Using time to enable success in teaching and learning is a critical part of every school's, district's and state's journey to success. It seems that there is never enough time in schools, and leaders struggle to make the most of what they have. How best to use this precious resource is a critical question. While time in isolation from other…

An unusual new program in Lexington, North Carolina, which is a drastic change to the schedule and methods of presenting learning material, is described. (DB)

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)

Describes going from teaching 8th grade mathematics in 45-minute class periods to teaching in a block schedule. Presents some strategies for making the change and keeping student interest. (NB)

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…

A New Jersey middle school has balanced its academic and social/emotional development programs by adding Prime Time, a daily time block allowing students a chance to participate in various school and community activities and thereby experience support, success, and recognition. Teachers have time for planning and participating in school-based…

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 a type of block scheduling for middle schools that combines heterogeneous grouping in all subjects within the block and ability grouping. Presents a method of compiling data for block schedules to assist planning. (JPB)

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…

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…

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.…

Discusses the affordability of implementing interdisciplinary teaching teams and block schedules in middle schools. Argues that the benefits of these school schedules and models make them worth the investment of time and money it takes to implement them. (JPB)

This report contains addresses and symposium discussions presented at the conference on teacher competence for the middle school years (fifth or sixth through eighth grades) which was attended by about 100 educators for various levels and positions. The foreword lists three questions posed by emergence of the middle school movement which the…

Describes a principal's efforts to help staff restructure an Arizona junior high school's entire curriculum while struggling to achieve a successful transition to middle school status. The most traumatic change for staff involved a radical scheduling change from one-hour classes to two-hour time blocks with alternating subjects from quarter to…

The implementation of block scheduling by a middle school for deaf and blind students is described. Longer class periods on alternating days were found to expand teachers' opportunities to plan interdisciplinary instruction that addressed individual learning styles. An extension center was developed to provide reinforcement, enrichment, and…