Text Only / Printer Friendly

Introduction

Block Scheduling

Four-Day
School Week

Year-Round
Education

The Northwest
Sampler

Alaska

Idaho

Montana

Oregon

Washington

Conclusion

References

About This Issue

Previous Issues

The Northwest Sampler - Washington

Block Schedule (4x4 plan)

Program Location
Skykomish High School
Box 325
Skykomish, WA 98288

Contact
Don Emerson, Teacher
Phone: 360/677-2623
Fax: 360/677-2418

Program Description

With the realization that a seven-period day was spreading both teachers and students a little too thin, teachers at Skykomish High School in Skykomish, Washington, began investigating scheduling alternatives. The alternative they found best suited for their needs was block scheduling. The block schedule allows teachers and students to focus on fewer subjects. Now, instead of seven classes, they have only four. Teachers instruct three and use the fourth as a prep period. There is also a ten-minute homeroom after lunch each day. Overall, students and teachers are in school 15 minutes more each day so there is more instruction time. Students can earn eight credits per year instead of six. In earlier years, many classes were only offered every other year in this small, rural school. Now with the block, each class is offered every year.

Most exciting are the changes the block has brought to teaching methods and the way students learn. Teachers feel that they have more time to reinforce instruction. Now students can learn through hands-on, dynamic activities that give them more interaction with teachers and each other, instead of through traditional lecture/memorizing techniques. There have been very few complaints about the block schedule since its implementation at the beginning of this year.

The switch to block scheduling has been a positive experience for students and teachers at Skykomish. Though they are still in the initial stages of implementation, they are confident that it has been a change that has improved the day-to-day operations of the school and the education of students.

Observed Outcomes

• The block schedule has provided more time for varied learning activities.
• Because of the extra time provided under the block for reinforcement, teachers have noticed some test scores rising.

Keys to Success

• Provide teachers with training in alternative teaching methods that are suited for block scheduling.
• Strongly discourage student absences as they are deadly to grades in block scheduling.
• Notify parents weekly or biweekly regarding student progress; with the faster pace of the block, students can fall behind quickly.

This document's URL is:

© 2001 Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory

Date of Last Update: 09/19/2001
Email Webmaster
Tel. 503.275.9500