Block scheduling in middle school

[Anonymous]

Pat Murphy has basically ordered Williamsburg MS to do block scheduling next year despite several rounds of public input/analysis/research where block scheduling was resoundly rejected by the community and teachers as a bad way to do things.

Several years ago, Murphy got beat up when he tried the same thing at Swanson. He had to retreat with his tail between his legs.

There's about to be World War III over this at Williamsburg, especially given the sneakiness of it (it was just announced to teachers yesterday), but I'm really curious if anyone has any insight why he keeps pushing a loser proposal that no one seems to want? He did this in Fairfax and it failed, miserably.

[Anonymous]

Because he's unaware of how inept he is? Because all other methods of driving kids out of APS and reducing overcrowding that way have failed?

Have you let ArlNow know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because he's unaware of how inept he is? Because all other methods of driving kids out of APS and reducing overcrowding that way have failed?

Have you let ArlNow know?

In due time. There are people already organizing to fight it.

[Anonymous]

Why is it so objectionable? Our Fairfax County MS does block scheduling two days a week and it's not a big deal. However, I don't have anything to compare it to, so I'm curious about the downsides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is it so objectionable? Our Fairfax County MS does block scheduling two days a week and it's not a big deal. However, I don't have anything to compare it to, so I'm curious about the downsides.

Lots of reasons. A few:

1) Typically guts the band program and languages, where daily repetition/instruction is needed.
2) Middle schoolers don't typically have attention spans capable of doing a single subject for 90 minutes.
3) Kid is absent, kid misses a LOT.
4) Subs don't know how to teach block, so if a teacher is absent, that's a lot waste.

[Anonymous]

Also: Craploads more homework because class won't meet again for a couple of days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also: Craploads more homework because class won't meet again for a couple of days.

Not really as you have two days to do it. It is much easier to plan.

[Anonymous]

I prefer block scheduling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also: Craploads more homework because class won't meet again for a couple of days.

Not really as you have two days to do it. It is much easier to plan.

Because middle schoolers are excellent at workstream management?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is it so objectionable? Our Fairfax County MS does block scheduling two days a week and it's not a big deal. However, I don't have anything to compare it to, so I'm curious about the downsides.

Lots of reasons. A few:

1) Typically guts the band program and languages, where daily repetition/instruction is needed.
2) Middle schoolers don't typically have attention spans capable of doing a single subject for 90 minutes.
3) Kid is absent, kid misses a LOT.
4) Subs don't know how to teach block, so if a teacher is absent, that's a lot waste.

Agree with all of this and would like to add math to the mix as well as an area where every other day makes retention difficult, particularly for the special education students that I teach. I've taught middle school for almost twenty years at both a block scheduled school and a 7 period/day school. I hands down prefer the 7 periods a day and despise block scheduling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I prefer block scheduling.

Well, if you do... very persuasive argument there.

[Anonymous]

I'm not familiar with the background here. Why is he only trying to put it in place at one middle school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also: Craploads more homework because class won't meet again for a couple of days.

Not really as you have two days to do it. It is much easier to plan.

Because middle schoolers are excellent at workstream management?

Excellent place for them to learn. Low bar for failure. Failure in HS and college is more expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I prefer block scheduling.

Well, if you do... very persuasive argument there.

excellent debate tactic yourself.

[Anonymous]

Advantages to block -

- get to take another class, usually an elective
- because you don't have class one day, you can plan your hw around it
-I think some teachers don't like it because they have a longer class to plan for. This is where the creative teacher can step in and come up with a better, more comprehensive lesson plan.