Reply to Will we ever move away from block scheduling?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Block scheduling is the worst.

My kids text me during the day (what happened to the no phone policy???) and I’m always asking why are you texting in the middle of class. They always tell me that they are done with all their work and their teacher told them they can do whatever. This happens too often. There is a good 20-30 minutes at the end of every class where the kids are just playing around. Ask your kids. Ask their friends.

I don’t blame the teachers for this at all. They can’t keep kids focused for that long.

Kids need math every day. They need language every day. Feel free to argue with me, but you won’t convince me otherwise.

By the time they are seniors, it’s possible that they are ready for block scheduling, but up until that point they just aren’t.

Taking short breaks and walking through the halls to switch classes is so beneficial. It clears their heads so they can focus better. It’s also good for their health.

Block scheduling is great for science and labs, but that’s pretty much it.

I’ve never seen any studies on this, but Id think kids retain information better when exposed to it daily.

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It isn't that teachers can't keep kids focused that long. We are explicitly told that we are not permitted to do direct instruction for more than 15-20  minutes, and our evaluations reflect that directive. [/quote]

Class discussion with a smart group of peers was an enjoyable part of class when I was in school. 
Our teachers didn’t lecture the entire session.[/quote]

So you want 15-20 minutes of direct instruction and then 70-75 minutes of class discussion?

What works best, but is in contrast to the current fad of utilizing stations and independent work with teacher conferences, is a 20-25 minute lesson, then discussion and application, with additional practice (homework) at home. The next day, review the homework, do another lesson, practice and apply, and then assign homework. Daily 45-minute classes are best, at least in middle school. Stations and extended independent work blocks are a waste of time. 
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