Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're in the MSMC, and DC _loves_ the block schedule. It demands a little less executive functioning (haha, but good for ADHD), lets them get work and practice done during class time when the teacher can help, and means that the schedule is not monotonous, which DC likes. The extra elective opportunities are also excellent. DC is not going to like going back to an 8 period day in high school.

My ADHD kid benefits from a regular schedule. She needs the mental/movement breaks that moving between classes provides.

PP here - that gives me hope for the next level, too. I will remind DC that there are good things about shorter classes, as well!

We’re not in the MSMC but my oldest had a continuous block schedule. They liked it for having classes at different times throughout the day, but ultimately like the shorter classes of the Hs schedule more.

Can you contact the Counseling office at that school to confirm number of classes?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're in the MSMC, and DC _loves_ the block schedule. It demands a little less executive functioning (haha, but good for ADHD), lets them get work and practice done during class time when the teacher can help, and means that the schedule is not monotonous, which DC likes. The extra elective opportunities are also excellent. DC is not going to like going back to an 8 period day in high school.

My ADHD kid benefits from a regular schedule. She needs the mental/movement breaks that moving between classes provides.

PP here - that gives me hope for the next level, too. I will remind DC that there are good things about shorter classes, as well!

Anonymous wrote:We're in the MSMC, and DC _loves_ the block schedule. It demands a little less executive functioning (haha, but good for ADHD), lets them get work and practice done during class time when the teacher can help, and means that the schedule is not monotonous, which DC likes. The extra elective opportunities are also excellent. DC is not going to like going back to an 8 period day in high school.

My ADHD kid benefits from a regular schedule. She needs the mental/movement breaks that moving between classes provides.

We're in the MSMC, and DC _loves_ the block schedule. It demands a little less executive functioning (haha, but good for ADHD), lets them get work and practice done during class time when the teacher can help, and means that the schedule is not monotonous, which DC likes. The extra elective opportunities are also excellent. DC is not going to like going back to an 8 period day in high school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im the OP. Thank you to posters who said to look under bell schedule. That was the info I was looking for.

Can anyone tell me why some middle schools use a block schedule and others do not?

Some schools get additional funding to staff eight academic/elective classes. Without that, they have to have seven classes or class size drastically increases.

The Parkland/Loiederman/Argyle Middle School Magnet Consortium (MSMC) had a grant when they formed to run an 8 period block with teachers teaching 5 classes and having an extra period for professional development as part of the schedule (PD, team, planning are the 3 other periods). After the initial grant, the extra funding went away. So yes, some classes are really large (PE, electives).

Changing the bell schedule isn’t a principal decision. There’s a whole staff process and takes a year or two to go through it for agreement.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im the OP. Thank you to posters who said to look under bell schedule. That was the info I was looking for.

Can anyone tell me why some middle schools use a block schedule and others do not?

Magnet programs use a block schedule because it allows time for an extra elective.

Not all magnets.

Anonymous wrote:Im the OP. Thank you to posters who said to look under bell schedule. That was the info I was looking for.

Can anyone tell me why some middle schools use a block schedule and others do not?

Magnet programs use a block schedule because it allows time for an extra elective.