Monday, January 2, 2012
Chapter 1
The chapter talks about traditional versus non traditional scheduling. Block scheduling is effective if the activities are varied. Having anyone sit for 70 minutes is not best practice. Breaking up instruction with a bell ringer, at least two activities and direct instruction, followed by a wrap up or closure is a common template used in area schools. The effective middle school teacher should ask the personal question, would I want to sit in my own classroom.
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Leah: I liked how you brought up asking yourself if you would want to sit in your own classroom for 70 minutes. That really puts things into a different perspective. When I was in school, we had block scheduling and I liked it, but I actually had a discussion with a previous teacher from high school the other day about how much she wanted to get rid of it because she finds it hard to keep students' attention for that long.
ReplyDeleteKris: Sandy, these are very good points. When I first thought about block scheduling I thought that I might not like it because students could get bored with longer classes. However, I think with several activities of different styles are planned students can learn a lot and have more fun doing it. Teachers might not have to rush as much. They also might have days off in-between classes in order to better reflect on a topic and spend more time on assignments. I think the last point is a very good one, as it seems teachers often forget what it was like to be a student. It is important to look at everything from multiple perspectives, including that of the students.
ReplyDeleteGood points about the block scheduling. I begin my student teaching in the spring semester and I am at a school with block schedule. I am stressed out thinking how to keep the students attentive and on task for such a long period. I have a class with only 3 students in it, and find that the block schedule with such few students may be a struggle. Introducing new topics, activities, and cooperative learning will be the best way to attack this problem.
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