West Essex Middle School Rotate and Drop Schedule
Goals for Today ◈ To give the West Essex Community information about the upcoming Middle School schedule change To offer attendees the opportunity to discuss the schedule ◈ change with one another To receive input from the community before the ◈ implementation of the schedule 2
Schedule Change - Objective ◈ To change from our current “Straight 9” schedule to the “Rotate and Drop” schedule The Rotate and Drop schedule has been in use at ◆ WEHS since 2014 Current Straight 9 Proposed Rotate and Drop ◈ 9 class periods ◈ 6 class periods 42 minutes per period 54 minutes per period ◈ ◈ ◈ 21 minutes for Lunch ◈ 30 minutes for Lunch 21 minutes for Lunch Study 30 minutes for Lunch Study ◈ ◈ 3
Rotate and Drop - How it Works ◈ We currently run a schedule that has 8 classes plus a Lunch To Rotate and Drop, start by visualizing Lunch as the center ◈ of the day ◈ Morning classes and afternoon classes rotate independent of one another ◈ Instructional time is increased by dropping one morning and one afternoon class each day 4
Rotate and Drop Schedules Regular School Day A B C D Length of Block Time Drop 4 and 8 Drop 3 and 7 Drop 2 and 6 Drop 1 and 5 Block 3 min HR + 1 4 3 2 1 7:42-8:39 54 min class 2 1 4 3 2 8:43-9:39 54 min class 3 2 1 4 3 9:43-10:38 54 min class L 10:41-11:41 60 minutes L L L L 5 8 7 6 4 11:45-12:39 54 min class 6 5 8 7 5 12:43-1:37 54 min class 7 6 5 8 6 1:41-2:35 54 min class 5
Rotate and Drop Schedules, cont. 2-Hour Delayed Opening Single Session Day Block Time Block Time Length Length 1 9:42-10:20 38 min 1 7:42-8:27 45 min 2 10:24-11:02 38 min 2 8:31-9:14 43 min 3 11:06-11:44 38 min 3 9:18-10:00 42 min L 11:48-12:30 42 min 4 10:04-10:46 42 min 4 12:34-1:02 38 min 5 10:50-11:32 42 min 5 1:06-1:48 38 min 6 11:36-12:17 41 min 6 1:52-2:35 37 min 6
7
Comparison Current Straight 9 Proposed Rotate and Drop ◈ 9 class changes per day with 4 ◈ 6 class changes per day with 4 minutes passing time = 36 minutes passing time = 24 minutes in the halls per day minutes in the halls per day ◆ 36 hours passing time saved/school year ◈ 7,560 minutes of instruction 7,290 minutes of instruction ◈ per course (126 hours/course) per course (122 hours/course) 21 minutes for Lunch/Study ◈ ◈ 30 minutes for Lunch/Study Increase of 54 hours of time ◆ for students to “decompress” 8
Rationale ◈ Stress and anxiety are at an all-time high. Our current schedule may be contributing - students change classes 9 times per day and have a limited amount of time to settle into their classes. Lunch and Study periods are shorter than we would like, and there is little time for recreation outside of P.E. class. 42-minute periods do not allow for the depth of content exploration, ◈ questioning, differentiation/individualized instruction, and discussion that we are looking for. WEMS is utilizing the latest in brain research to increase engagement in ◈ the classroom. More time in each class period would allow us to do this more effectively. 9
Rationale ◈ Students and Faculty will experience classes at different times of the day - helps with attendance issues, potential increase of student focus due to varying class times. Decrease in passing time = less transitions for students, more ◈ time on task in classrooms. Less number of classes each day = potential decrease in ◈ evening prep time/homework, thereby a potential decrease in anxiety. 10
Proposed Timeline SCHOOL YEAR 2018 – 2019 PD/Department Meetings SUMMER 2019 Curriculum Mapping/Contract Logistics & Facility Preparation Lunch Logistics/Preparations Curriculum Mapping Build Master Schedule Assessment Development Test Run of Schedule - June Move Up Day – June 13, 2019 WINTER 2019-2020 Review and Reflection 11
Lunch 7th Grade 8th Grade Lunch: 10:41-11:11 Activity/Study: 10:41-11:11 ◈ ◈ Two locations ◆ Cafeteria Lunch: 11:11-11:41 ◇ ◈ ◇ Small Gymnasium ◆ Two locations Cafeteria ◇ Activity/Study: 11:11-11:41 Small Gymnasium ◈ ◇ 12
Activity/Study Period Goal is to provide structured, supervised activities to meet a large variety of student interests. Number of activities depends on the number of teachers available for supervision. First, all students will report to their Lunch Study classroom. Then, first come-first served opportunities will exist in a variety of areas. Intramurals in Large Gym - maximum of 40 students ◈ ◈ Fitness/Yoga in Room 109 - maximum of 25 students Quiet Reading/Study in Auditorium - maximum of 80 students ◈ ◈ Library Makerspace Activities - maximum of 25 students Classroom Lunch Studies - maximum of 25-30 students per classroom ◈ ◆ Subject-specific labs -- Math, ELA, World Language *Note - approximately 50 students per day will have a Band/Choir/Orchestra Lesson. 13
Activity/Study Period Scheduling Plan: ◈ All students will start the year in their assigned Lunch Study. ◈ We are exploring software programs that will allow students to login and choose their activities for the week. ◈ The program has a “choice eliminator” that will cap off activities at the appropriate number. Students will check into the activity areas through the Genesis Turnstile ◈ Program, which allows us to keep accurate attendance. 14
Research ● Cromwell, Sharon. "Block Scheduling: A Solution or a Problem?" Education World . Education World Inc., 2006. Web. 24 Aug. 2009. http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin029.shtml ● Cromwell, Sharon. "Block Scheduling: A Solution or a Problem?" Education World . Education World Inc., 2006. Web. 24 Aug. 2009. http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin029.shtml ● Daniel, L. "Flexible scheduling." National Middle School Association . Daniel, L., 2007. Web. 27 Aug. 2009. http://www.amle.org/Portals/0/pdf/research_summaries/Flexible_Scheduling.pdf ● Irmsher, Karen. "Block Scheduling." Eric Digests . ERIC Clearinghouse on Educational Management. Web. 24 Aug. 2009. http://www.ericdigests.org/1996-4/block.htm 15
Discussion Based on what you learned today... 1. What do you like about the Rotate and Drop Schedule? 2. What changes would you like to propose?
Questions? Thank you!
Recommend
More recommend
