Then the high school sent an SOS that the in-coming 8th graders were not coming into the high school very well prepared in their reading skills. They could write like champs but couldn't interpret literature very well. Now we are in a 90 minute block which has put the two courses back together with one teacher covering both curriculums but with double the time of the old 45 minute block. Of all these choices, the 90 minute block seems to work the best. Lots of time for writing.
Reading does seem to get lost in the shuffle, though.
But, it is great for writing.