves that every
school that has gone back to a traditional schedule has seen test scores
improve. Our faculty is looking forward to changing next year.
Christine
Christine Harley, Media Specialist
North Charleston High School
North Charleston, SC
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We are not a case like you want but we are trying a modified block this year
to appease both sides. We have classes 1-7 on m, tue, fri and in 90 minutes
on wed periods 1,3,5,7 and 2,4,6 on Thurs. The last 90 minutes on Thurs has
23 minutes of SSR and then either an early out for professional development
or assemblies/homeroom/etc. I also started reading an article in
Educational Leadership that just came out on another form of modified
block. We copied ours from the High schools in Boise, Idaho who have been
on something similar for many years.
Vicki Sherouse, Librarian
Sentinel High School
Missoula, Montana
George Anne Draper, librarian
Wynne High School, Wynne, AR
gdraper@wynne.k12.ar.us
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