Student Voices Block Scheduling, the combining of two or more periods, is among the hot topics in middle schools today.
Results indicate increased student engagement and achievement and positive social ramifications.
The discussion was triggered when a Yakima, Washington, teacher asked for advice about how teachers work best in block scheduling situations. An edited version of the discussion follows. Our middle school will go from a traditional seven-period day with one personal planning period daily for each teacher to a block schedule, which will include one personal planning period and one team planning period per day. The block of academic time will be for five periods, during which students will receive instruction from their interdisciplinary team of teachers. Students will spend the other two periods of time in PE, music, and exploratory classes.