Tick! Tock! Tick
Tock!... the clock goes on and on and on. Can this class drag on any longer? My
bottom hurts from sitting in this plastic chair. My back hurts from hunching
over for such a long time. The sun has been shining through the window, into my
eyes for what seems like an eternity! My mind cannot absorb another fact about
World History. I have been in this class for 90 full minutes and every second
has dragged on.
Above is an image of the Block Schedule
at West Springfield High School (2015)
In Northern Virginia, block scheduling has
been implemented, rather than the basic 45 minute or hour long class. All over
the country, high schools use different class schedules, but in Fairfax County,
‘Block’ is preferred. Block scheduling allows for four full periods to occur in
each day length approximately 90 minutes. Yikes! That’s a long
time. I am so sick and tired of these 90 minute classes. Many teachers
and administrators prefer the block schedule because it allows for more time in
a certain class, to teach thorough lessons or perhaps complete a full lab of
some sort, in the science department. A lab simply cannot be completed in a
mere 40 minutes!
In certain situations, block
scheduling makes sense. However, a block schedule definitely has its drawbacks.
The teen brain can only hold an attention span for soooo long. Forty minutes of
Calculus- EASY….. 90 minutes- get me outttta here!!! Even teachers admit to
losing their focus after a good chunk of time in class and need a break to sit
down for a minute or so. So which schedule is better for the students when the
ultimate goal is to learn new information? I believe the block schedule has had
a chance and now we all need a change.
Experiencing forty minute classes in
Middle School allowed for a faster paced atmosphere while in school. Block scheduling
only allows 3 classroom switches a day as opposed to 6! Personally, having the
mindset of, “I will be out of here in 39 minutes” allows me to focus better in
class and on the material. Attention spans, especially for seniors, are limited. I
believe there should be a class every day that is 90 minutes, but that period
can alternate? Allowing for every teacher to receive their chance of having a
block schedule with every student. I think this is a fair alternative. So if
the dreaded labs do need to be completed… they can be. This schedule style
would allow students to experience a fast paced day of school. Please, I’d like
to know what you think. E-mail me your responses and ideas at: fclinkenbeard@gmail.com!
Check out more on the School Schedule debate at http://www.nassp.org/Content.aspx?topic=57198.
I agree that the block schedule has been around for a while. I like the idea you proposed as well - it would make a nice change. Both sides have pros and cons, and it'd be a good idea to consider the possibility of a changing schedule.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you attention span point. I have a very limited attention span, so I often find my self zoning out halfway through class, especially with teachers who like to lecture. I believe my friend's school uses a schedule with two 90 minute blocks a day instead.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you attention span point. I have a very limited attention span, so I often find my self zoning out halfway through class, especially with teachers who like to lecture. I believe my friend's school uses a schedule with two 90 minute blocks a day instead.
ReplyDeleteI see pros and cons to both block and shorter periods, but you do bring up good points!
ReplyDelete