Four-Block Middle School Schedule with Intervention/Enrichment Period and Alternating Grade Level and Department Common Planning Time
August 29, 2008 – 4:45 amDuring the spring of 2007 I had the pleasure of working with Joy Lea, principal of the new Faiss Middle School in the Clark County Schools (Las Vegas) in Nevada. Together we adapted what we call the “Four-Block” schedule for her school staffing and population (See chapter 4 of our book “Scheduling Strategies for Middle Schools” for a detailed discussion of this schedule). The schedule includes four 80-minute instructional blocks, a 40-minute Intervention/Enrichment period and time for lunch. Students receive an 80-minute instructional block of language arts and an 80-minute block of mathematics daily. In addition students are taught social studies and science every other day for 80 minutes and have a fourth block for elective classes and physical education. Teachers instruct three 80-minute blocks daily and the 40-minute I/E period. 80 minutes was reserved for teachers’ team and individual planning.
This schedule provides a minimum of 66 2/3 % of instructional time in core classes. If you think of the schedule as a 9-period schedule: two daily periods are allocated to LA, two to math, one to social studies, one to science, two to encore classes and one (the I/E) can be either core or enrichment. Thus all students receive a minimum of 2/3 of their time in core instruction (6 of 9 periods), and some students receive more core instruction (7 of 9) because for them the I/E period is devoted to core instruction as well.
During the 40-minute Intervention/Enrichment period (they called it “E-Time”) students were grouped based upon formative assessment data to receive instructional interventions in language arts or mathematics or to receive enrichment activities. Groupings were reconfigured every two-three weeks as newer performance data became available.
By all accounts the school was very successful; they achieved Adequate Yearly Progress in all areas but the Special Education sub-group in mathematics. See attached state report. Joy also compiled other data to share with interested parties.Faiss Report.
This year several improvements have been made to the schedule that are worth sharing with others. Last year common grade level planning time occurred for all grade levels every day. This year Joy Lea and her assistant principal, David Osterhuber, revised the planning schedule so that on “B” days teachers plan together as a grade level and on “A” days teachers plan together in cross-grade-level departments. This should provide an excellent opportunity for cross-grade level discipline-based articulation. A side benefit of this plan is the possibility of creating multi-grade level band and choir classes on the the departmental planning day. Links to the schedule and school website follow.
Faiss MS Preparation and Collaboration Schedule
What do you think?
Mike
8 Responses to “Four-Block Middle School Schedule with Intervention/Enrichment Period and Alternating Grade Level and Department Common Planning Time”
Trying to create a schedule for a grade 5-12 classroom. I was thinking of 4 classes a semester. Need to include exploritory/specials for middle school. Any suggesstions would be welcomed.
By kmc on Aug 6, 2009
Hi,
I am trying to create a Four Block schedule with three 80 min. blocks and two 40 min. blocks for a 7th & 8th Middle School that is housed within a K-8 school. We have 3 homerooms for each grade level, and need to accommodate specials (art,music,gym,Spanish). Any ideas?
By Colleen Lugauskas on Aug 18, 2009
Any suggestions for a 7th and 8th grade school block schedule? 600 students with 11 encore teachers (pe included in this number)
By scot on Dec 7, 2009
Our school is doing the block scheduling with 90 minute blocks. Double math and english and science and history every other day. We are trying to find a way to convince the staff that our kids would benefit from having a schedule that has eighth grade going to their elective first block rather than at the end of the day. Looking for good data that proves this would be beneficial especially for our eighth graders. Any suggestions????
By Chris on Jan 12, 2010
I doubt there is any such research. The only thing I could suggest would be to look at the brain research that suggests adolescents aren’t too with it early in the morning. Often this research is used to suggest that high school should start later in the morning. To my knowledge there is only one research study (from Minn. if I recall right) that actually compared different start times for HS and found the later start more beneficial for HS students.
By rettig on Jan 13, 2010
My school has had a block like this for 4 years and while our scores went up, overall there was great dissatisfaction among the staff about the lack of value placed on science and history classes. We are going back to regular scheduling next year, with an added intervention slot. As a math teacher, I will miss this block scheduling.
By Rai on Mar 18, 2010
Who takes the students to lunch? I guess what I am asking is, do the core teachers have unencumbered lunch, or do they supervise and eat at the same time?
Thanks!
By Wally on Mar 23, 2010