This commentary describes the limitations of 40-minute class period times. The forty-minute system makes hash of the lives of teachers, especially in small schools, and about 80 percent of high schools have fewer than two hundred pupils. These small schools crowd their forty-minute periods with as many diverse and unrelated activities as possible,…

In the middle of the author's doctoral coursework in the spring of 2002, he had a discussion with the head of the upper school at Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA) (New Jersey) about a potential dissertation topic that would benefit their community. In no time at all, the conversation turned to the daily schedule. In August 2004, the author…

About 20 years ago, a number of Yukon schools took a different approach to outdoor education and outdoor pursuits. During the 1970s and 1980s, most Yukon high schools and junior high schools offered a course called Outdoor Education. These courses fit into the conventional blocks in a school timetable. Outdoor activities longer than these blocks…

Outlines critical elements of restructuring: three focal properties (curriculum standards, performance assessment, interdisciplinary teaching) and four facilitating properties (block schedules, technology, self-directed teacher teams, and parental involvement). (SK)

Discusses the changes in science instruction resulting from one school's move to block scheduling. Longer class periods were found to increase the amount of concepts taught and time for activities. Figures contain a sample student schedule, goals for restructuring, rationale for block scheduling, and a sample density experiment. (LZ)

Presents a lesson plan for a block period that involves students in learning how organisms can be classified. (DDR)

Research indicates that despite controversies, teachers involved in block scheduling like it. This paper presents two educators' views on and experiences with block scheduling. One suggests that teaching and learning on the block can be more relaxed. The other notes that adopting the philosophy that less is more (fewer classes meeting longer…

Discusses five types of flexible block schedules used in a team-taught middle school classroom. Briefly describes the transition from traditional scheduling to block scheduling. (JPB)

This article describes some typical 90-minute lessons in biology and chemistry designed for use with block scheduling. The lessons illustrate the benefits of block scheduling to science instruction. Contains an example of one day's block scheduling of science and mathematics courses. (LZ)

Ralston (Nebraska) High School's restructuring was helped by participation in the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development's consortium. Ralston faculty led the change process, holding students to higher standards, altering curriculum beyond arbitrary subject limitations, changing the school year, and increasing staff expertise with…

The principal of a traditional high school in upstate New York asked faculty to reexamine the school schedule. After considerable debate, teachers decided to rotate class time so that no one suffered the afterlunch slump or day's-end rowdiness in a single class. Having gained confidence, a permanent teacher committee has added time blocks and…

The master schedule determines instructional time, use of space, student grouping, and teacher role. Currently, secondary school buildings are used like factories, and teachers can spend an entire career in the same classroom. Traditional, intensified, and flexible block scheduling produces master schedules with greater flexibility, less…

Discusses the advantages of an extended school year and block scheduling for science learning. (DDR)

Discusses the transition from traditional teaching and scheduling to a comprehensive block schedule with team teaching at the middle school level. Describes the process of educational change, including framing the problem, establishing consensus for change, creating pure teams, designing the master schedule; also discusses implementation issues.…

One schedule innovation--the four-period day and semester-length courses--is revamping North Carolina and Virginia high schools. At Orange County (Virginia) High School, a simplified and flexible 4-year 9-13 semester-block program is helping kids complete more courses, receive better grades, and take and pass more advanced-placement exams. (MLH)