It is possible to create a literacy block where teachers meet with students for guided reading and writing conferences, and provide daily explicit instruction in both reading and writing. A comprehensive look at literacy and learning, "100 Minutes" shows teachers how to fit balanced literacy into a daily 100-minute literacy block using a framework…

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…

Explains why block scheduling has become accepted practice at the secondary level and describes potential benefits for middle level schools. Shares common scheduling approaches and discusses their appropriateness for use at the middle level. Presents alternative models that would permit middle school faculties to capitalize on the benefits of…

The manual was prepared to provide administrators of small schools with information on techniques which promote flexibility in school scheduling. While no attempt was made to provide details for implementation of flexible scheduling, the information provided should be sufficient to enable the administrator (1) to determine if some variation of…

In 1995 the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC), Richmond (Virginia) commissioned a study of alternative high school scheduling modules to determine the effects of different schedules on teaching strategies, teacher and student satisfaction, and student and school performance. This report presents the results of an analysis of the…

In 1995 the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC), Richmond (Virginia) commissioned a study of alternative high school scheduling modules to determine the effects of different schedules on teaching strategies, teacher and student satisfaction, and student and school performance. This report presents the results of an analysis of a…

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)

This article: (1) describes the characteristics and duration of transitions between units of classroom activities; and (2) investigates how transitions are achieved by three effective junior high school teachers. (CB)

BLOCK-TIME TEACHING INVOLVES INSTRUCTING A GROUP OF PUPILS FOR TWO OR MORE PERIODS A DAY IN TWO OR MORE SUBJECT AREAS. THIS ENABLES TEACHERS TO KNOW THEIR PUPILS BETTER. CERTAIN FACTORS, HOWEVER, ARE OBSTACLES TO ACHIEVING THE GOALS OF BLOCK-TIME TEACHING. THESE INCLUDE SUCH FACTORS AS SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS WHO ARE NONCOMMUNICATIVE OR WHOSE…

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)

Offers suggestions for developing creative instructional approaches in time-blocked classes. Teachers should continuously engage students in active learning, include group activities to encourage student participation, incorporate activities addressing multiple intelligences, use creative thinking activities, move outside the classroom, employ…

Teacher teams add new dimensions to learning and a much- needed sense of family and community. Teams have four domains: response to student needs, curriculum integration, teaching strategies, and flexible scheduling. Barriers include scheduling problems, insufficient planning and implementation time, sporadic cooperation among core and elective…

A formula for a rotation plan and eleven steps for individualizing programs for student assignment on office machines or other individualized units are presented. Illustrating the plan are a worksheet showing time allotments for the students and machines and the rotation units for the same students and machines. (MF)

Maintains that many schools have changed to a form of block scheduling. Describes and discusses the impact of several models of block scheduling. Asserts that, when music educators understand the consequences of various scheduling options, they can be more credible participants in discussions of how best to schedule school time. (CFR)

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…