Middle School Scheduling Community Feedback Presentation
This presentation highlights the essential elements of the Middle School Design Team (MSDT) process aimed at increasing instructional time and flexibility in scheduling for middle school students. It discusses guiding principles that advocate for flexible groupings, community feedback, and individual needs. Key features include block scheduling for core subjects, dedicated teacher advisory periods, and maintaining a continuum in language instruction through grades 6-8. The framework supports tailored learning experiences, integrating career and college readiness through enhanced curricular options, while also addressing the developmental needs of students.
Middle School Scheduling Community Feedback Presentation
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Presentation Transcript
Issue Providing increased instructional time and scheduling flexibility for middle school students 2
Content Pedagogy Relationships
Context Middle School Design Team (MSDT) Process (2008-10) Guiding Principles: Provide flexibility in scheduling Provide student/staff teams Commit to flexible grouping on heterogeneous teams Advocate for and support all students’ developmental needs, interests, and talents of all students Differentiate learning opportunities 4
Today Identify Scheduling Option • Act Grade 6 Spanish • Study Online Teacher Course: Early Adolescence • Do Community Feedback Process Review of Scheduling Models • Plan ACT II Parent Academy:Early Adolescence Middle School Design Team 2008-10 5
Key Elements Building upon and consistent with the recommendations and work of the MSDT: • Implement a flexible scheduling model at all APS middle schools for 2013-14 that: • Is aligned with the guiding principles • Provides for block scheduling for Core subject areas • Maintains daily Teacher Advisory • Allows for Grades 6-8 World Languages continuum • Transitional Spanish in Grade 6 • IB World Language Explorations Courses – Jefferson Middle School • Continues current starting and ending times 6
Adjusted Scheduling • Provides • additional instructional time in Core Subjects • increased elective exploratory choices for Grade 6 students • Grades 6-8 World Languages continuum • Allows comprehensive and consistent integration of career and college-ready enhancements to curriculum and schools • Addresses specific needs of individual students and groups of students
Why Flexible Block Scheduling? Increased opportunity for: • Regular classroom instruction, and … • Targeted content-specific activities • Science Labs • Social Studies simulations
Why Flexible Block Scheduling? Increased opportunity for: • Regular classroom instruction, and … • Interdisciplinary units • STEM units • Differentiated units that cross content areas
Reflection on Grade 6 Schedule:Extended instructional timeInclusion of Reading into Language Arts
Note: The implications of the delivery of certain program-specific courses in Grade 6 (e.g. READ 180 and Immersion Spanish Language Arts) in this schedule are presently being reviewed).
