School Schedule 2013-2014 A Proposal: Rotate and Drop 1 Rationale - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Columbia Middle School School Schedule 2013-2014 A Proposal: Rotate and Drop

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Rationale

 Increase student achievement  Address changes in curriculum (Common Core Standards)  Enhance the district initiative of the implementation of

Understanding by Design (UbD) which will facilitate effective classroom objectives, activities, and assessments

 Provide time for differentiation

 Whole group, small group, and individual instruction  Delve more deeply into the content – Quality over quantity  The use of multiple approaches to accommodate multiple

intelligences

 Provide time for greater access to enrichment and co-

curricular activities

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 Allows for increased time in each class ~ 46 vs. 57 mins.  Students meet for six classes each day  Continues to offer the regular eight period day but now

in a rotation that “drops” two classes to the next day

 Affords opportunities for expanding enrichment

• fferings during Enrichment Period (E.P.)

 Includes a common lunch  More access to the media center and computer labs

Rotate & Drop

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 A well-tested middle school model

 Watchung Middle School  Mt. Pleasant Middle School, Livingston  The Hun School of Princeton  Chatham Middle School  Madison Junior High  Scotch Plains

 Presently used at Governor Livingston

Rotate & Drop

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The 8-Period Rotation with Drop

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Period

A-E B-F C-G D-H

1 A B C D 2 B C D A 3 C D A B

Lunch

4 E F G H 5 F G H E 6 G H E F

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Research:

 Brown (2001) – Teachers report longer class periods allowed for a wider variety of

instructional strategies that were more consistent with students needs. Changes that benefit students included time for student reflection, critical thinking and more student-to-student collaboration.

 George and Alexander (1993) – Noted that interdisciplinary teams in a flexible

schedule is the basic organizational framework of the exemplary middle level school.

 Arhar & Irvin (1985) – Regarded the argument of “getting to know a student by

seeing them each day” and concluded that longer class periods can permit greater personalization of instruction and thereby permit greater depth of understanding of students and their needs.

 Canady & Rettig (1995) – In a longer class period, teachers have the opportunity

to use more effective teaching strategies (cooperative learning, exploration, inquiry, case-study, simulations) that are more difficult to implement during a shorter class time.

 Williamson (1998) – A schedule that rotates changes the order of classes from

day-to-day. When used, teachers and students report that the schedule changes their perception of one another and the content area, often because both students and teachers perform differently at different times during the day.

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What options were explored?

 Eliminating OP and allocating that time into each class

 Created concerns over the number of expectations/assignments

students would be required to prep for each day

 Block/Modified Block Scheduling

 Ninety minute blocks of time are too long for many students in

middle school – Blocks that skip every other day lose momentum and continuity

 The “A/B” daily schedule

 As with the block schedule, momentum and continuity issues

 Drop Schedule

 Conflicts with shared staff, no real gains for enrichment options

 Result

 None of the above met the challenge of offering increased time

and increased opportunities for enrichment

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~Enrichment Period~ E.P. includes experiences OP could not.

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• Includes Cycle classes and Scheduled Advisory cycle
• World Languages (6th grade only)
• Allows time for completion of homework
• When E.P. falls adjacent to lunch, practice sessions for

Chorus/Band can be extended

• Continues to run concurrently with the grade level

teaching teams for help and access

Typical Sixth Grade Schedule

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 8:15 - 9:14

E.P. / W.L. LAL/Reading Math LAL/Writing

9:16 - 10:13

LAL/Reading Math LAL/Writing E.P. / W.L.

10:15 - 11:12

Math LAL/Writing E.P. / Bands LAL/Reading Lunch

12:05 - 1:02

• Soc. St.

Computers Science

• Phys. Ed.

1:04 - 2:01

Computers Science

• Phys. Ed.
• Soc. St.

2:03 - 3:00

Science

• Phys. Ed.
• Soc. St.

Computers

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Typical Seventh Grade Schedule

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 8:15 - 9:14

E.P. Life Sci. English Technology

9:16 - 10:13

Life Sci. English Technology E.P.

10:15 - 11:12

English Technology Band/Chor. Life Sci. Lunch

12:05 - 1:02

French Algebra

• Phys. Ed.
• Soc. St.

1:04 - 2:01

Algebra

• Phys. Ed.
• Soc. St.

French

2:03 - 3:00

• Phys. Ed.
• Soc. St.

French Algebra

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Typical Eighth Grade Schedule

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 8:15 - 9:14

English

• Phys. Ed.

Life Skills Italian

9:16 - 10:13

• Phys. Ed.

Life Skills Italian English

10:15 - 11:12

Life Skills Italian English

• Phys. Ed.

Lunch

12:05 - 1:02

Band/Chor. Geometry

• Soc. St.

Earth Sci.

1:04 - 2:01

Geometry

• Soc. St.

Earth Sci. E.P.

2:03 - 3:00

• Soc. St.

Earth Sci. E.P. Geometry

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Advantages of Proposed Rotate and Drop Schedule for Students

 More hands-on labs, fewer teacher demonstrations  More time to get one-on-one time with the teacher  More opportunity to explore and collaborate in small

groups

 Greater access time to the building’s technology  Students experience classes at different times of the day  Students seeing 6 classes a day versus 7 or 8 in the present

schedule allows them to better focus on each class

 Less of the day is spent in transition from room to room  Less number of classes each day = less evening prep time,

less concerns, reducing anxiety

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 Increased opportunity to differentiate instruction while

seeking answers to the essential questions

 Time for whole group, small group, and individual instruction  Qualitative, meaning quality work over quantity work  Multiple approaches to accommodate multiple intelligences

 Team time allows for greater collaborative thinking and

teaching opportunities

 Students are seen in classes at different times of the day  Sixth grade teachers develop an even greater expertise in a

specific content

 More time will allow for more engaging hands-on experiences

and labs

 More time to engage students to explore and discover

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Advantages of Proposed Rotate and Drop Schedule for Teachers

• Lunch begins by every student having a seat at a table with friends
• Lunch will be served from multiple stations set in both rooms
• Regular cafeteria tables will be set in the Cafeteria for grade six and the

Gold Gym for 7th and 8th grade

• Staff will supervise both lunch areas as we do now
• During class meetings with the building administration, whole grades

will be moved into the cafeteria for those discussions

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• The Library will be open during lunch for independent research
• Computer Labs will be available to complete projects. All computers

will have access to the students’ own digital storage space

• Quiet rooms for homework and reading, others to complete projects

with partners

• Special meetings and dialogs with building administration
• Grade level and multi grade level guidance groups
• a wonderful opportunity to build a sense of community across all grade levels
• Students’ input will be encouraged to enhance future activities
• Teachers will be encouraged to provide ideas for alternate experiences

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Lunch

A Menu of Enrichment Options

 Knowledge Masters  Men In Black Boys Chorus  Science Club  School Newspaper  Spanish Club  Student Government  Vocal Ensemble  Yearbook Club  Art Club  Chorus  Drama Club  Drummers Club  French Club  Future Film Makers Club  Golf Club  Jazz Band

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Cost/Benefit Analysis:

 Cost:

 Recurring Costs (Approximately $100k)

 Staff Increase: One 6th Grade Teacher  Enrichment/World Language Teachers by percentages  New club advisors as approved  P.E./Health by percentages  Allotment of duty periods during lunch could reduce present

supervision expense

 One Time Costs (21k)

 Lunch tables  Floor cover/Miscellaneous equipment

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Cost/Benefit Analysis:

 Benefit:

 Longer class time and fewer interruptions will provide students

with a deeper understanding of a more focused curriculum

 Additional technology experience offers prep time for future

PARCC testing which will be online and timed

 E.P. continues to allow students access to their teaching team for

assistance on a rotational basis with the advent of enrichment classes

 Moving sixth grade to two teams focuses teachers on a single

content

 Increased regularly scheduled visits with a counselor will build

self esteem, develop better character, and make for a more positive middle school experience

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Work Moving Forward Includes

Creating Schedule in PowerSchool

Organizing a four day “live run” during this school year

Teaching staff meetings and lesson planning

Full year schedules for all co-curricular programs

Custodial/Kitchen staff meetings

Proposal

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That the board of education approve the outlined Rotate and Drop Schedule for the 2013 – 2014 school year

Columbia Middle School School Schedule 2013-2014

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2013-2014 School Year ~ First Marking Period

Date Rotation Day Date Rotation Day Date Rotation Day

S e p t e m b e r 4 Wed 1 Sep 27 Fri 4 O c t

• b

e r 22 Tues 4 5 Thur Out 30 Mon 1 23 Wed 1 6 Fri 1 O c t

• b

e r 1 Tues 2 24 Thur 2 9 Mon 2 2 Wed 3 25 Fri 3 10 Tues 3 3 Thur 4 28 Mon 4 11 Wed 4 4 Fri 1 29 Tues 1 12 Thur 1 7 Mon 2 30 Wed 2 13 Fri 2 8 Tues 3 31 Thur 3 16 Mon 3 9 Wed 4 N

• v

e m b e r 1 Fri 4 17 Tues 4 10 Thur 1 4 Mon 1 18 Wed 1 11 Fri 2 5 Tues 2 19 Thur 2 14 Mon Out 6 Wed 3 20 Fri 3 15 Tues 3 7 Thur Out 23 Mon 4 16 Wed 4 8 Fri Out 24 Tues 1 17 Thur 1 11 Mon 4 25 Wed 2 18 Fri 2 12 Tues 1 26 Thur 3 21 Mon 3

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Appendix A

School Day Remains at 6 Hours and 45 Minutes

What was 184 minutes per course over four sessions… is now 171 minutes in three sessions.

Present Bell

Same 8 Classes Each Day

Proposed Bell

Rotation of 6 Classes Each Day

8:15 - 8:50 OP 35 Minute 8:52 - 9:40 48 Minutes 9:42 - 10:28 46 Minutes 10:30 - 11:16 46 Minutes Lunch 30 Minutes 11:50 - 12:36 46 Minutes 12:38 - 1:24 46 Minutes 1:26 - 2:12 46 Minutes 2:14 - 3:00 46 Minutes 8:15 - 9:14 59 Minutes 9:16 - 10:13 57 Minutes 10:15 - 11:12 57 Minutes Lunch 49 Minutes 12:05 - 1:02 57 Minutes 1:04 - 2:01 57 Minutes 2:03 - 3:00 57 Minutes

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Appendix B

Lunch Enrichment - October 2012

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Oct 1 Day 2 Meeting Gr. 6 Art Vocal Ensemble Drummers 2 3 Yearbook SGA MIB Jazz 3 4 Film Chorus 7-8 Band 4 1 Film Showing Newspaper Guitar 6 Band 7 2 Meeting Gr. 7 Spanish Vocal Ensemble Orchestra 8 3 KMO MIB Drummers 9 4 Council (6) Science Chorus Jazz 10 1

• Stud. Govt.

French Guitar 7-8 Band 11 2 Meeting Gr. 8 Art Vocal Ensemble 6 Band 15 3 Yearbook SGA MIB Orchestra 16 4 Council (7) Film Chorus Drummers 17 1 Film Showing Newspaper Guitar Jazz 18 2 Spanish Vocal Ensemble 7-8 Band 21 3 KMO MIB 6 Band 22 4 Council (8) Science Chorus Orchestra 23 1

• Stud. Govt.

French Guitar Drummers 24 2 Science Vocal Ensemble Jazz 25 3 Art SGA MIB 7-8 Band 28 4 Yearbook Chorus 6 Band 29 1 Film Showing Film Guitar Orchestra 30 2 Newspaper Vocal Ensemble Drummers 31 3 Spanish MIB Jazz

Appendix C