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Lesson Plans


Re: High School Scheduling

[ Thread ][ Subject ][ Author ][ Date ]
croberts (b2w6w4kn)
Sun, 28 Feb 1999 17:31:27 -0500

>I teach High School Art in Blytheville, Arkansas. For now I teach
>only 10th grade through 12th grade, during 6 - 50 min. periods, with
>50 min. planning period. (Approximately 130 to 150 students per
>semester.) Our district is looking at implementing block scheduling that
>sounds like your schedule. Do you like this set up? Can you tell me
>advantages and disadvantages, etc? Do you have suggestions for
>challenging gifted art students? I am frustrated with the lack of
>motivation on the students part to challenge themselves. I don't feel
>like I am challenging them. Thanks.
>
>Beth Macre

Beth, I teach middle school and I have 3 blocks a day. I see the kids every
other day. I keep the 7th and 8th graders for a semester and the 6th
graders rotate each 9 weeks.

I absolutely LOVE this schedule. I am nowhere near as tired as I used to
be...and now we have more time to work each day. It used to seem like class
was over by the time I introduced a new lesson, demo'd, and passed out the
supplies. The students still say at the end of class..."it seems like we
just got in here". "Time flies when you're having fun!"

It can be a problem when you have one or two students who don't want to
apply themselves and finish very early on a lesson. But with the block
schedule, this doesn't seem to be as much a problem as before.

Each year we offer one semester of advanced art in 7th and 8th grades. I
try to group the more "creative students" in these classes and offer lessons
that challenge these students a little more.

Carolyn Roberts