Block scheduling in middle school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It all depends on the student. My DC, who is in special education, prefers the block scheduling because you can really get into the subject. Planning for homework works better too since there are two days to do the homework and more time to do it when he has time- like on the weekend. It also reduces the chance of too many tests on one day. My DC gets extra time and that is easier if there is more time in the scheduled block.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

No, not usually. Usually it "blocks" out the electives.

[Anonymous]

Our MS moved to block scheduling this year. I think it is good experience for HS and reduces the amount of time wasted each day travelling between classes.

I don't see how it "guts" band/orchestra/language classes. There hasn't been much homework at all for my child -- who is not the strongest student, but takes all honors. I agree that there is more missed if your child is out of class.... but the MS has built in a 30-40 min. block each day that is essentially study hall and kids can go to their teacher for help during that period or afterschool. There is plenty of opportunity to get help.

Several middle schools that I know have an "anchor" day -- so one day a week the kids meet for all of their classes just like a non-block schedule would have them do (45 min. periods one day a week). Then the other four days are block schedule. So, you go to every class 3 times a week.

Actually, there is one period (the first period of the day) that meets everyday -- even with the block schedule -- for the "normal/short" period. So, depending what class you have for that period, it isn't even a block period.

It's really not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

The block scheduling does not change the number of electives at any blocked school I know of. Students still get 7 periods, they're just split up differently.

I'm a teacher and I don't like it and it has nothing to do with planning. It has to do with my students struggling to retain and stay organized with a 90 minute block every other day. But, again, I teach special education students in a self contained environment and it's just a killer for most of them.

[Anonymous]

Non-APS parent here, but our kids did "regular" scheduling in middle, block scheduling in high school.
Really prefer block scheduling.
Much easier to manage. Much less stuff to haul back and forth in the backpack, since you only need the stuff for that day, not for every single period.
Kids also reported that their regular classes felt "rushed" not really enough time to dig in and do anything meaningful in the short amount of time.
I think folks just have a knee jerk reaction to change.

[Anonymous]

Ours went to a secondary school and had block scheduling from 7th - 12th. They really learned time management skills and enjoyed not having the same classes every day. It helped them become better managers of their own schoolwork. In MS the repercussions are much less significant if they forgot about something. When they got to HS the transition was a lot easier than their peers who went to tradional MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

No, not usually. Usually it "blocks" out the electives.

I don't see this at all. In FCPS there are 7 periods whether or not there is block scheduling or students go to each class daily for 45 mins. Same number of classes. Longer class also help the science labs 45min is hard to do some of the labs- the longer block classes enable them to be all at once.

[Anonymous]

FCPS parent here. I think block scheduling in middle school is great prep for high school. A lot of kids come into the high school and the long class periods are just too much for them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

No, not usually. Usually it "blocks" out the electives.

I don't see this at all. In FCPS there are 7 periods whether or not there is block scheduling or students go to each class daily for 45 mins. Same number of classes. Longer class also help the science labs 45min is hard to do some of the labs- the longer block classes enable them to be all at once.

Good point!

my FCPS DD is taking 2 electives! So it does not "block out" anything.

[Anonymous]

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

He's not. I think they already rolled it out at the other MS. I think they all have to do it, or none. It's an issue of equity. WMS, if you fight this, you had better fight it for everyone (not just your school).

[Anonymous]

I think it's been proven that test scores drop across the board when there is block scheduling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

He's not. I think they already rolled it out at the other MS. I think they all have to do it, or none. It's an issue of equity. WMS, if you fight this, you had better fight it for everyone (not just your school).

How is at an issue of equity? Arlington is filled with schools that are doing different things. This argument that if they do it in one school they have to do it in all of them doesn't track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

He's not. I think they already rolled it out at the other MS. I think they all have to do it, or none. It's an issue of equity. WMS, if you fight this, you had better fight it for everyone (not just your school).

They tried it at Swanson and dropped it, so no, it's not at all schools.

Murphy is incapable of learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's been proven that test scores drop across the board when there is block scheduling.

Do you think you could provide any back up to that claim?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's been proven that test scores drop across the board when there is block scheduling.

Do you think you could provide any back up to that claim?

I think you should read this. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/class-struggle/post/fighting-over-school-fad-with-meager-results/2012/02/12/gIQAtH6n8Q_blog.html

The salient part:

"School Superintendent Patrick K. Murphy, who installed a block schedule when he was the principal of a middle school in Fairfax County, said regular-length periods are too short for the kind of creative teaching needed. “We are doing a disservice to students to run them through a seven-period day with a 45 minute turnaround,” he said.

...

"Another protesting parent, Tara Claeys, noted that Glasgow Middle School in Fairfax was returning to regular scheduling because its test scores dropped during three years of block scheduling."