Block+Scheduling

Background Notes:
1) Pragmatic Solution to challenges such as too many different content topics competing for students attention at same time, kids needing target attention in a specific area, discipline issues that arise when a student is failing/gives up but still has most of the year to go (for ex). “Intensive Scheduling”—like laser beam on that content area. 2) Pedagogical approach that allows for more higher order thinking activities (which require processing time) and for more variety in delivery (which can engage and reach more students). Many years of research have found that minds’ on engagement and higher order thinking are 2 key components to learning and academic achievement.

Some big picture tips:
 * Build on the day before (lessons don’t “stand alone”); a contextual knowledge base is foundational to deeper learning (a la Bloom’s taxonomy).
 * Plan on a minimum of 3 different teaching structures/activities per block: Master minimum of 5 instructional strategies to actively and directly engage students in learning process (aim for 7-8), to incorporate throughout the week.
 * There is usually a more teacher-centered activity and a more student-centered activity (as students wrestle with new material and try to apply it)
 * Student-centered time: some group/partner, some independent, but always accountability
 * Ideally try to shift instructional activities—if even just subtly (like first trying a problem independently and silently, then asking students to discuss verbally with partner) -- every 10-15 minutes. Change grouping patterns, vary presentations (delivery of content), vary ways students engage with that content (opps for diff learning styles helps to maintain engagement while also reaching more students).
 * Instruction whole time—“extra time” is an illusion, as course is condensed; watch pacing.
 * Use formative assessments (especially informal and performance based) along the way, as you are building knowledge, and don’t want to go through 90 minutes only to find at the end that no one has understood a thing!

Here is a simplified visual to think about planning so it’s not so intimidating (in a follow-up PD we will go more in depth with planning). Note: some of these terms are mine (again, to demystify a bit).


 * **Chunk 1:** The Set Up

(more teacher directed) || * Warm up/Do now (bridge from former material/prior knowledge)
 * Introduce new material ||
 * **Chunk 2:** Application

(more student- centered)

(Note how this is the biggest chunk) || * Learning activity where students are wrestling with/trying to “make sense” of the material; usually some combo of cooperative work and individual work; teacher circulates and “coaches” plus does formative assessments || (student and teacher) || * Activity to summarize main elements of lesson ||
 * **Chunk 3:** Synthesis



Toolbox


Here is a great clearinghouse for teaching strategies and structures: http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/index.html

Here are 7 higher-order processing strategies which take time (and thus can be perfect for Block planning) but take some practice: __j__igsaw http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/strats/jigsaw/index.html

inquiry: http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/strats/inquiry/index.html

concept attainment http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/strats/cattain/index.html

simulations http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/strats/simul/index.html

socratic seminar http://www.journeytoexcellence.org/practice/instruction/theories/miscideas/socratic/

synectics: http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/strats/synectics/index.html

case studies http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/strats/casestd/index.html

Jigsaw Activity:
Slope "Find Your Partner" Activity: Graphs: Word Descriptions:

Graphing Activity Part 1 (Individual Graphs):

Resources: mine and now yours!

 * How to Organize Your Teaching: from Doing What Works: Research Based Education Practices on-line http://dww.ed.gov/topic/?T_ID=19
 * What works Clearinghouse: look for "Organizing Instruction and Study to Improve Student Learning" http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/publications/practiceguides/?pgid=1
 * What Works in Classroom Instruction by Marzano, Gaddy, and Dean (can download free pdf): http://www.mcrel.org/topics/products/110/
 * Michael Rettig's workshop notes Teaching on the Block: Strategies for Engaging Active Learners (download pdf from http://www.schoolschedulingassociates.com/handouts.htm)
 * The Math Forum @ Drexel -- Math Library Resources on Block Scheduling: http://mathforum.org/library/ed_topics/block_sched/

Silly graph: http://xkcd.com/252/