Block Scheduling Could Work
Following the 6/18 Curriculum and Assessment Committee meeting, Mr. Woodworth and I retired to a quiet room to discuss Block Scheduling. In the interest of full disclosure, I have to say that I *like* Mr. Woodworth. Since his arrival at TRHS, he has nothing but accessible and helpful. So, when he asked to talk about BS, I was all ears…not all ears, actually, but I was listening.
I think I learned from this conversation that 1) the SAU is aware of the concerns we have, and 2) they are working to address these issues. We talked about two hot buttons for parents. The first was AP. There is a lot of concern that kids completing AP classes at Christmas will be at a disadvantage come exam time. It is documented that BS students do not fare as well on AP exams as traditional. Mr. Woodworth offered the possibility that AP courses could be offered on alternating days so that one class got the full block every other day. I think this is a reasonable approach to the problem. The kids finish their AP coursed in time to take the exams but get bigger blocks in which to cover the material. We also talked about math. I balked at the every-other-day approach to math. I don’t think kids will get much from the second half of a math block. I proposed that a math block could include a related application or lab session — math theory for an hour plus related computer labs makes sense to me. Mr. Woodworth wasn’t dismissive of the idea and said all options are on the table. Mr. Woodworth also talked about ’small blocks’ that complement the lunch session. Maybe these blocks could accommodate classes that would be difficult to sit in for longer periods?
I like this attitude and am willing to listen. I offered Mr. Woodworth space on this site to share his ideas and BS developments. I offered to record and post presentations the SAU would not cover. He was not willing to commit on this — expressing concerns that I would be unsympathetic. I promised to post his articles without comment or prejudice if he was willing to share and entertain comments and questions from parents. I’m hoping he decides to do this. I’ll give him a tab on the site and sit on the sidelines while he works with parents to make our schools better.
I’d like to know what people think about the two new ideas — alternating days and complementary activities. Do you think AP could work on alternating days? Could you support BS if math was combined with complimentary activities on a daily basis?
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Concerned parent of two children in the TRSD school system who pays taxes and is not employed by -- or contracted to -- the town or the SAU...one of the Rest of Us
June 22nd, 2008 at 7:15 am
Before they implement an alternative schedule, they need to make sure the teachers are prepared.
If you have physics classes covering one of 4 topics during the year, with a respected teacher; or math teachers whose students walk around the classroom, helping to translate what the teacher is saying during teaching time; English summer work that no longer requires students to read a book, or showing movies in English class because a child can watch V is for Vendetta, verus reading A Tale of Two Cities: it does not matter what kind of schedule you have the results will be the same. POOR.
June 27th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
I find it entertaining that a bunch of people who have no interest (or else they would actually go to a school and sit in a block scheduled class) can make claims as to what is best for a school. Have you ever volunteered in the high school that you want so much say in? Have you called a teacher to see what you could do to help in the classroom, lunchroom, hallways? if not, then you don’t know the issues that the high school faces. Instead of passing judgement, why not ask the student or the teacher why they watch V for Vendetta which begs critical thinking on the part of the student especially when dealing with revolution, terrorism, and symbolism. Instead of insinuating that the school is doing a poor job with english summer work by taking out the reading component, perhaps you should ask: Why don’t these students know how to read? Why don’t they love to read? Let me guess, you would prefer high school English teachers to assign a Tale of Two Cities so that you could then complain that the school has an 80% failure rate among 10th grade World Lit. students. High school teachers must work with what they are given: a completely mixed bag of low-highest learners. Block scheduling allows time to challenge the highest learners by offering AP all year long (in a 4×4) which would actually provide double the time that it has right now in the high school and addresses the needs of those who have a hard time with organization and time management by offering only 4 classes rather than 7. Think of the highest accelerated student: Even in college s/he will not be taking 7 classes at one time. Now think of the student who struggles with learning: S/he only has to master 4 subjects at one time rather than 7.
June 28th, 2008 at 11:48 am
That you find any of this ‘entertaining’ troubles me. If I sent an email like this to my employers or customers, I would be looking for new ones. Do you disagree with my contention that these measures would improve things more quickly for less money and with less risk than block scheduling?
- Teach 180 FULL days
- Do homework at home
- End finals on the last day of school
- Minimize teacher out of class time
- No nonacademic assemblies
- No nonacademic field trips
- No fund raising during school hours
- Take TVs out of the classroom
- Provide tutoring after school
Do you disagree with my contention that none of these prevents future implementation of BS except to the extent that realized improvements would lessen the impetus for change? I hope the SAU is not resisting change is to increase the desire for drastic change.
June 29th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
So what Teach is saying is that if A tale of 2 cities was given to the 10th grade to read rather than watching a movie that 80% of the students would fail world studies.
Some data for you:
About 4 years ago, the MS used a program which determined childrens reading levels using a measurement called Lexiles. I believe the CC who brought this to the school then left half way thru the year and lexiles was dropped the next year.
Here is the Lexile for A Tale of 2 Cities.
http://www.lexile.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?view=ed&tabindex=5&tabid=67&tabpageid=313&bookid=11994&pageindex=1
The lexile is 1130L
The metamap for this can be found at
http://www.lexile.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?view=ed&tabindex=6&tabid=18#11
Grade Reader Measures
(Interquartile Range, Mid-Year) Text Measures
(from the Lexile Map)
1 Up to 300L 200L to 400L
2 140L to 500L 300L to 500L
3 330L to 700L 500L to 700L
4 445L to 810L 650L to 850L
5 565L to 910L 750L to 950L
6 665L to 1000L 850L to 1050L
7 735L to 1065L 950L to 1075L
8 805L to 1100L 1000L to 1100L
9 855L to 1165L 1050L to 1150L
10 905L to 1195L 1100L to 1200L
11 and 12 940L to 1210L 1100L to 1300L
So is Teach saying that only 20% of 10th grade students can read at a 10th grade reading level and that is okay?
BTW, I’ve called and talked to teachers about things going on in the classroom. Also my kids are quite compentent and when I ask them or their friends what is happening in the classroom they are able to tell me.
June 29th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Another question for teach:
Quote ”
Block scheduling allows time to challenge the highest learners by offering AP all year long (in a 4×4) which would actually provide double the time that it has right now in the high school and addresses the needs of those who have a hard time with organization and time management by offering only 4 classes rather than 7.”
Are you saying a course like AP US History would be taught in 1 block for the entire year so a child taking this course would have it as a block in the fall and the spring so rather than taking 8 courses they would only take 7 classes?
Seems to me this means less AP classes for those high learners.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:37 am
Teach wrote:
High school teachers must work with what they are given: a completely mixed bag of low-highest learners.
I’ve experienced this with m children. My child had the same math program from grade 5 to 7. I called and met with the school alot about this.
My 2 questions are:
If the same mix of kids are in the same classrooms with block scheduling how is this going to improve with block scheduling. Are the teachers still going to have to teach to the lowest denominator? It seems those on the high end will have twice as long to be bored.
At a recent parent meeting Woodworth said that block scheduling was something the teachers were asking for. Have teachers asked to have classes leveled? It seems this would help with the to many mixed levels in one classroom.
I’ve asked my child and child tells me that a few teachers have told child only difference between CCP and ACC is the number of disiplince problems.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Teach’s opening lines get the blood pressure up. I have to work during the day in order to pay my taxes and bills, which reportedly includes education of my childern. I do not have the luxury of staying home to help in school during the school day and I am not an “educator” for school grades. That is what we pay the teachers, administrators, assistant adminstrators, curriculum coordinators and support staff for, is it not? I have helped out during after-school hours and weekends so support student activities. Are you looking for help feeding kids and walking in hallways? Is that what you want parents to be doing??
Nothing presented by the SAU shows us that the dumming down of our classrooms will change with BS. Assuming Teach is a faculty member, if Teach is concerned that students can not read then Teach should take it up with his co-workers in the District at the lower grades, and stop passing along students who can not read. Put your foot down and say no at the 10th grade, give me students who can read. Take those that need help, place them together and help them advance to an acceptable level and allow those that want to achieve to achieve versus being bored in school. I have seen too many times in the last 11 years, the existing teachers and systems that do not work to say the administration needs to look at current teacher performance and help those teachers who need help to improve, so the teachers who are doing a good job (thank you) are not wrongly blamed. BS does not seem the answer to this problem just a shuffling of the chairs on the deck of the Titanic, oops wrong movie.
June 30th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Teach,
My HS child does find the summer reading list very entertaining. Just think as an 11th grader for summer reading, they can read Little House on the Prairie a book my youngest said was widely read in Elementary school.
BTW, the lexile for this is
59048818X Little House on the Prairie Wilder, Laura Ingalls 760L
760L puts it at about a 4th grade reading level.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
I apologize to those that I upset with my insulting first statement. I am a teacher in the Salem School District and my niece attends TRHS. I am not familiar with the policies of Timberlane, but I am familiar with parental attacks on schools. The point that I was trying to get across, which in retrospect I did not do very well, is that rather than pointing out flaws, why not offer solutions in a constructive forum. As for block scheduling, Salem uses a 4×4 which allows students to take a full year of AP courses. Yes, that limits them to 4 AP classes, but I’d much rather have students learn in depth than in breadth (read Ted Sizer), especially when it comes time to receiving college credits. Remember, it does not only come down to the AP students, but to everyone else in the building. As you know, Salem may be losing the block and I am an adament defender of this schedule so please excuse my passion.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
I posted some ‘low hanging fruit’ in response to your original comment and invited you to comment further. I think BS absent these basic improvements will fail and that these improvements may render BS unnecessary. What do you think?
BTW, my basic problem with BS is that it has kids spending less days learning math. How do you feel about a modified block that has kids in math class everyday?
June 30th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
If block scheduling is all that you say then why are schools reverting back to traditional? Why is Salem losing block? I’ve heard that Methuen will be implementing traditional once again. According to Mr Woodworth, TRHS principal, improvements are needed for the above average, average students. Seems to me that block is best for excelled and below average students which doesn’t address the needs of the majority.
July 1st, 2008 at 6:52 am
Teach,
My #1 recommendation I have made to the school is to have standards for each grade and do not pass a child on with out mastering those skills. The school is too concerned about how a child feels about themselves than learning skills. My feeling is a child passed along with out basic skills doesn’t feel too good about themselves when they get to HS and can’t read simple books or do basic math.
Each unit of education ( elementary, middle, and HS) is an independent unit. They do not talk to each other and if a parents suggest they talk to each other the silence is deafening. BS might be a very good idea but the younger grades are not prepared and when a student gets to 9th grade, putting them in a class 2x as long will not correct it.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:31 am
Dmh,
It is not that the school is too concerned about a how a child feels about themselves than learning skills, it is the parents. Schools cannot keep a child back without parent permission. Schools may recommend a child be kept back, but cannot do so unless the parent agrees. Teachers and schools are just as frustrated as caring, involved parents such as yourself, about the situation plaguing public schools today – that being students who have not mastered prior grade level skills being promoted to the next grade. Your issue with this is not unique to the Timberlane district.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Kacee,
I know of parents who took their kids out of TRSD because they did not feel they had the skills to be promoted to the next level, but the school would not hold them back.
You apparently have not read on the atkinson blog about the kid who failed a few classes as an 8th grader and the parents asked about summer school and the principal told them not to worry about it, as in HS the students started with a clean slate.
If you received a letter from the school telling you your child should be placed in math class A because they would get A’s and B’s and if they were placed in Class B they might only get C’s. what would you think? The child in question had A+ in math class.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Kacee,
I’m not saying the situation the parents have to deal with is unique to TRSD.
Because it is not unique is it okay with you? I tell my kids just becasue everyone else is doing it doesn’t make it okay..