Some of you requested replies to my query about block scheduling. Here are the
most complete answers. Thanks to everyone who took the time to write.
George Anne Draper
Wynne High School, Wynne, AR
gdraper@wynne.k12.ar.us
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1. What kind of schedule did you go to after leaving the block?
7 period, but NO STUDY HALLS (biggest change from pre-block)
2. What reasons did the school have for leaving the block?
Small district, not enough teachers for 8-block, too expensive to hire enough
staff to offer all the classes needed by students, scheduling conflicts with Jr.
High & elementary....lunch, etc as we are a prk-12 facility. We are actually on
TriSemester schedule now http://principalspartnership.com/trimester.pdf
3. Did the teachers make us of the block by using the library more? Some, others
less
Which departments? English & art dept. more (computer lab in library) General use
fell almost to zero! first year, as staff acclimated, use grew until back to normal
3rd year of 8-block. First year of 7 period days use fell again (no study halls)
but CO-TEACHING between librarian & classroom teacher brought groups back in .
Also "lunchtime library"..books on cart and hallway display helped. Book talks and
encouraging small groups of 5 to be sent in library on flex schedule helped.
4. Did grades/test scores improve on block? on regular schedule (7 period =
day)? no data
***********************************************************************
1. What kind of schedule did you go to after leaving the block?
We are a 6-12 school ,so right away it was a problem keeping the younger
kids engaged for that long. Two years ago we went back to a "traditional
schedule" after about ten on the block. We now have nine periods. But we
still rotate every four days as we did on the block.
2. What reasons did the school have for leaving the block?
Too often kids were missing too many classes. Also some teachers such as
Math, Music, and Spanish value/need the daily contact with kids. This is
built into the "trad.schedule."
3. Did the teachers make us of the block by using the library more? Which
departments?
The Library is busier on the "trad. sch.". Sadly not with classes, but
with kids coming from study halls, which is fine.
4. Did grades/test scores improve on block? on regular schedule (7 period
day)?
I think the feeling is that the block worked for people who made use of
the longer time. In my school, those were the upper level teachers,
juniors and seniors and the Art teachers.
I think most people would say the effect on test scores isn't great either
way.
1. What kind of schedule did you go to after leaving the block?
We went back to the traditional 7-period day.
2. What reasons did the school have for leaving the block?
The same reason we adopted it: increase time on task.
3. Did the teachers make us of the block by using the library more? Which
departments?
Yes, because I broke each block into four sections. Social sciences,
science, health were the big users.
4. Did grades/test scores improve on block? on regular schedule (7 period day)?
I'd have to ask the counselor, but we've been on an upward trend now for
quite a few years.
Any comments or advice you can give will be greatly appreciated.
My personal preference would be to have one block exactly equal to two
regular class periods. That way those classes that can most benefit from
the longer time period can have it, and those that benefit most from
meeting daily can have that. Lab sciences and the arts would probably be
happier with blocks, while math and foreign languages would be happier
with the regular. Others can go either way.
***********************************************************************
After block - we went to 7 period day with 30-min tutorial (between 2nd & 3rd) for
a few years, then to 8 period day with before/after school tutorial because our
underclassmen now need more credits for graduation.
We left block - because of difficulties with classes that competed all year (band,
choir, drama, Ag) requiring students to use 1 block each semester for that. Also
because new graduation requirements for Class of 2011 and after.
Block was just before I arrived here (no one used library "back then") - I've been
working to increase library usage by all subjects.
Our school was higher rated during block era, but the requirements for Recognized,
Exemplary, etc have risen every year, so not sure whether schedule had/has anything
to do with test scores...
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