A student could take French I in the fall of 95 followed by French II in the Spring of 97. Some administrators cite the fact that most forgetting is done in the first several weeks after a course is taken. Yet, they do not give any information on the relationship between the length of time without a course and the time it takes to review a course. Certainly the less time that has passed the easier it must be to refresh your memory. A benefit for sequential subjects in block scheduling is the ability to accelerate in a subject area.
Most people reach a saturation point within an hour.
Weaker students reach that point earlier. Continuing instruction is counter productive after the saturation point is reached. Doing Homework in Class Many times a section of material must be practiced for a long period of time before it is absorbed to the point that a teacher can add to it. Usually the teacher gives the student homework to provide this needed practice and time to absorb and firm up the concept in memory. Under block scheduling, the teacher will need to do this in class before going on to the succeeding topic.