Meet Me in the Middle - Chapter 9: Planning for Block Scheduling

This chapter explains the benefits of block scheduling, and how ultimately it provides longer class periods, but that’s not just it. Longer class periods provide time for students to learn and explore the topics covered in class rather than rushing through them and tying everything up right when it gets started. Not only that but it leaves less time throughout the week that the class is settling in, getting out any supplies or homework, and cleaning up at the end. This chapter also mentions that there are five levels of instructional objectives that should be covered in a lesson. I don’t think that coverage, activity, involvement, mastery, and generic thinking skill could all be covered in a fifty minute class period. Kids need time to absorb what they are learning and internalize that and block scheduling can help with that.

All through middle school and high school I experiences block scheduling. What the book mentions that I have not experienced is having the block classes Monday through Thursday and then Friday could be the day that students have all their classes in shorter periods. I really liked this idea because every week will always have the same schedule and no one will walk into school wondering if it is a silver or blue day. Plus the Friday classes could be used as a workshop, or way to tie up the week, or to simply cover something that was missed throughout the week. I experienced block scheduling in my practicum as well and I saw it as very beneficial to teachers as well because it gave them more time to prepare for their lessons and speak with other teachers on their team. Teachers have some free time in which they can really benefit from especially if a lesson goes wrong with one class you will have time to rework it for the next class that day. Block scheduling seems to benefit both students and teachers greatly.