The merits of block scheduling are a subject of great debate. One response to these concerns has been block scheduling. The joint impact of block scheduling and an nctm standards. Optimal scheduling for secondary school students mansfield isd. Block scheduling in high school mathematics semantic scholar. Block scheduling has gained widespread popularity, even without a robust research base attesting to its effectiveness. This suggests that the type of scheduling of mathematics courses does not. The effects of a 4 x 4 block scheduling program in a middle school on a variety of student measures were investigated. Unlike traditional high school schedules with 6 or 7 periods a day, many high schools are using block scheduling. Mar 04, 2016 at saratoga high school in 2015, music teacher michael boitz served on a districtwide committee, composed of educators, students, parents and administrators, that was charged with looking at schedule changes to alleviate student stress at this high achieving school.
Although block scheduling has demonstrated its viability in high schools, little research has explored its effect at the middle level. Block scheduling toolkit strand education endowment. Modular block schedules current research on block scheduling. Steven kramer, university of maryland march 5, 2003 summary this study investigated mathematics learning at a suburban united states high school that. In states such as virginia and north carolina, more than twothirds of the high schools use alternative schedules. Block scheduling may provide the avenue to add instructional time without extending the school day or year. Making the most of a 90minute block cult of pedagogy. The relationship between schedule type and act assessment. Jun 09, 2016 if your student is telling you he only has four classes to study for, he may be telling the truth. The wake county public school system s high school program provides students many options based on their career goals, needs, and individual interests. This study presents the effects of 4x4 block scheduling on student achievement and continuous enrollment rates.
The effect of block scheduling high school mathematics. Students attend the same class every day for nine weeks a quarter. Effects of 4x4 block scheduling cobb education policy. Impact of a ninety minute math block schedule on math. Nationally, schools following 4i4 block schedules 90yminute classes that meet daily for only. The three main types of block schedules found in the research are. The debate has been specific as to which of the mathematics courses are conducive to block scheduling and what age student can benefit most from this alternative approach marshak, 1997. Pdf the effect of block scheduling on middle school. Another study did note that students who were exposed to a block schedule in.
A case study of the effectiveness of high school block scheduling in an urban school system was examined by considering whether the changed schedule resulted in an increase in test scores on. The academic research that has been conducted on the effectiveness of block scheduling. Implications for educational productivity are discussed. The three most common forms of block scheduling are. In addition, math instruction should probably be spread over more courses during each students high school career. The impact of block scheduling on student motivation and.
Block scheduling has taken america by storm in recent years. Students have fewer classes daily, and fewer class changes are necessary. Pdf the effect of block scheduling on middle school students. Program planning guide wake county public school system. Traditional yearlong classes english, math, foreign language, science. The purpose of block scheduling is to enable the student to meet the commonwealths diploma requirements while affording himher the opportunity to study additional courses that ordinarily do not fit in a traditional schedule. While about one in three high schools today operate some form of block schedule, in some states the number is much higher. Pdf the impact of block scheduling on student motivation. The results have content specific implications for schools, administrations, and school boards who are considering block scheduling adoption. It is more common in middle and high schools than in primary schools. He is the principal of angola indiana high school, which has made block scheduling work. Aasa american association of school administrators. Block scheduling has been billed as the way of the future, but some schools are already switching back to a traditional schedule after experiencing the block schedules failures.
Are block schedules the stressbuster students need. Research now is emerging about the impact of the two most common alternative high school scheduling models. Several factors have influenced changes in high school schedules during the last decade. Herndon advocate refining curriculum to meet state and district standards and fit on the new schedule. Even schools that have not totally given up on block scheduling are incorporating a mix of semesterlong blocks and shorter, yearlong classes. Block scheduling organizes the day into fewer, but longer, class periods to allow flexibility for instructional activities. It then reports the results of a longitudinal study comparing high school scheduling types and student performance on act assessment english, mathematics, science reasoning, and reading tests. May 11, 2004 block scheduling of courses, the reorganization of schools around longer classes usually 90120 minutes, has received a great amount of policy and research attention over the past decade, particularly as a high school or middle school reform strategy. Pdf the impact of block scheduling on student motivation and. One especially attractive option has been block scheduling, which is in place in roughly 30 percent of the nations secondary schools.
The study compared 20052010 data from a high school utilizing the ab block schedule and a high school under a traditional schedule, in one. It typically means that pupils have fewer classes 45 per day, for a longer period of time 7090 minutes. The effect of block scheduling on middle school students. It is the bestresearched piece for arguing for longer school days, a longer school year, and more time dedicated to learning.
Consider adding a nontraditional core teacher to the interdisciplinary team. The expressed goal of block scheduling programs is improved student academic performance. The effect of block scheduling on middle school students mathematics achievement kim mattox, dawson r. Grades and act assessment mathematics scores by gayle hawkins hughes. Many middle schools can benefit from operating on some of the more popular high school block scheduling models, such as the day 1day 2 schedule. Prior to the 200304 school year, four high schools in the wake county public school system wcpss utilized some form of block scheduling. Block scheduling that gets results fox school is a moderately lowincome, demographically diverse school located in the workingclass suburb of hanover park, illinois. Block scheduling is an approach to school timetabling in secondary schools. Blockscheduling designs were created to support longer and more indepth study of. Block scheduling in the high school setting 2 block scheduling plans that combine elements of 4x4, ab, and traditional scheduling formats. Pittsylvania county schools high school course selection guide.
The purpose of this study was to determine the impact block scheduling has on a student academic achievement, discipline, and attendance, and b administrator, teacher, and student perceptions. Schools throughout the united states are adopting block or modular scheduling in dramatically increasing numbers. Allen queen to address the nations ongoing interest in student achievement, some researchers have focused on the effect of block schedulinga model in which students take fewer classes for longer periods of time. Findings suggest that while block scheduling is positively associated with teachers use of multiple instructional methods and more individualized instruction, this scheduling reform has a negative impact on students tenthgrade mathematics scores, controlling for other factors. According to thinking inside the block schedule 2000, authors pam robbins, gayle gregory, and lynne e. Block schedule teaching strategies russell county schools. Special education block scheduling that gets results. To address the nations ongoing interest in student achievement, some researchers have focused on the effect of block scheduling a model in which students take fewer classes for longer periods of time. A case of data analysis of one high school after two years, a report presented to the midwestern educational research association in 1997. Generally, block scheduling is introduced at junior and high school levels.
The success of angolas program is spelled out in 4 block scheduling. Optimal scheduling for secondary school students february 2014. The effect of block scheduling on high school student achievement in mathematics and reading was investigated in this study through the use of an ex postfacto, longitudinal research design. Moreover, i argue the position that block scheduling in high schools see secondary school class scheduling formats may well be contributing to the stagnant. The joint impact of block scheduling and an nctm standardsbased curriculum on high school mathematics achievement by dr. The impact of block scheduling on student motivation and classroom practice in mathematics article pdf available in nassp bulletin 923. The block scheduling models presented in this study double the amount of instructional time allocated for middle school students in the area of mathematics by making small modifications in the school day, while still. Education is full of ideas like yearround schooling, vouchers, and block scheduling, so its important for administrators and educators to look at the pros and cons of an idea before implementing it.
Block scheduling or blocking is a type of academic scheduling used in schools in the american k12 system, in which each pupil has fewer classes per day. The effect of block scheduling high school mathematics courses on student achievement and teachers use of time. Survey data were gathered from 156 middle level mathematics teachers to access the use of standardsbased cur. My school operates on a block schedule a concept i had never even heard of until i accepted this teaching position.
The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a statistical difference between endofcourse grades in algebra ii at three high schools in northeast tennessee and mathematics content scores on the act assessment at the same three high schools, by comparing a onesemester accelerated 4x4 block schedule, a twosemester accelerated 4x4 block schedule, and a traditional yearlong. Block scheduling frequently asked questions what is block scheduling. These measures included standardized achievement tests in mathematics, reading, and writing, cumulative and semester grades in middle school and high school, attendance rates, and enrollment rates in advanced high school courses in mathematics only. Teaching physical education in a block schedule middle and secondary school physical education council a resource paper from the national association for sport and. High school program planning guide 201819 4 welcome to that exciting time of year when you choose the courses you will take during the upcoming school year. Is it a flexible scheduling alternative that benefits students or is it a fad thats sure to pass. Aug, 2017 this is an excerpt from a letter written to a charlotte, north carolina newspaper in 2002 by a firstyear math teacher, a man who was vehemently opposed to block scheduling. Block mathematics is an ideal format for obtaining more credits in mathematics, but the block format does little for mathematics achievement and conceptual understanding. Results revealed significant increases in the mathematics achievement scores of sixthgrade stu dents enrolled in five middle level schools that transitioned from. The researcher used archival test data to determine whether a significant difference existed in the california state standards. What we know about block scheduling and its effects on math. The power of innovative scheduling educational leadership. Optimal scheduling for secondary school students email.
The effect of block scheduling on middle school students mathematics achievement article pdf available in nassp bulletin 89642. Schools throughout the united states are adopting block scheduling in dramatically increasing numbers. With block scheduling, students are able to leave high school better prepared to find acceptable employment, receive. Specifically, student scores from 9thand 11thgrade standardized tests were matched and sorted by junior high and high school attended. The student population is 34 percent white, 30 percent hispanic, 17 percent black, and 19 percent asianpacific. In contrast with the traditional daily six, seven, or eightperiod schedule, a block schedule consists of three or four longer periods of daily instruction. The effects of block scheduling on high school academic. Strategies for one popular idea, block schedules, can help make the transition easier and more effective.