<p>My S's HS is undergoing a change this year. They had been on block scheduling, 4-90 minute periods/day with the schedule alternating from day to day with the potential for 8 classes or 7 if one is double blocked (scheduled every day). They are going to 7- 50 minute classes per day, every class every day. Kids have the option of scheduling an additional class at the beginning of the day before school officially begins. Many kids and parents loved the old system both for the flex time it afforded them to get homework done especially if EC's ran late on some nights, the longer class perions also worked out really well for band and athletics and indepth advanced classes. The strongest argument for the new system is daily face time with teachers in all classes and catering to the limitied attention span of students. Neither of my kids are happy about the change and as school is about to begin I am wondering if any of you have experience with this and what your opinions are. Thanks, (I will also post this in the parent's forum)</p>
<p>Well, I have a 7 period day, and it's not too bad. Grant it that I've never known the happiness that is block scheduling. The biggest issue, like you said, is having 7 different subjects to study for every single night, but you get used to it eventually.</p>
<p>My school has block schedule but instead of alternating daily you change classes the next semester so you should get in 8 classes a year. It's nice because teachers get more time to teach and less work, it also resembles a college schedule. But like you said scheduling can be a pain in the rear.</p>
<p>Freshman year I had block and it was to me the best thing ever. I could get more done and we did the same thing as somead896 where you change every semester. Last year we switched to traditional and I felt like I was always stressing out and it ruined whatever plans I had on doubling up on a subject. This year it's been okay and I think it's only because I know what to expect now and how to manage my time better.</p>
<p>I used to have blocks too. Our school system switched 3 years ago. I'm exceedingly pleased with the 7-period days we have now. </p>
<p>I found it easier to concentrate with 50 minutes periods instead of 90 minutes, especially with classes like history (or math for some). I can't imagine going back to the 90 minutes period again.</p>
<p>Homework are not a big problem as our teachers usually give us a few days to turn everything in. Our homework assignments that used to be due daily (eg. math) are now assigned daily but due on test days. Other than having forms signed to turn in the next day, I don't remember having homework due the day after it was assigned.</p>
<p>Our class makes it known to the teachers if we have a large group of people busy that night (football nights, school plays), and most teachers, at least the nice ones, will adjust the homework load accordingly.</p>
<p>It has it's pros and cons.</p>
<p>I Had both and for the most part like the block schedule over the 7 periods. A LOT less work, and a LOT more laid back feeling IMO. Having two core classes instead of four is just much easier.</p>
<p>On the other hand, some subjects are more difficult to learn. Like Math classes, or math focused science classes. You can only learn so much in one day before your brain says, alright, ENOUGH! </p>
<p>FOr example, when I had 7 periods, we would do one section out of the math book every day. At the end of the year we had covered almost the entire book. On block scheduling we are lucky to cover half the book. But! I comprehend that half much better...</p>
<p>Bright Red, I hope that with the growing pains our school will be so understanding. That would alleviate a lot of worry.</p>
<p>I used to have block scheduling two years ago, they changed it to traditional last year. I absolutely hate traditional, most of my upper-level courses focus around discussions, and traditional scheduling pretty much interrupt it. We will just start to get into a discussion and get interested when the bell rings and it disrupts us. </p>
<p>Also traditional gives way more homework, at least in my classes. Plus, I hate it because last year, almost all of my classes would concentrate homework/projects/tests all in the same day. One day last year I had 5 tests in the same day. Also, near the end of school, all of my classes had huge projects due for the last grade (one even counted as the final exam) and all seven were due within three days of each other. It was totally insane. </p>
<p>Back when we were on block scheduling, the most tests I ever had within two days of each other were three. My teachers had more discussions and gave more time to finish homework in class. </p>
<p>The best teachers in my school even went down to the county to oppose the change and now half of them are gone and the others were given freshman classes to teach instead of their favorite courses in order to "punish them" for going against the school. You'd think a school would encourage it's teachers to speak out for the benefit of the student, but my school doesn't care what anyone thinks. They will go with what they say is right, even if the teachers know and are able to prove it's wrong.</p>
<p>SharkObsessed: What you described is the kind of thing that concerns me about happening in our schools.</p>
<p>BrightRed: It seems like your school has done well with working out compromises. Did they have it worked out from the beginning or did the consideration for homework and EC's evolve over time?</p>
<p>My high school and the middle school I attended both had block scheduling, so don't have much exposure to "traditional schedules". But my middle school used to have these "all-days" once a week, and I wasn't too fond of it. </p>
<p>Block scheduling is great for me because it gives more variety to the school week. I dont have to change gears as much while I'm doing homework (focusing on 3 or 4 subjects as opposed to 7) But I think it depends on the type of learner the student is. I have friends who learn better when they have all 7 classes everyday but don't go in depth as much.</p>
<p>We have 9-period days and I hate it. It is near impossible to teach enough in 40 minutes and there is too much in your head at end of the day</p>
<p>
[quote]
Homework are not a big problem as our teachers usually give us a few days to turn everything in. Our homework assignments that used to be due daily (eg. math) are now assigned daily but due on test days. Other than having forms signed to turn in the next day, I don't remember having homework due the day after it was assigned.
[/quote]
I wish. I have 7-period days [only 6 classes though] and we have TONS of homework in every single class every night. No lee-way at all, and each teacher is completely inflexible with due dates, test dates, etc.
A lot of the time, I'll have 6 tests on the same day. Or 6 projects due all at once. It's awful.</p>
<p>We have 7 classes, but only attend 6 each day. One day we don't go to first period, the next day we don't go to 2nd, then 3rd, and it goes up until 7 and then repeats. Each class is 60 minutes long.</p>
<p>Homework isn't much of an issue for me because I really only get homework in 3 or 4 of my classes (honors and AP.. I have 5 APs this year, actually)... so I don't have the whole "7 teachers gave me homework tonight" issue.</p>
<p>I was on a standard 7 period day schedule in JR High and it was miserable. My backpack weighed a ton, the passing periods were too short for locker stops, and I was up 'til midnight or later trying to finish my homework EVERY NIGHT. Teachers, as much as I love them, tend to think their class is the most important and have little regard for how much homework their colleagues assign on a nightly basis. Now I'm on a rotating block and it rocks. We have time for real discussions and projects in class, the labs work out better, and I have more time to do my homework. Plus, not only do I carry less anyways, I have time to visit my locker between classes, so my back feels much better. 7-period days are inhumane. They really do have more detriments than benefits.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm on the block system too (four classes one semester, four the other semester), and really, I like it so much more now because as I'm getting older and signing up for harder and harder classes, it allows me to concentrate on only four subjects at a time and more in-depth, rather than spreading myself thin over 7 subjects. Also, the maximum amount of AP/honors classes I could take at once is 4 at a time, even if I'll end up taking 6 or 7 by the end of the year, so there isn't as much homework as someone else who is taking 6 or 7 AP/honors classes all at once.</p>
<p>Whoops, what I forgot to mention was that a couple of years ago, my school was threatened with the possibility of going on a traditional 7-period system too... all chaos broke loose and students and parents began to hold massive protests outside of the schools. Eventually, we got the district to change their minds and we've stuck with the block system. If you can garner enough support to keep your school the way it is, I'm sure it won't change.</p>
<p>@181818: It evolved over time. There's no set rules, but in the upper-level class, the teachers usually trust us with completing our homework every night (even if it is not collected the next day).</p>
<p>Even then, this is by no means relaxing. Although for classes like history we rarely have homework, it is expected that we would go home and read the textbook every night, or risk having no clue on discussions the next day. </p>
<p>For other classes, if one puts off homework for a few nights, it is hard to catch up the night before everything is due. This system is only to ensure that athletics etc can put off their homework on game nights if need be. </p>
<p>@INVENIAMVIAM: We only had these privileges in the upperclass level. During my underclassman years, things were rather rigid.</p>
<p>My old high school did regular scheduling Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, and then Wednesday and Thursday were blocked. I liked the block schedule, but would not be able to handle it everyday, because it's so hard to go an hour and a half in a boring class with no break.</p>
<p>Bright Red: How did athetes and band survive in the earlier years? </p>
<p>I'm also wondering if there are any of you on a 7 period day who are in schools that have made adjustments to make the system more managable for kids involved in EC's that run late or just in general to avoid multiple tests, or assignments being due on the same day.</p>
<p>We've been on block, but for the 08-09 year we've switched to trimesters: 5 70-min classes.</p>