Three years ago, the staff at Bethel (Connecticut) Middle School made a commitment to establish the school as a professional learning community (PLC). As they delved into the PLC concept, they realized that the first step was to take a close look at how they used time during the school day. Specifically, they needed to determine how to best…

Examines the implementation of an alternating day schedule in middle school. It is suggested that block scheduling provides an effective instructional alternative to the traditional six- or seven-period format, creating a relaxed atmosphere while decreasing stress and improving attitudes of both students and teachers. Blocks provide a gradual…