The Breakfast Club – #BFC530 – is a 15 minute, 1 question Twitter chat every weekday. We chat in 4 timezones Mon-Fri – 5:30am Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Times. The mission of BFC is to empower participants to make a difference in education by engaging in consistent reflective practice in a supportive community that inspires and challenges one another.
Happy Thursday friends! Lets talk school schedules - Have you switched to a block schedule recently? rotating? How is lunch handled? What are the big pros and cons of each system that you see? #bfc530
Happy Thursday friends! Lets talk school schedules - Have you switched to a block schedule recently? rotating? How is lunch handled? What are the big pros and cons of each system that you see? #bfc530
Happy Thursday friends! Lets talk school schedules - Have you switched to a block schedule recently? rotating? How is lunch handled? What are the big pros and cons of each system that you see? #bfc530
Happy Thursday friends! Lets talk school schedules - Have you switched to a block schedule recently? rotating? How is lunch handled? What are the big pros and cons of each system that you see? #bfc530
This is the morning's question? Seems more like a two-day PD topic.
Brian, HS principal from Mass.
Lurking today only at #bfc530. I'm not beginning the day with BLOCK scheduling.
Happy Thursday friends! Lets talk school schedules - Have you switched to a block schedule recently? rotating? How is lunch handled? What are the big pros and cons of each system that you see? #bfc530
Happy Thursday friends! Lets talk school schedules - Have you switched to a block schedule recently? rotating? How is lunch handled? What are the big pros and cons of each system that you see? #bfc530
We are self contained, so my schedule is up to me; except for specialists, lunch and recess, I can pretty much organize the way I want. I love it that way! #bfc530
Good morning #bfc530 Juggling twitter and home life today as my wife and daughter get ready to catch a 6:30 bus to NYC. Not sure I like my quiet morning time encroached upon.
Good morning ! I'm exited to have no after school activities today ! No Girl Scouts, no dance, no basketball, no CCD! We are going to have dinner tonight! Or sit down! Or do laundry !! #bfc530
We have 4 teachers that students rotate to for math, ela, science, Ss. Each is a 50 min period, and we have 30 min intervention time. For duties, we have recess, lunch, late room/extra help, and a free time. Our specials are all first thing that allows for common planning #bfc530
#bfc530 My son’s HS has and it has been the biggest Blessing to the type of learner my son is..a few subjects at time for extended periods of time a day..it is awesome for him.....I am sure it is not awesome for everyone, but it has made my Year personally much easier! 😬
We've always been on a block schedule. Years ago we changed from four 90 minute periods to five 75 minute periods so that we could add electives. We love it! #bfc530
Happy Thursday friends! Lets talk school schedules - Have you switched to a block schedule recently? rotating? How is lunch handled? What are the big pros and cons of each system that you see? #bfc530
We have a two day block schedule- 80 minutes a class. I can't imagine going back to an every day/45 min type of thing. So much more can be done in those 80 min and it's nice that every day isn't exactly the same #bfc530
We have 4 teachers that students rotate to for math, ela, science, Ss. Each is a 50 min period, and we have 30 min intervention time. For duties, we have recess, lunch, late room/extra help, and a free time. Our specials are all first thing that allows for common planning #bfc530
Good morning ! I'm exited to have no after school activities today ! No Girl Scouts, no dance, no basketball, no CCD! We are going to have dinner tonight! Or sit down! Or do laundry !! #bfc530
4 periods, 9am-3:10pm
5 min travel time, 1hr lunch
Odd days: period 1,2, 3,4
Even days: period 1,2,4,3
Semestered
Seems to work but I know research says school should start later.
#bfc530
Happy Thursday friends! Lets talk school schedules - Have you switched to a block schedule recently? rotating? How is lunch handled? What are the big pros and cons of each system that you see? #bfc530
Happy Thursday friends! Lets talk school schedules - Have you switched to a block schedule recently? rotating? How is lunch handled? What are the big pros and cons of each system that you see? #bfc530
Good morning ! I'm exited to have no after school activities today ! No Girl Scouts, no dance, no basketball, no CCD! We are going to have dinner tonight! Or sit down! Or do laundry !! #bfc530
We're on a Day 1-6 schedule that factors in odd/even days. Never taught on blocks. Always had the same teaching schedule for 10 years aside from period length going from 38 min (way too short) to 42 min (better but still too short). Now as a coach, all schedules differ. #bfc530
I haven’t taught any other way. At times it is talked about compartmentalizing in elementary. That gives me hives. I like teaching everything and having the kids all day. #bfc530
Non-departmentalized elem school. We work in fluid 45-min blocks. Fluid in that we don't switch exc for specials. Times aren't bell-directed. Always looking for better ways to provide instruction that isn't as often interrupted by pull-out services.
#BFC530
Can't say much about schedule, since I'm a central office clown now. I always taught with a 7 period day and liked it, but I'm flexible. A must as a teacher! #bfc530
Slow and steady wins the race. Wednesday’s are my long days, but my kids did great so I slept with a grateful heart. How are you? #bfc530 Pitchers and catchers in less than a month! Woot!
I remember saying to myself all the time when I taught middle school math that I needed more time. I suppose you'd always say that with any length when you're into it but we had 38 & then 42 minute periods. WAY too short. #bfc530
#bfc530 When I taught on a 4X4 block (90 mins.), I loved having time for S projects! One year we had a 7 period rotator schedule that was awful. (58 min.) I would forget where we left off in a lesson even w/ lesson plans!
I was the same in elem. The only time I had my kids ALL day was when I taught first. I had them all for all six periods. It was scheduling heaven. #bfc530
We are self contained, so my schedule is up to me; except for specialists, lunch and recess, I can pretty much organize the way I want. I love it that way! #bfc530
because students lose skills if not practiced. If i take French 1 in the fall of 9th grade its possible to not take French 2 again for an entire year. Id lose so much without practice. #bfc530
I have a very active family of 6..so i “should” do laundry every day but instead I put a door on my laundry room..if you can’t see or smell laundry, does it really exits🤔🤣 #bfc530
Saw social studies students 3 out of 4 days in rotating 4 day schedule (one day they "dropped" off). Math/ILA had students 6 blocks in 4 days. Sad so many complain about issues in our country & world but are quick to decrease time in the class that actually discusses them #bfc530
Our Kindergarten program is not compartmentalized...we often follow the lead of our students...their interests in inquiry, play, collaboration. #bfc530
Would love to see a model where pull-out services are provided at beginning or end of day, there is a block for intense ela and math, and the rest is integrated / PBL learning with push-in services.
#bfc530
Good morning #bfc530 Love the schedule ideas already posted, and can’t wait to share them with my building admin. We have 7 periods a day, 6 are 44 min (feel rushed every day) and 1 is 70 min, no rotation...1st period Ss always half asleep, 7th period Ss always drained
We have both Block scheduling and an 8 Period Bell schedule between 2 separate buildings. Lunches are 3 different periods & we allow transition time for Ss to fit into each schedule #bfc530
Our HS did blocks for a few years then went back to a 9 (optional 10th help class) period day. I never taught in blocks do not have experience with the pros/cons there. Would love to hear from others. #bfc530
Susan, I’m so used to seeing your smile at #whatisschool I forget you’re a #bfc530 faithful, too. Happy Friday Eve! I’m hoping to get myself up earlier more often.
In reply to
@SusZanti5, @ShiftParadigm, @egchapma, @ThatMathLady, @ashleyhhurley, @smgaillard, @jpwatson4843, @crockow8
Can't say much about schedule, since I'm a central office clown now. I always taught with a 7 period day and liked it, but I'm flexible. A must as a teacher! #bfc530
I def think self contained is the best for grade 3. Some people feel that teaching only 1 or 2 subjects allow you to know it better and get better at it. (thus the argument for compartmentalization in the elementary) #bfc530
Good point! The problem comes when we are out of socks! I've bought so many new pair just because I'm behind on laundry. Or when I'm trying to put the house on the market and the laundry room just looks like the room is wallpapered with clothes #bfc530#singleMomStruggle
Saw social studies students 3 out of 4 days in rotating 4 day schedule (one day they "dropped" off). Math/ILA had students 6 blocks in 4 days. Sad so many complain about issues in our country & world but are quick to decrease time in the class that actually discusses them #bfc530
I used to teach at a school where students took 9 classes, and each day they had 3 of them, plus lunch, advisory, and clubs/extra help. I loved that there was no hierarchy of subjects: everything met for one block every 3 days.
#bfc530
I hear that! I just appreciate folks willing to try to be creative and at least open up a conversation. Change isn't always necessary, but due diligence is. #bfc530
Its worse for my daughters. In grades 1-5, they receive science lessons 2/3 of the year & social studies 1/3. And if they need more time for a testable subject, guess what gets bumped for the day. #bfc530
I am going through this right now with my 7th grader. He finishes his first course in French this month and then won't take it again until the fall. Not good for language acquisition. An A day B day model would have been better. #bfc530
because students lose skills if not practiced. If i take French 1 in the fall of 9th grade its possible to not take French 2 again for an entire year. Id lose so much without practice. #bfc530
It changes depending on Ss requests (they let us know what they want for the following year). But: theater, intro to psych, calculus, global studies, makerspace, hand crafts, fine arts, creative writing, animal science, yoga, soccer...#bfc530
Its worse for my daughters. In grades 1-5, they receive science lessons 2/3 of the year & social studies 1/3. And if they need more time for a testable subject, guess what gets bumped for the day. #bfc530
Exactly. I would love if we could all teach semesterised but it doesn't work. Especially for kids without the resources to practice those skills in the interim. #bfc530
3 blocks of 80 minutes, 1 special of 40 minutes, and 40 minutes lunch/recess, basically. Science and SS are every other day as one of the blocks. So Ss get 80 minutes daily of math and ela, and every other day 80 mins of science or ss. #bfc530
No, ours is a weird schedule - Ss might get LA first period on Mon, 3rd on Tues, not on Wed, 5th on Th and 2nd on Fri. There are only 3 classes on Friday - early dismissal and then Ts have PD from 12:30 to 2:30 #bfc530
We are considering doing that next year. We do an enrichment schedule on fridays. All classes are shorter but we have all clubs and activities meet foe 45 minutes after 1st period. #bfc530
I will say some kids just don't have the stamina to work for 80 mins. I teach in a computer lab. Many times they start to wonder off last few mins of class.
#bfc530
I have helped with the master school schedule and we reworked it for as many teachers as possible to get a common planning time, but so many wrinkles and different classroom numbers in elementary, it just wasn't feasible for all. #bfc530
I’m not sure it makes us better teachers at all, but it cuts down planning time. ELA feels impossible in this set up with this age group. Read today? Write tomorrow? #bfc530
People always tell me the trade off is that if Social Studies is tested, I will get the time, but I also get the stresses plus it may limited more of the interactive & creative opportunities I provide for my students #bfc530
It's always tricky early on but the kids get used to it quick. They announce what day it is (1-6) on announcements. I always wrote it on the board or taped it to my door. MS Ss sometimes forgot easily. Actually, as did I at times 😀 #bfc530
People always tell me the trade off is that if Social Studies is tested, I will get the time, but I also get the stresses plus it may limited more of the interactive & creative opportunities I provide for my students #bfc530
I try to have several activities - mini-lesson, application, read aloud & then about 40 mins for reading/writing workshop. They don't do the same thing for the entire period, but do have a good chunk of actual work time #bfc530
Nice, just completed my first large mug. Slept a bit in this morning. Out late to watch my middle school boys team in the county tournament. It was an 8 o'clock start. Hope all is well Susan #bfc530
Common planning for Collaorabative teams is essential, also for Interdisciplinary teams, it fortifies our colloaboative efforts to do whats best for kids! #bfc530
What?? I can barely pee and heat up my leftovers in that time let alone eat !
Our union requires us to get 40 minute uninterrupted lunch I believe.
#bfc530
I try to have several activities - mini-lesson, application, read aloud & then about 40 mins for reading/writing workshop. They don't do the same thing for the entire period, but do have a good chunk of actual work time #bfc530
We get 27 minutes for lunch. I get the kids jealous when I tell them when I was in school, I had 30 min for lunch and 30 min for recess, an hour straight, through 8th grade. #bfc530
In reply to
@iruntech, @wheeler_laura, @MrHoggsClass
Have a wonderful day all, take the time to listen, be present and look for the magic and joy in your teaching and learning! #bfc530#kidsdeserveit#joyfulleaders
GM #bfc530 Shivan north nj here. We have a block schedule in Middle school. 4blks 80mins each. Lunch is 3rd blk w/3 lunch periods. A-F day rotation. Core subjects meet every other day, world language included, electives every 3rd day. #bfc530
That's the real strength of elementary school, that we lose in secondary. i'm always jealous of that freedom! Trying to find a way to incorporate it in high school, but so far haven't been able to. #bfc530
Its worse for my daughters. In grades 1-5, they receive science lessons 2/3 of the year & social studies 1/3. And if they need more time for a testable subject, guess what gets bumped for the day. #bfc530
I do a lot of planning, but I couldn’t imagine for m teaching just math..I would miss read aloud; or I would miss math. For 30 years, it is all I have ever done. #bfc530
Its worse for my daughters. In grades 1-5, they receive science lessons 2/3 of the year & social studies 1/3. And if they need more time for a testable subject, guess what gets bumped for the day. #bfc530
It's what ultimately forced me to do #flipclass. Felt like it was a must. Grateful to attend a workshop from @jonbergmann@chemicalsams and @KleinErin in Buffalo. That's when the 💡 went on and I had an ah-ha moment. #bfc530
In reply to
@carlameyrink, @bohndrake, @jonbergmann, @chemicalsams, @KleinErin
Do you have a picture of your schedule? The math isn’t adding up in my head...too early! I like the 8:00 start time too...and you get out basically same time as us too! #bfc530
I do recognize more complex content challenges in the upper grades for teachers...integration and avoiding compartmentalization is often more doable in primary grades. #bfc530
They are 40 minutes. Truthfully I don't know the magic behind it but that's how it is set. When I was in HS we had a Day A-F with a rotating schedule. Never had a class at the same time of day. LOVED that as a student. #bfc530
Kudos for trying to make it work. Your head must have hurt. I love how they always bring in the math teachers to help. They seem to have a way with master schedules. #bfc530
We always had common planning times by team (not necessarily by department) but grade level departments could meet if needed. It's a smaller school so it works. #bfc530
A lot of people would say the 8am start time is a downside. I like it because I’m a morning person. Students like being done at 225. More time for part-time jobs and sports after school. #bfc530
Happy Thursday friends! Lets talk school schedules - Have you switched to a block schedule recently? rotating? How is lunch handled? What are the big pros and cons of each system that you see? #bfc530
Use to teach 90 minute block and now in a 42 minute class...and hate what its doing to my teaching I struggle to make it student centered in such a short time period. #bfc530
Six years ago we moved to rotating schedules where we have 55 mins for classes that rotate out every four days. I love it! It’s good to see@kids at different times during the day.#bfc530
Morning, #bfc530. Even 280+ characters may not be enough for this 1. My school runs modified block: 7 50-min periods on M/Tu/F, 4 90-min periods on W/Th. I usually like the mix of paces. ~30 min lunch lands mid-day. 1/3
Happy Thursday friends! Lets talk school schedules - Have you switched to a block schedule recently? rotating? How is lunch handled? What are the big pros and cons of each system that you see? #bfc530
Younger kids sometimes struggle attending during longer periods if instruction favors old-school lecture. Some subj (eg, math, world lang) favor daily contact for repeat practice of smaller chunks. w/more transitions, 7-period day has more hectic hallway/locker time 2/3 #bfc530
K-12 school where I work exploring adding block time for 6-12: 8-period Mondays, w/4 blocks Tu/Th & 4 others W/Fr. Range of staff opinions based on ages, subjects taught. Wondering about staffing impact of concept & running numbers now. 3/3 #bfc530
