Practical Life holds profound significance within the Montessori philosophy, captivating educators and students alike. Here, Montessori beautifully connects these concepts of dignity and independence to the skills children learn in their Montessori classroom. The author has a particular interest in fiber arts and crafts, and in this article, the…

A major organizational change is necessary to promote more equitable and effective instructional grouping schemes in schools. A palatable restructuring alternative that combines effective grouping with the flexibility to meet each school's needs is parallel block scheduling. This system capitalizes on teachers' strengths, promotes greater mixing…

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.…

A well-crafted school schedule can enhance usage of time, space, and resources; improve instructional climate; help solve instruction-delivery problems; and help establish desired programs and instructional practices. This article discusses scheduling challenges (providing quality time, creating a school climate, and providing varying learning…

Almost every U.S. high school uses six- or seven-period schedule, requiring students to cope daily with numerous teachers, sets of class rules, and homework assignments. If students and teachers worked with fewer classes and fewer people each day, they could focus more time and energy on improving instruction and increasing learning. Article…

Organizing a school staff to deliver a core curriculum has historically taken three forms: the all-school theme approach, interdisciplinary teamwork, and the block time or self-contained class models. The ultimate in student-centered integrative curriculum is the unstructured core approach, which involves teacher and student cooperation in…

The student-centered learning practices associated with constructivism could benefit from the increased class time that block scheduling offers. But, in this article, the author observes, too often block scheduling is adopted as an end in itself, not as a tool to facilitate a specific pedagogical approach. The author expands on his observation in…

This paper examines the organization and representation of time in certain kinds of undergraduate programs, here represented by a sociology program in a US university. Written requirements for the major are analyzed as constituting a "chart" that defines academic time in terms of units of before-after relationships. The paper shows how students…

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…

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…

This paper outlines, explains, and illustrates the core block model of scheduling, which allows students to spend more time with fewer teachers and encourages greater teacher interaction and ownership in the lives of their students. The core model has been used effectively with advisory programs, drop schedules, and exploratory blocks. It serves…

More high schools are experimenting with block schedules to provide longer class periods and decrease faculty workload. Since a Colorado Springs high school adopted the new schedule in 1990, daily attendance, honor roll participation, college enrollments, and earned course credits are all higher. Benefits for schools in Maine, Illinois, Ohio,…

Shows how the philosophies of middle school education and special education overlap and complement one another, focusing on six concepts: learner-centered instruction, bridging or transitioning emphasis, interdisciplinary teams, advisory programs, block scheduling, and exploratory courses. Continued collaboration between special and middle-level…

Describes the pitfalls of block scheduling and outlines questions to consider before implementing a block plan. (LMI)

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…