A chat that offers middle school teachers a chance to have a collaborative discussion about a different topic each week. Our topics change from week to week, ranging from Common Core State Standards to Character Education. During the chat, participants exchanges ideas and resources. The chat group ranges in size each week from 10 to 50+ participants. Discussion can be general talking about instructional style or process to specific. Recently members of the chat group help each other create lessons.
A1: I feel like a 9-4 day would be great for my students. Gives them an extra hour to sleep, but also allows for them to be able to participate in sports and other extracurriculars after school as well. Curious to see the thoughts of others!! #mschat
A1- Not sure the ideal start time. I used to be at school 7:35-2:20. Now I go from 8:30-3:00. Def like starting later but missing being done around 2! #mschat
A1: My middle school started at 9 and ended around 3:30, and I feel like that is a good start/end time since students around that age need their rest. #mschat
I agree our state law mandates 180 students days with at least 1098 students instruction hours so makes for longer days #mschat TOO worried about seat time
True that! We rush breakfast and on popular breakfast days. I have a ton of Ss miss part of their first academic. Great thought to get them in early for breakfast #mschat
Yeah, I'm just assuming that we have to keep the same number of ed hours during a typical school years. I'm not in love with starting later and ending later either. #mschat If we went year round, I guess that would be a solution to the later close.
Forgot the exact count. 45 weeks. 1 week off in July, then we go 9-1. 3 weeks off in August and we roll ! The thought was long breaks would hurt learning for some of our population. #mschat
A1: We start at 8:40 and get out at 3:30. I think this is an ideal time because Ss get an opportunity to sleep in. There is value in well-rested Ss. More alert and ready to learn. #mschat
A1: There are schools that offer HS Ss the opportunity to take a 1st-6th hour schedule or a 2nd-7th hour schedule. Allows early birds to get in early, and late bloomers an opportunity to sleep in a bit longer. #mschat
That isn't too bad we go 40 weeks ... tired of so much focus on seat times... students take breaks when they need them #mschat need more flexibility for schools in schedules
Wonder when legislative bodies will realize schools aren't like businesses.. Seat time does not = learning time #mschat What if students went to school till they got it!
A1: I buy into Pink and the American Academy of Pediatrics saying no earlier than 8:30. Depending on district size, you have to consider busing tiers, too #mschathttps://t.co/CPlbxTALXv
What is really a big problem in scheduling is taking into account the lack of sleep students get when having to wake up so early. to get to school. My Sleep page https://t.co/zAvluaMwLv My School Schedules page https://t.co/TORpBRKh1w # edchat #mschat
A2: Block is excellent for PBL with small group instruction. I have been a part of both, and I can't imagine going back to consistant 45-50 minute classes. #mschat
A2 I grew up on a traditional schedule and my first 14 years in education was spent in that system but for the last 7 years on the block and they both have their merits #MSchat
A2 I think block schedules work for the most part, but schedules should be flexible at times. Learning doesn't happen in a bubble and sometimes 90 minutes isn't enough. I don't like 45 minute periods at all. #mschat
A2: I know of schools that give their teams the flexibilty to work with blocks of time. Takes a lot of planning, but considers needs of curriculum and students. Some Ss get extra time in some subjects, times adjusted for science labs, etc. #mschat
Amen. You cannot change teaching without some kind of PD. Changing the curriculum, schedule, furniture.....it's all superficial. Changes must be substantial to make a difference. #mschat
A2- I think an hour is ideal. 75ish min for kids in 7/8 I think would work well. I have classes around 40 min and always feel pressed for time. #mschat
A2: I don't have much experience or knowledge on block scheduling and how it affects students, but I think that periods should be about an hour long so that the teacher doesn't feel rushed and the student doesn't get distracted. #mschat
Our school uses a flexible schedule within our learning communities. Each LC gets to decide how their schedule is set up (block and traditional) for core time based on need. #mschat
A2: Maybe it’s not exactly about the ideal number of minutes but rather the ideal way to use the minutes we have. Bell to bell, tight transitions, active learning, etc. I’ve had as long as 96 min, as short as 48. 48 too short, but we can bring quality bell to bell anyway #mschat
Education needs to be much more personalized - including start times. Everyone is different and has different needs. I can imagine how productive students could be if they could start at a time that worked best for them. #mschat
#mschat A2 we have a 50 minute study skills in the am which allows for RTI, Advanced Art, weightlifting, jazz band, leadership, and some other choices. Then 4 content areas at 70 min each and then 2 45 minute connection classes.
I would say for the most part kids come in and are ready to go! Wish we rotated the order of academic classes so I could see different groupings of kids in the am. Instead of the same group all year. #mschat
Most schools have periods between 45 and 55 minutes and block schedules double up the periods #mschat so one day a class meets for 2 periods and the next it doesn't meet
Each grade level (6, 7, 8) in our school has core and elective schedules to accommodate for the shared teaching. Each core teacher only teaches one grade level. Makes it easier to form a flexible schedule. #mschat
A2: I think having students in a block for 90 minutes is really pushing the limit. I know that we change things up during our blocks, but keeping them in there that long can be mentally draining for them. No longer than 90min blocks for sure. #mschat
A3 What I'm most intrigued about w/ block schedules is seeing classes at different times of the day. I think that my 1:30pm class is a lot fresher and not fried at 9am. #mschat
We have each core only teachers one grade level but we share special education services so co-teachers teach multiple levels and are only available at certain times #mschat
A3 building size is a factor here 3-4 minutes works in our building. But have worked in places where that wouldn’t be enough. To much time can create unstructured chaos #MSchat
A2: Ss need ample time to demcompress between periods, use restroom, collect materials and head to next class. 7 minutes would also allow lingering Ss-T conversations #mschat
A2: Seems not all subjects are created equally in terms of appropriate duration for instruction. PE requires changing time. Art needs cleanup time. Science labs need time. ELA never seems to have enough to do all for which they are responsible. #mschat
A3: We had 4 minutes in between classes. I remember thinking that this was a very short amount of time at first, but it is longer than you'd think! 4 minutes was always plenty of time to get my books and go to the bathroom in between classes. #mschat
A3: Our middle school is set up where Ss travel to various buildings on campus to get to elective classes and lunch, but stay within the confines of their grade level pod for core classes. We need flexibility for transitions. #mschat
A3: Depends on travel time and if outside or other spaces are available ... We all need breaks #mschat Workers get 15 minutes every 3 hours ... Many Middle school students get less
A3; We used to be single subject. Because of full inclusion the teachers moved. Now we're full day block and I do math and science. I give breaks. Depends on day. #mschat
A3: Much to consider for appropriate passing time - building layout, # of available restrooms, contracts, supervision. Would be nice to see kids with a little longer break, if logistics could be worked through. #mschat
I can’t stress how awesome my public school’s board, the community, kids, and parents are! Our learning environments don’t need more rules and statutes. Passionate teachers and visionary leaders push learning forward. #MSchat
A4- I think lunches between 11-1230 work well. Recesss at least 15 min. Our 6th graders go to lunch around 11 eat and then have 15 min of recess and they seem to enjoy this. If the schedule changes and we have late lunch they don't enjoy it! #mschat
A4: If school starts at 8:30, it would be best to have lunch 3 hours later. They should get 40 minutes (at least) to eat and decompress from the morning. #mschat
A4: Seems ideal to schedule lunch a little after mid-point of day. Most students seem to eat in 25 minutes or less, but then need something to keep occupied. We give ours a few minutes outside whenever we can - makes a difference. #mschat
A4: Lunch should be between 11:30 and done by 1pm... 30 to 45 minutes depending on space for social/physical activity and outside recess as often as possible #mschat
A4 we have about 24 minutes for lunch but would like for it to be 45 minutes time to eat and chill. School size and facilities dictate so much🙁 #MSchat
A4: I feel like the best time for lunch would be around 11 or 11:30, since it's not too late or too early. Students should have at least half an hour to eat. Students should also still have recess in middle school, as this is very beneficial for them in many ways! #mschat
I let mine run for 15 in the AM once the gates are closed. I change any game rule, for instance a tag type game, and add the word Timebomb to the title. Count to... then get up. Keeps the heart rate up. #mschat
6th Grade:
8:40-10:40 1st 2nd Core
(w/announcements and CNN10)
10:40-11:20 3rd Lunch
11:20-1:25 4th 5th Core
1:32-3:30 6th 7th Electives
8th has core in morning, 7th has core in the middle, lunch is during 4th and 5th period. Not enough room on Twitter to share. #mschat
A5 Betwen 7-9 It depends on use of block for math or ELA No matter how many the focus of each class, besides learning targets, is communication skills #mschat
A5: Three a day. Electives: music, cooking, dance, makespace, genius time, sports. We've run most of these in summer session. Some I do all year. #mschat
6th graders will be 6th graders. I do like the idea of half and half. How many Ss do you have? Home much time do they need for each? & how many adults are needed for duty? #mschat
A5 # of classes I guess depends on hours in school and if you have a block schedule. Our electives include: Entrepreneurship, How to become financially savvy, digital citizenship, and engineering, wood shop #mschat
A4: Our classes have always been around 12-13 students. We've had good success! IMO give me a class of 8 Ss & you could get almost anything done! We'll figure the rest out. #mschat
A5: We have 6 periods (4 core, 2 electives). We offer STEM, Wood Tech, Art, Music, Foreign Lang., Drama, PE. Providing opportunity for Ss to take as many as they can during the year is important. #mschat
A5: I like 7: Math, ELA, Sci, SS, PE, 2 electives (music, art & language among them) I think all Ss should have PE every day, plus middle school should be a time for exploration.#mschat
A5 I like our schedule: Ss have 2 electives, and PE for one semester every yr is required. 4 core are required: LA, SS, Science, Math. We also have Religion. We do nicely w/ what staff & resources w have. #mschat
A5: We had 6 classes a day in middle school, and I feel like 6 or 7 is a good number. Gym, various music classes (band, orchestra, chorus), art, wood shop, home economics, foreign languages, health, and technology classes would all be wonderful options! #mschat
A5- 7 - Advisory, 4 core academics, specials, & enrichment / intervention. I think students should be able to select from a wide range of electives; robotics, phys ed options, enivormental science, baking, book study, gaming, coding just to name a few #mschat
I did a Schools to Watch visit at a school that let students choose the electives that teachers offered based on a menu. Each core teacher created a list of options and the Ss voted on which would be best. I thought it was an amazing idea. #mschat
A5: We do 3 core, 1 true elective, and 1 period that rotates on trimesters to accommodate PE, business, etc for 7th & 8th. 6th is redesigned for next year. Likely 4 core, 1 elective. #mschat
I helped open a school where we had a rotational schedule: students went to a different class each day at a different time - no "first period math every day" sleepies #mschat
A6 this is a tough one staff size plays a factor but I think the best way is a students toughest classes should be at times when they are most alert well fed and rested. So mornings sounds great but some aren’t morning kids #MSchat
A6: A rotating schedule would be amazing. Our 8th grade does this. Starts with ABCD for core, then next week is BCDA, then CDAB, and DABC. They get Ss at different parts of the day each week. #mschat
A6 Cores should be mixed up. Gosh, I hardly learned any geometry the yr I had it right after lunch! Move classes around! It gives Ss & Ts a change of time & pace. #mschat
A6: I think that core classes should be mixed throughout the day. This way, students can mix in different classes and have something to look forward to all day. #mschat
We do 3 Fridays a year for Mini-Courses no school work just elective course all day. All student choice. Ss can chose from bowling, skiing, breakout ed, board games, soccer, computer science and so much more. Truly a blast!!! #mschat
There's a middle school in our area. The principal went to design school. Applied it to his campus. the whole campus took a week and signed up for teacher-interest electives. Off campus. He's the super now. #mschat
A5. It’d be cool if students had 4 classes. 1. Classics: languages, mathematics , sciences, sociology 2. Physical Endeavors 3. Arts: music, visual, theatrical and 4. Whatever they are interested in. #MSchat
All of our LC schedules are posted on anchor charts in the hallways by their lockers. Ss know to check the board everyday. It's a routine built in at the beginning of the year. #mschat
A6: I feel a rotating schedule would work best since students wouldn't have same classes at same time everyday gives more opportunities for greatness #mschat Sadly doesn't work for us
A7 spaghetti and meatballs, it fills you up, makes you feel good, it’s flexible with some anchor proteins and the sauce is what makes it special. #MSchat
Such great days! Opportunity for relationship building those days is through the roof. I've met and built relationships with so many younger Ss playing indoor soccer on these days. Makes a world of difference when I finally get them in class #mschat
Talked with some folks @ AMLE who let Ss choose their specials. I believe they could chose 1 class they wanted all year long every other day. Then the other days they had 15 day rotations through the rest of specials. Interesting concept. #mschat
#mschat don't let your chat fun end so soon! Swing on over to #waledchat starting in a few minutes! Procedures is our reflection topic tonight! @blocht574
Thanks @blocht574 for leading another great #mschat. Love learning with my #PLN of middles! Happy Friday to you all.
Time for the fastest 30 minutes on Twitter with #waledchat!
Thanks all who shared their ideas about schedules tonight #mschat Awesome stuff! Remember to follow those that help you learn! Till next week .... See you on twitter
A7 A porterhouse steak perfectly seared, cooked medium-rare: it seems simple, but requires the right cut of meat, time and attention, but when done right all falls into place and you can dig in and enjoy #mschat
