APS Block Schedule - 90 minute core classes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think HB tried out the block system and kids voted to go back to traditional.

Why do the HBW kids get to set their own schedule while all the other middle school kids have no say in the matter? That’s so ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone explain how the 50 min block 4X a week works?

[Anonymous]

There was a big to-do when Williamsburg put block scheduling in place. Even made it to the WaPo -

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/what-really-happens-when-parents-clash-with-their-childrens-school/2017/02/05/4d8437d0-e9d6-11e6-bf6f-301b6b443624_story.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think HB tried out the block system and kids voted to go back to traditional.

WTAF?!!?! HB is the only APS school without block scheduling?????

They have 50-min. blocks but each class only meets 4x/week.

Exactly. The 90 minute classes are BS. Teachers don’t have the time energy to build those project based lessons that would use 90 minutes, so end up doing 45 minute typical period lecture, and then de facto study hall for remainder of block. Kids and teacher just don’t have stamina for multiple 90 minute classes.

HBW is running just like my neighbors private school, 50 minute periods but 4x week. What a weird coincidence.

My high school has 50ish minute blocks 4 days a week. It was great. Gave you a little more time with each class and also gave you one night off from homework for each class. It is frustrating HBW is able to keep to that and the other schools have to switch.

Public education is just nuts, so much chasing trends with little supporting data

I think Block scheduling let’s teacher work a little less (instead of 2 days of lectures, it’s 1 lecture and study hall), and maybe saves county money someway but that I’m less sure about.

From what my kids have said I don't think it's a "study hall" as kids get older. It can be used for group work, discussions, more active learning, etc. Probably easier to have continuity of thought with a longer "teach" portion. Not so chopped up over the week.

Yeah once you get to high school classes with AP, IB, etc sure that happens but in undifferentiated classes that is not happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think HB tried out the block system and kids voted to go back to traditional.

Why do the HBW kids get to set their own schedule while all the other middle school kids have no say in the matter? That’s so ridiculous.

Utter BS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think HB tried out the block system and kids voted to go back to traditional.

Why do the HBW kids get to set their own schedule while all the other middle school kids have no say in the matter? That’s so ridiculous.

HBW is the only standout school in the system. They don’t dare mess with it or it’s rabid PTA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think HB tried out the block system and kids voted to go back to traditional.

Why do the HBW kids get to set their own schedule while all the other middle school kids have no say in the matter? That’s so ridiculous.

They are self-governed by students who vote in town meetings. That's part of the ethos of the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think HB tried out the block system and kids voted to go back to traditional.

Why do the HBW kids get to set their own schedule while all the other middle school kids have no say in the matter? That’s so ridiculous.

They are self-governed by students who vote in town meetings. That's part of the ethos of the program.

Yep, again HB gets whatever they want, other schools get the scraps and all the extra warm bodies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids APS middle school does it and I hate it. It seems especially bad for the 6th grade pre algebra class. It's hard to learn three years of math in one year when your class only meets 2-3 times a week.

Why would the sixth grade prealgebra class need to teach three years of math?

[Anonymous]

I’m a HS teacher and have never taught anything but block. We don’t lecture the entire 88 minutes. In my class it looks like this: warm up activity/attendance question, independent reading, maybe a journal prompt, mini lesson and group practice, independent practice. Or, warm up/read/journal prompt, “workshop” time where some kids are drafting, some are revising, some are in a small group with me while I reteach something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a HS teacher and have never taught anything but block. We don’t lecture the entire 88 minutes. In my class it looks like this: warm up activity/attendance question, independent reading, maybe a journal prompt, mini lesson and group practice, independent practice. Or, warm up/read/journal prompt, “workshop” time where some kids are drafting, some are revising, some are in a small group with me while I reteach something.

So study hall for half the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a HS teacher and have never taught anything but block. We don’t lecture the entire 88 minutes. In my class it looks like this: warm up activity/attendance question, independent reading, maybe a journal prompt, mini lesson and group practice, independent practice. Or, warm up/read/journal prompt, “workshop” time where some kids are drafting, some are revising, some are in a small group with me while I reteach something.

So study hall for half the time.

Um, no. Independent reading is important for building reading endurance, vocabulary, comprehension. It has measured and proven benefits. Journaling does as well, when students are writing to a prompt they are practicing the writing muscle and developing ideas they’ll later use in their formal written pieces. Independent practice = the graded work on whatever skill we are currently working on. Maybe if you guys knew what words meant and what teaching looks like you wouldn’t be losing your minds over 88 minute classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids APS middle school does it and I hate it. It seems especially bad for the 6th grade pre algebra class. It's hard to learn three years of math in one year when your class only meets 2-3 times a week.

Why would the sixth grade prealgebra class need to teach three years of math?

Yeah I don't understand this either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids APS middle school does it and I hate it. It seems especially bad for the 6th grade pre algebra class. It's hard to learn three years of math in one year when your class only meets 2-3 times a week.

Why would the sixth grade prealgebra class need to teach three years of math?

Yeah I don't understand this either.

It used to be called Math 6-7-8.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a HS teacher and have never taught anything but block. We don’t lecture the entire 88 minutes. In my class it looks like this: warm up activity/attendance question, independent reading, maybe a journal prompt, mini lesson and group practice, independent practice. Or, warm up/read/journal prompt, “workshop” time where some kids are drafting, some are revising, some are in a small group with me while I reteach something.

So study hall for half the time.

Um, no. Independent reading is important for building reading endurance, vocabulary, comprehension. It has measured and proven benefits. Journaling does as well, when students are writing to a prompt they are practicing the writing muscle and developing ideas they’ll later use in their formal written pieces. Independent practice = the graded work on whatever skill we are currently working on. Maybe if you guys knew what words meant and what teaching looks like you wouldn’t be losing your minds over 88 minute classes.

What are you doing while kids do independent work?