Time for a Change: TAMS Implements Block Scheduling
The new schedule increases instructional time in student’s core classes
As John F. Kennedy said, “We must use time as a tool, not as a crutch,” the Tyrone Area Middle School is doing just that by instituting block scheduling this school year.
Instead of the traditional 40-45 minute class periods, Tyrone middle school students now have a double period of each core class, which now meet every other day.
“Block scheduling gives us more instructional time for some core classes and more concentrated time for others. This time allows for more student engagement, technology and lab use, and varied instructional strategies” — Middle School Principal Kristen Pinter
“Block scheduling gives us more instructional time for some core classes and more concentrated time for others. This time allows for more student engagement, technology and lab use, and varied instructional strategies,” said Middle School Principal Kristen Pinter.
To keep track of when each student has a class, the middle school has “orange” and “black” days. In seventh grade, if a student has English on an “orange” day, then they would have reading the next “black” day.
Seventh grade students rotate English and reading, history and science, and have a double period of math everyday.
According to Pinter, advantages of this new schedule include a reduction of class-to-class transitions and number of teachers each student sees in one day, more time in class to check student understanding and reteach or reinforce before homework is assigned, and the elimination of non-instructional travel time between classes.
According to Pinter, block scheduling increases instructional time by 12 percent a day. In the seventh and eighth grades instructional time has increased from 40 percent of the day to 62 percent of the school day. In fifth and sixth grades, instructional time has risen from 67 percent to 79 percent of the school day.
According to the middle school teachers, most have been supportive of the move to block scheduling. A survey of all the seventh and eighth grade core teachers shows that most enjoy having two periods to finish a lesson and answer questions. Rather than trying to pick up a lesson the next day and hope the students remember the previous day’s instruction, the teachers are able finish a lesson and answer questions all in one day.
“I enjoy block scheduling because it allows me to cover so much more content with my students,” eighth grade English teacher Anne Maddox said.
However, student view on block scheduling is varied in opinion. When surveyed, seventh and eighth graders had mixed responses.
Many students highly praise the block scheduling, explaining that they have less homework because they have in-class time to work on it. Also, students enjoy having two days to do homework, instead of one, and having more time in class to ask questions.
A number of students also said that having only three core classes everyday makes the day seem faster and less stressful.
“It makes the day feel shorter and we have more time in class to work on assignments,” middle school student Meredith Carper said.
However, the number of students who praised block scheduling was comparable to the number of students who criticized it. Several students mentioned that on days when they have classes that they don’t like, the day seems to drag on for forever.
“I hate block scheduling because we can’t pay attention for two hours, and it melts our brains,” eighth grader Victoria Reese said.
Also, some students who don’t have any friends in their classes say that they miss seeing friends because they don’t switch classes as often.
Others students say that the block scheduling is confusing and they have a difficult time remembering which classes they have that day, and what they did in their classes two days ago.
However, the most common student complaint is that it is difficult for them to remain attentive for two full class periods without a break.
“I think students will need to work on developing stamina to be in class for 90 minutes,” seventh grade reading teacher Carey Dunn said.
To help keep students attentive, some teachers are allowing a three minute break when the bell rings. However, many students complain that this causes the bathrooms to become jammed and the hallways congested.
As for whether block scheduling will continue, Pinter said that the Middle School will reevaluate the schedule as the year progresses and determine a plan for next year based on student performance and feedback from teachers, parents and students.
Hi, my name is Emma Hoover, and I am a Senior at TAHS. This summer I was a Lifeguard at Delgrosso's Amusement Park. During the school year, I’m a...
Amber Gill • Mar 16, 2018 at 8:22 pm
To me the block scheduling seems like a good idea because when you get to college you are going to classed that lasts an hour and half or more. As a current college student that was an addjustment but you get used to it. Look on the bright side, those of you who don’t like it, at least its not a 3 hour class. Trust me you will adjust and things will be fine. I am just speaking from my experience as a current college student and a former TAHS one. Agree with me or not it is my opinion.
Laci Daniel • Nov 21, 2017 at 11:16 am
I personally love the block scheduling. as a 7th grade student at TAMS, I hope that the block scheduling stays just the way it is until I leave the middle school. Thank you Mrs. Pinter for finally making a system in which we learn twice as much with no extra cost of programming or special core classes. Don’t let anybody tell you to change it. I love block scheduling and it is a perfect match for TAMS.
-thank you
Devon Hennninger • Sep 20, 2017 at 9:49 am
This is something that i would very greatly dislike if it was implemented into the high school. I think that the traditional schedule works just as it should, our keystone scores the last few years have show that. There isn’t a need for “block scheduling” and honestly, it seems as if that would just overload kids with information for certain classes each day instead of a spread out portion.
Kolby Cowher • Sep 20, 2017 at 9:16 pm
I agree