I am studying to become a Spanish Teacher. I have a full course load this semester which keeps me busy. Besides my Spanish classes I took EST300 ( Education Social Thought) a great class indeed. In the class we talked about many different education topics like: Tenure, Teacher Reform, School Uniforms, and many more important educational issues. So, I came up with this great idea for my class project. I wanted to make a webpage on Block Scheduling.

I graduated from High School in 1995, and recently my former High School(Ichabod Crane) started using this style of teaching this fall. There has been a lot of talk about this among students, parents, and the school. I have heard mixed reviews about "block scheduling".

Since I hope to land a teaching job at this school I wanted to do a little research on the topic, and talk to the teachers at the school.I first heard of block scheduling last fall when I went back to talk to my former Spanish teacher. I had asked her what was a hot topic on education, and thats when she told me about it. So, I hope this page will give you all a better look into Block Scheduling and what all the fuss is about.

Before I begin my page, I would like to share with you a basic idea what block scheduling is all about. I found this in the Foundations of Education text book on page 200 of the text. " Block Scheduling has been successful in many schools attemping to restructure." This was one effort that has helped and changed many schools with class size and schedule. This is just a teaser for you on Block Schedules. I don't want to give you the concept in one sentence. Now you can view the rest of my page and gain more knowledge of Block Scheduling.( Robert F. Mc Nergney & Joanne M Herbert Foundations of Education The Challenge of Professional, Second Edition, Alyn and Bacon, 1998)

(An Introduction to Block Scheduling and Education )

There are many educational issues that are important for academic success. Educational systems are facing problems, and we as teachers need to be more aware of what is happening in our school districts, because some of these problems may be affecting the way students learn. Block scheduling offers an answer to some of the educational problems we are facing, and even though it may have negative effects, it it primarily positive in terms of our school district today.

Education is one of the most important things we should have in our lives, because it provides us with a better understanding of the issues and concerns that are involved in our everyday life experiences. Sometimes many people don't receive a proper education that is necessary, and that is very unprosperous. I believe we need education in our life to get far, and maybe block scheduling can lead us to a better future and jobs. We would be able to learn how to use different methods to do things in our lives.

I have read some really interesting articles on Block Scheduling, and have heard a lot about. I think Block Scheduling can be benifical to students and their learning process only if the teachers have the proper education and background on Block Scheduling. So, basically I feel in order for it to be a success there has to be more research, and teacher training in the someject area.

After reading and researching on Block Scheduling, I have found that Block Scheduling has positive & negative aspects. It can be an effective learning method if used correctly, but the question is: 1) How can a school make it work Positive? 2) what will the outcome for the students at the end? A school can make it work positive with a good curriculum, and getting everyone involved. I guess the outcome depends on the students and teacher's efforts and abilities in the suject area. Teachers need to put more thought into lessons plans, and try new idea in the classrooms. I am still seacrhing for answers, and hope to find them.

As always there are 2 sides to each story. Many individuals think block scheduling is good, and other hate the concept. I also think that one's environment plays a big role to the schedulings success. A school in the inner city might not be able to use the scheduling, because they are too crowded. It also might not work because in inner city schools there are to many distraction with crimes, drugs, and proverty. In a small school system it might work better because there are less worries, and more time to deal with a small number of students. In a small community you probably would have more support from outside factors, better funding available for the school's educational problems.

Well, I think that is a long enough intro to get you started thinking more about Block Scheduling. Please check out the links on Block Scheduling. If you have any comments feel free to e-mail me at est300@hotmail.com. I will answer you as fast as I can. I am very busy reseaching Block Scheduling and keeping up with the latest information.

What is Block Scheduling?

Block Scheduling can be defined as, having the same amount of classes,but broken down into smaller time periods. For Example, one semester you can take four classes at ninety-minute blocks. A student can take Math, English, Music, and Science. The next semester the student can take History, Foreign Language, Physical Education,and an elective course like Art or Health. It is the same amount of learning time and days as in a regular academic school year.

If a school went with this plan, you would not have to stay as long in school. I know a lot of kids would like that, but I am not sure if some parents would like the kids coming home earlier before they got home from work. So, if the school did go with this plan there would be only four periods instead of nine periods and getting out at 2:15pm. I know I would of loved this idea. I could of come home and got my homework done early, and would of had the rest of the afternoon to do activities. So what my point is here is that Block Scheduling can save time.

Another way to use block scheduling is to use the "Alternate" class days. A school would use a day one, day two type of schedule plan. I know this is used in many of the school's today. You still have the same amount of time to complete the suject. Clases on a day one, day plan are taught on every other day.

As I remember correctly, my high school(ICC)that I graduated from in 1995 used this method of teaching. I really never gave it much thought till now. As I look back, I really liked the idea, but first I found it a little confusing to remember what day I was on, especially after a long break for christmas, but they did say it over morning anouncements. In my former high school the scheduling worked like this. I would have Physical Education on day one and an elective class. On day 2 I would have a study hall and another elective class like Health or Art. Some weeks you would have class Monday, Wedesday, and Friday. I liked this way of schooling better, because I got to do more work during the class, and I did not feel rushed which resulted in better grades.

I also liked this because I would not have to go to gym class everyday. I could better plan what to wear better. Who wants to get up dressed up the same day you have to get all sweaty and nasty. By having class on the alternate day plan, I did not become so bored with the content or lecture being presented, because the class was not everyday. The only bad thing was you may forget some information over a day and you might have to study harder for the class. I like that idea of more time to study for tests in between the days. So what is the best plan for you?

To sum the two plans up, the one plan is called the 4x4 plan which is that the school day is divided up into four intstructional blocks approximately ninety minutes each. When I talked to the Principal of the ICC middle school , he told me that they are using 40 minute blocks of four classes, where the teacher can do anything they want to do with the students. The alternate day plan is adapted to meet the needs of schools that offer six to seven coursed, where half the classes meet on one day and the other on the next.

POSTIVES & NEGATIVES OF BLOCK SCHEDULING

Block Scheduling has many positive aspects. By experiencing part of this method of learning, I have found that the class work can be more stressful in the sense that you only have four classes to worry about. The more time you have in a class the more you are able to accomplish. Most of the clases I attended were smaller which resulted in a better class moral and focus. The students were more happy because the teacher could give them more attention and were able to particapate more.

When I was researching this topic it was hard to get information, but I soon found some good information. The information that I found was about student and block scheduling. This was from a student's perspective, his name was Cory(Junior)," Classes are too long, and the teacher talks to much" Christine said, "The teacher gives to much homework, and goes though the material much quicker." Sarah said, " It is good because you have more time to work on projects and things." Many others said that it was good because" you get more things done accopmlished in class, and you can concentrate harder." After reading the survey I found there was equal amount of positives and negatives, but more on the side of negative. I guess it is the way you look at it.

Here is some interesting information about the positives of the scheduling.

* The half-day period makes it possible to take field trips, pursue major projects, do ambitious labs, see movies, etc. It is even possible to extend into lunch, making for an even longer stretch.

* Students are juggling fewer subjects and can concentrate better on those they are taking -- both at home and in class. The atmosphere is less frenetic.

* Teachers see fewer students a day, and know them better

* Teachers usually teach three periods, consisting of two different preps.

*There are far fewer homework opportunities (less than 96 assignments, instead of the normal less than 180) -- however assignments can be more substantial.

* At some times, when students are taking "four solids", it's a lot of intensity. However a typical quarter involves three academic classes and one art class, or an off-campus project, or other non-academic class.

* Planning longer periods can be challenging for teachers who are new to this -- but it's also rewarding when you get the hang of it.

CONCERNS WITH BLOCK SCHEDULING

These are some concerns about block scheduling which has me asking questions. One of the questions that I have asked myself was how would foreign language be taught? I asked myself this question because I am going into this field for teaching. I was wondering if I should be concerned about how I should teach Spanish with block scheduling.

I feel foreign languages are very important to learn, and every student should take at least one language during their schooling. I took 4 foreign languages( Spanish, German, Latin,and French) in high school.Learning a foreign language take time, skill, and practice because it is not easy. So the question is : If a student takes Spanish 1, is the student ready for Spanish 2? Well, yes, if you were in College. I feel that in high school language needs time to grow on you. There are to many concepts you need to know before you can move on. In high school this is many students first time exposed to languages,and many student find language worthless and don't continue on in upper level classes.

I have taken Spanish for 8 years now and I still don't know everything to perfection. I still learn something new each day. In an article I read by David Hottenstein, principle of Hartboro Horsham High School he said, "Yes students can take a language the following semester, becuase longer periods gives students more time to practice their skills". So, ok maybe in some situations language would work ok.

I think foreign language needs to be reworked in order for it to be a success in our school with block scheduling. Spanish 1 and or French 1 should be taught both semester for longer practice and maybe offer advanced classes in language for other students who can learn faster. Schools and teacher need to set up a better struture for foreign study.

TEACHERS AND BLOCK SCHEDULING

I believe to be an effective teacher using block scheduling you have to adjust to your students needs. There are many different ways a teacher can present his or her material a more succinct way in the classroom. By using different teaching styles you may be able to reach students. Since block scheduling gives students more time in the classroom teachers can try different things to make the learning experience more enjoyable. As a teacher you can try to help students develop critical thinking

Some of the ways to solve the circumstances(teaching language or math) surrounding this issue is that teachers should be given more training on how to teach though block scheduling. The training should provide the teacher on how to manage time in the classroom, and how to present the curriculum in blocked time. Maybe schools should test the students before placing them in the class that is blocked or tracking, therefore you would be able to see if the students would be able to perform well in the subjects. Teachers, Administrators , and students should all be involved in making the learning experience better and more understandable.

Another way to resolve the problem would be to try blocking in elementary school first before high school to see what parents , teachers, and students think about it. Just like foriegn language start it early. When your younger you can learn more, and your mind is like a giant sponge. Many schools have adapted this system. Hope many more will follow this route because, it has been successful in the past.

Welcome to the links section of my page. Here you will find 15 or more links that I fell are very important to look at if you are interested in more information and ideas on Block Scheduling. I have visited many sites on Block Scheduling, but these 15 links I feel were the best out of all the sites. I learned a lot of information that I did not know before. I hope you will find the time to check these site out.

A quick note to everyone who is interesting in viewing more links than what I have up here. If you search for Block Scheduling with Yahoo you don't find as much information. I found that Lycos and HotBot were the best. I am not promaoting these serach engines in anyway. I seemed to have found better and more links than Yahoo.com. Also for better viewing of the links I would use IE4 or Netscape 4 for the best viewing. Now with the links.

http://www.iserv.net/~d10msboa/block.html I picked this page because i liked the links section especially the one to the Stockbrige High school where you can find comments from the staff and students about block scheduling. I really liked how the page went on to tell about blocking observations. It helps clear up questions on workshops for this, and give hints and tips to students and teachers.

Got to School House Problems Here is one of the most interesting pages that I can across. What I liked about this site was the definations that they gave. They were very clear and consise. I also liked what they had to say about the concerns with block scheduling. It really made you think about the idea of this style of teaching.It has a great concerns section especially about grading. Give psychological reseach of Block Scheduling. Give the reader the other word for block scheduling called Intensive or Alternative scheduling. The only thing bad is that the page has not been updated since 8/20/96. A question for you . Is this really the best way to teach?

This is another great page I visited along the way http://www.execpc.com/~presswis/block.html This is a very interesting article called " Caution Advised on Block Scheduling" I picked this page because it has a great overview on block scheduling and claims that teachers will spend less time on time management functions. This page also talks about the Copernican Plan. Type in the above address to view the page.

Check this site out, EYE ON EDUCATION I picked this site because I thought that the books they had on it, would be great for teachers to order. The books and catalogs are teaching guides for teachers teaching with Block Scheduling. If teachers needed some more ideas for teaching in the classroom this is the site.

Go to this site, www.skylightedu.com Another great site on Block Scheduling training and instrumental enrichment. I picked this site because it provided other links to education on the web. You also can sign up for a catalog on block scheduling to get in the mail. This site really makes you think about block scheduling and how educators are struggling to structure the school day. I liked how the page gave out stragies and ways to organize block scheduling with a good practical classroom ideas.

I found this site http://www.sciences.drexel.edu/block/scheduling provided the reader with some interesting information about this topic. This site also includes newspaper articles and profesional articles. I found the article on More data rebut block scheduling interesting. The new findings link talks about bad planning where teachers have back to back lunchs. That is 3 hours wasted in a day.

This site http://www.voyager.rtd.utk.edu/~ddoak/schools/York/block.htincludes a Status Report on Alternative scheduling in a Tennesee High School, but very boring in my opinion.

I feel that this site http://www.athenet.net/`jlindsay/Block.shtml offers a good variety of information and facts.I choose this site because I liked the FAQ written by the Jeff Lindsay. His site was great, and was very current. The page was last updated on 10/21/98. Some of his FAQ 's were about the Impact on Music programs. I also thought his comment around the country framelink was good. You were able to hear what other people think about this idea. He also talks about the serious problem behind the unsubstantiated claims of block scheduling.

Check this websitehttp://www.aasa.org/Frontburner/Block/block.htm it is full of great info.It provides the reader with a collection of block sheduling articles. I liked it because it was like an educational journal on-line.Has great links, especially to the one at www.education.com...

http://www.jbit.com bs2.htm I picked this site because it says that block scheduling is outcome based education strategy. It is far from a new idea. In 1911 it was called" Modular scheduling" The site also provides an excellent essay by Jeff Lindsay Ph D. on pros and cons . The GORE REPORT is also found here.

A very good page I have found that this pagehttp://www.business1.com/iri_SKY/bls.htm provides great information on the topic.

This page http://www.wspsd.org/block.html is a very boring page. It is about block scheduling in upper school. I picked this page because it does give example times of a blocked day. The also has some other stuff about what wpsd is, which is a school. This page is really useless.

http://www.K12.USC.Umass.ud/Block.html offers some answers questions about the scheduling in schools and grades K-12.Liked this page because of the different links.

http://www.wwork.com/~pieinc/blo-sch.htm. This is a school house talk site. I picked this link for my page because, I feel that this page is not very good and you should see for yourself. It said that average and below average students are losers. It also said that there is no proof that the system is successful. Also here you can find a case against block scheduling.This is why I put this link at the end. It does have good defintions.

This site http://www.idea-classroom.org/~Durant/PAGEHOME.Htm was an excellent page for teachers. I found this site on the search engine HOTBOT. I thought this was a useful page because as from the title you can see that the page gives teacher ideas for teaching with block scheduling.

I found this sitehttp://www.forum.swarthmore.edu/mathed/block.schedules a great page. The reason I choose this page is that it kind of follows my thought about foreign language taught in a block.This talks about Math being taught in a block and how it is effects learning.

I hope some of these links are useful to you. Yes , there are some bad site here , but everyone has a right to their own opinion. I found most of them to be very helpful to understanding Block Scheduling.I only problem that I found with the sites is that some are not updated.

More links coming!!! Some links are "under construction" and or will not work if you click on them, but you can get to them if you type in the address in the address space above. I want you to do a little work. I want to serach too. Plus for some reasome some don't link right, but are the right address. Eye on education link works, www.skylight, www.aasa works, and others at this time.

I believe that yes, block scheduling does benefit schools, because it provides students with more depth in their learning, more structure and give time management skills. A student has more time in class to learn and express themselves. I feel a teacher can have less lecturing and more discovery in class which will help the students think more creatively and critically. Just like Donald Specht said, " We can develop our ideas in depth without rushing." I think block scheduling is a great way to improve the standard of learning. It is up to everyone to make it work effectively. I hope to see more schools in the future use this plan. I think students would like the idea of having less homework or class work to worry about, and having more free time. This freetime could be used for studying, working on projects. This is where time management skills come into play. The plan would also help prepare students for college, since college is kind of blocked in a way.

Ok, well I can take 99% of this page as mine, but I did do a little reseach and it would be nice to credit the people who I don't know.

First, Hottenstein, David, Block/Intensive Scheduling FAQ" Available at http:// muic.k12.pa us/`hhhpaglfaq.html#1

Second. Specht, Donald, Clarke County High School, Fredericksburg, "Available at www.bethel.hampton.klz.va.us/block.html

Other sources I used are: The success of 4X4 Block Scheduling in Social Studies (1997) In the Current Index of Journals in Education in the Library at the lovely school seen on the top on my page. Evaluation of 4X4 Block schedule ERS spectrum (1997) In the current Index of Journals in Education also in the Library.

Thanks for taking Block Scheduling 101, You passed!

If you remember I talked about my former High School and some of my student experiences. Well, there has been a development in the way the school will be run from now on. The past year or so there had been lots of talking on the use of block sceduling for all grades. As of March 3, 1999, the district will begin using block scheduling for all grades for the 1999-2000 year. So this means that some subjects will be taught on Alternating days. This is one topic I will be following next year. I know a lot of teachers and I will speak with them to hear their views.

The image of students shuffling from class to class every 40minutes will soon be a memory at Ichabod Crane High School.

The school board approved the plan put forward by the co-principals at the monthly board meeting.

Under the new plan, the day will be divided into 84-minute blocks, and sujects will be taught on alternating days.

The block can be broken into two 40-minute periods to allow classws that require daily meetings.

Particularly in freshman math and freshman language, the need for having it everyday is stronger than the need for 80-minute block.

In a sample schedule, a student attends homeroom from 7:35-7:45a.m., and than goes to Science lecture from 7 :49-9:13 on days 1 and 3, and English during the same period on days 2 and 4; then, from 9:17 to 10:40, to social studies on days 1 and 3 and an "Advisory"( study Hall> period on days 2 and 4 from 10:45 to 12:09,a bit long, but students should be able to use their time in a different way then before, band on days 1 and 3 and choir on days 2 and 4; lunch is offered from 12:13- 12:43, Math from 12:46 to 1:26 and French from 1:30 -2:17, daily.

That is the recomended schedule that would best fit the school's needs. I think this will be a great way to prepare students for college classes.

One thing that the school did say is that there was a lack of longgitudinal research on the topic, but said many of the schools that have gone to this schedule say they would not go back.

The plan does not have full faculty support yet, with teachers expressing concern about the lack of continuity the students inability to complete their homework. It has worked well in the middle school.

Block Scheduling allows the students to explore new things, if anything education needs to be fresh. This moves people around and makes them think differently. "I like the flexibility of this. and the greater teacher-contact time."

In the last 2 months I have been teaching at this school, and have taught in the block and have seen first hand on what it is really like for both students and teachers. I would like to share my first hand experience with you now. Please click the link below. More thoughts will be added.

My Block Experience 2000

Well, just in case you were wondering what I got on this project, I got my A(100). I got my grade on 12/08/98. I am very happy with my grade. I would also like to thank all the people who have visited and those of you who are still coming. Thanks for signing the guestbook if you have, or are doing so now. I will try to e-mail you back if you have questions. It may be a while before I get back to you, but I will. I always read the guestbook.

Read my Dreambook! Sign my Dreambook!

Email: NO E-MAIL due to many unwanted e-mails.

NO PORN MAIL WANTED, so since this site has received too much junk mail on on porn there will be no more e-mail. This is an education site. So, I hope you are all happy now that you ruined communication with this site.