Block Scheduling-Scheduling Strategies
There are several types of schedules labeled "block" or
"modified-block" schedules. (1) a 4-period day schedule, the same four
classes held each day, with year-long courses completed in one semester;
(2) an 8-block schedule, each day having 4 periods (1,3,5,7 one day and
2,4,6,8, the next), the same classes as in a 7-period day with the 8th
period set aside for enrichment, activities, remediation, or assemblies;
(3) an 8-block schedule, four days having 4 periods as in #2 above, and
the 5th day having all 7 classes and an advisory period; (4) a modified
block schedule with each class having short periods 2 or 3 days a week
and 2 or 3 extended periods each week.
Schedule 1
| Period |
Time |
Minutes |
| 1 |
7:30-8:55 |
85 |
| Pass |
8:55-9:05 |
10 |
| 2 |
9:05-10:30 |
85 |
| Pass |
10:30-10:40 |
10 |
| 3 Lunch |
10:40-12:35 |
115 |
| Pass |
12:35-12:45 |
10 |
| 4 |
12:45-2:10 |
85 |
Schedule 2
| |
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
7:30-9:00
|
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
9:09-10:34
|
3 |
Enrichment |
3 |
Enrichment |
3 |
10:43-12:38
|
5 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
12:45-2:10
|
7 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
7 |
(week 2 is the opposite of week 1)
Schedule 3
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
| 1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
| 2 |
| 3 |
Seminar |
3 |
Seminar |
3 |
| Advisor Base |
| 5 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
| 6 |
| 7 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
7 |
| 8 |
Schedule 4
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
1
7:15-8:10
55 minutes |
1
7:15-8:35
80 minutes |
1
7:15-7:55
40 minutes |
1
7:15-8:35
80 minutes |
2
7:15-8:35
80 minutes |
2
8:00-8:40
40 minutes |
2
8:15-9:05
50 minutes |
2
8:45-10:00
75 minutes |
TAPS/Clubs
8:45-9:15
30 minutes |
3
8:45-10:00
75 minutes |
3
8:45-10:00
75 minutes |
3
9:10-10:00
50 minutes |
3
9:20-10:00
40 minutes |
4 Lunch
10:05-11:55
75 minutes |
5 Lunch
10:05-11:55
75 minutes |
4 Lunch
10:05-11:55
75 minutes |
4 Lunch
10:05-11:30
50 minutes |
4 Lunch
10:05-11:30
50 minutes |
5
12:00-12:50
50 minutes |
6
12:00-12:50
50 minutes |
6
12:00-1:15
75 minutes |
5
11:35-12:50
75 minutes |
5
11:35-12:25
50 minutes |
6
1:00-2:15
75 minutes |
7
1:00-2:15
75 minutes |
7
1:25-2:15
50 minutes |
7
1:00-2:15
75 minutes |
6
12:30-1:20
50 minutes |
7
1:25-2:15
50 minutes |
Schools choose from among schedules to meet different local school
needs. The chart below uses a selection of extended-schedule advantages
to compare the four sample schedules.
Comparison of Features of the Four Sample Schedules
Advantages
|
Schedules
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
| Allow
students more time to prepare for each class |
X |
X |
X |
|
| Less time is
lost moving from class to class |
X |
X |
X |
|
| Increase the
number of credit opportunities over traditional 7-period schedule |
X |
|
X |
|
| Allow long
blocks of uninterrupted time for instruction |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Provides a
seminar or enrichment period for various activities chic often
pull students out of classes |
|
X |
X |
|
| Decreases
number of students teachers must know each term |
X |
|
|
|
| Decreases
number of teachers students adjust to each term |
X |
|
|
|
| Addresses
questions of retention by decreasing gaps of time |
|
X |
X |
X |
| Decreases
number of classes teachers prepare for each term |
X |
|
|
|
|
