MTPS Middle School Schedule Proposed Implementation 2018-2019 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

MTPS Middle School Schedule

Proposed Implementation 2018-2019

Current Schedule Structure

• 80-40 minute Mathematics periods on rotating A/B days

○ Other side of 40 minute periods ■ 6th grade World Language ■ 7th/8th grade Electives

• Science and Social Studies 80 minute periods on rotating A/B days
• Language Arts 80 minutes periods daily
• Phys. Ed. 40 minute periods daily
• Electives and World Language 40 minute periods on rotating A/B days
• Honors World Language 40 minute periods daily

Current Schedule Issues and Constraints

Students/Parents

• Confusing daily schedules due to lack of consistency
• Difficulty managing homework, projects, and tests that can’t be organized among teachers
• Block times - 80s and 40s (most research supports 60 minute blocks for Middle School)

Teachers

• A/B Science-SS: lack of consistency (with missed periods don’t see students for several days)
• Math - 80/40 split - planning challenges and consistency
• Phys. Ed. - 40 minutes daily - outside activities short and inside activities overcrowded
• Unbalanced class sizes across all subjects

Guidance/CST

• Master Schedule development - extremely complicated and inefficient
• “Linked” classes inhibit flexibility with student schedules
• Special Education scheduling difficult; programs not always compatible with master schedule
• Addressing student academic, social, and emotional issues - inconsistent teacher collaboration

New Schedule Development Considerations

• The Middle School Child - from an organizational, academic, and

social-emotional standpoint

• Staffing - work with current staff to fill all positions, existing and new
• Opportunity for common planning with community of teachers and departments
• More efficient and balanced master schedule
• Language Arts curriculum not compromised with decreased minutes; integrated

Humanities approach with increase in SS minutes

• Intervention, enrichment, and collaboration time for students; Advisory Labs
• Increase in Science instruction (NGSS, state tested subject area)
• Revamp electives (Visual & Performing Arts Standards, relevant Technology,

support H.S. pathways, etc.)

• State minimum Phys. Ed. minutes requirement
• Bus-run time frames and staff work day

6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade 11:09-11:34 Lunch 11:11-12:11 Block #4 11:11-12:11 Block #4 11:36-12:36 Block #4 12:11-12:36 Lunch 12:13-1:13 Block #5 12:38-1:38 Block #5 12:38-1:38 Block #5 1:13-1:38 Lunch

Proposed 2018-2019 Middle School Master Schedule

8:05-9:05 Block #1 9:07-10:07 Block #2 10:09-11:09 Block #3 1:40-2:40 Block #6 2:40 Student dismissal

Block “A” Day “B” Day Block “A” Day “B” Day 1 LA LA 1 Class 6A Class 6A 2 Math Math 2 Class 6B Class 6B 3 Soc Studies Soc Studies 3 Class 6C Class 6C Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch 4 Science Science 4 Class 6D Class 6D 5 PE Electives OR Band/Chorus 5 60 min prep/ community planning 60 min prep/ community planning 6 World Lang. Advisory Lab 6 Advisory Lab (duty) Advisory Lab (duty)

Sample Student Schedule: Sample Teacher Schedule:

• Misc. Notes:
• Each instructional block is 60 minutes
• LA, Math, Science, Social Studies meet everyday
• A/B rotation of PE, Chorus/Band, World Language, Elective Cycle, and Advisory Lab

Subject Current Times (2 weeks) Proposed Times (2 weeks) LA 800 minutes 600 minutes (Indep. rdg. in SS/ Advisory Lab); integration of ELA NJSLS as model curricula intends Math 600 600 Science 400 600 Social Studies 400 600 Physical Education 400 300 World Language 200 300 Elective Cycles OR Chorus/Band 200 300 Advisory Lab 300 TOTAL 3000 3600

• Each “community” has 4 homerooms with a LA, Math, Social Studies, & Science teacher
• 6th graders- options include heterogeneous homerooms that may travel together as a unit

throughout the day or individual student schedules within a community of about 100 students and 4 core teachers

• 7th & 8th graders- individual student schedules constructed within a community of about 100

students with option for honors classes in LA and Mathematics

• Special education programs, e.g. ICS and resource, scheduled within communities
• Community teachers facilitate Advisory Lab so that students have the opportunity for

intervention, enrichment, collaborative group work with peers, Genius Hour/Passion Project planning time, and independent reading to support personalized learning goals

• Consider different structures for World Language offerings- exploratory and honors levels as

well as possible introduction of Sign Language as an option

Increased Flexibility and Opportunities

Possible Gr 6 Electives Possible Gr 7 Electives Possible Gr 8 Electives Study Skills Team/Collaborative Planning Skills Oral/Public Speaking Skills Coding/Robotics Innovative Design/Creation Forensics Multimedia Presentation Video/Digital Production 1 Video/Digital Production 2 Visual/Performing Arts choose 1 pathway below:

• Theatre/Dance
• Music
• Visual Art

Visual/Performing Arts choose 1 pathway below:

• Theatre/Dance
• Music
• Visual Art

Visual/Performing Arts choose 1 pathway below:

• Theatre/Dance
• Music
• Visual Art

Exploring New Electives

Subcommittee will meet over the next few weeks to identify new elective offerings

Staff presentations at respective schools- 1/10/18 Board/community presentation- 1/16/18 PIC presentation- 2/6/18 PTA presentations at respective schools and parent advisory subcommittees- January- March Student Advisory presentations/mtgs at respective schools- February-March

Staff Subcommittees (department and faculty meetings, June 5th PD day):

1. Structure of and activities for Advisory Lab 2. Develop new Elective Cycles - curriculum work will be completed in Summer, 2018 3. Special Education needs/schedule changes 4. Department meetings for curriculum mapping/revisions 5. Guidance meetings - school master schedules/community organization 6. PD needs and planning for 60 minute block instruction 7. Structure of community/department prep and planning periods

Moving Forward to September 2018 Implementation