As schools continue to strive to meet federal testing requirements, many schools have been looking at ways to improve. During the 1990's many school districts thought they had found the method, tool, or program, with which to accomplish this goal: the "block schedule". This study was a comparison of the teaching strategies and attitudes of…

The traditional seven-period high school schedule is undergoing intense scrutiny. New schedules are reducing class preparation time; permitting students to move ahead, attend alternating full-day vocational and academic programs, and perform community service during regular school hours; and allowing teachers more productive instructional modes.…

Under a block schedule, students generally attend fewer but longer classes. Teachers who have tried the approach say they accomplish more in each class session and use a variety of teaching strategies and learning activities. A chart explains the most common varieties of block scheduling. (MLF)

Five years of block scheduling at Roy J. Wasson High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, has reduced the stress levels for staff and students. Increases have occurred in the average daily attendance rate, in the percentage of students on the honor roll, and in the college-enrollment rate. A sidebar lists 10 suggestions for making the transition…

This paper discusses the challenges and difficulties of adopting new "authentic" methods of instruction that help students not only learn but also develop habits that enable them to use their knowledge more effectively. "Authentic" methods of instruction are defined as those that require students to produce (not just reproduce) knowledge relevant…

This approach to the study of classroom teaching-learning processes concentrates on pupil time and the various ways in which it is used. The conceptual framework contrasts with most earlier studies that report teacher behavior as the most direct influence on pupil achievement. Two premises form the basis of the framework: (1) The total amount of…

The report examines issues in block scheduling as it affects foreign language teaching and learning. First, key questions related to block scheduling are discussed from the perspective of student learning, access, and workload. These include questions concerning the potential of block learning to improve achievement and rate of learning, to…