Effective Block Classroom Instruction

1. Effective Block Classroom Instruction Lincoln County High School John Fanning Supervisor of Secondary Education/Graduation Coach Jennifer Turpen Lincoln County Schools Academic Coach

2. Questions of the Day What is block scheduling? Where did block scheduling originate from? Who is the guru of block scheduling? Why did schools move to a block schedule?

3. Highlights on Block • Decreases passing time between classes • Decreased time teachers spend beginning and ending classes • Increases time for instruction, cooperative learning, and activities that appeal to student’s learning styles and intelligences. • Focus shifts from the breadth of the curriculum to the depth of student knowledge

4. Robert Canady • Coined the term block scheduling twenty three years ago • Regret: Block Schedule vs. Intensive Schedule • Suggestion for teachers: Teachers should spend their days coaching instead of lecturing. A shift from talking all day to students to planning for students to work all day!

5. Canady’s 3-Step Lesson Plan • Lesson Plan Step One: Explanation • Lesson Plan Step Two: Application • Lesson Plan Step Three: Synthesis

6. The Most Important Phase? • A. Explanation • B. Application • C. Synthesis Answer____________________

7. Step 1: Explanation In this step, the teacher in in charge and on stage and lectures in a traditional teaching manner. Students are more passive; it’s the knowledge step on Bloom’s Taxonomy.

8. Step 2: Application This is the heart of teaching on the block and should take the most time. Students become the workers and the teacher becomes the coach. (A move from teacher center to teacher facilitator)

9. Step 3: Synthesis “Never let a class end without a class understanding the essential elements.” Robert Canady

10. Three-Part Lesson-Design 1. Explanation (20-25 Minutes) • Objective • Plan for the Day • Connections to Previous Learning • Homework Review • Teach New Material 2. Application (40-45 Minutes) 3. Synthesis (15-20 Minutes) • Assessment • Re-teaching • Connections and Relevance • Closure

11. Explanation Phase The Mini-Lecture • Keep it short • Use advance organizers • Give an opportunity for a class set of notes

12. Application Phase • Cooperative Learning • Paideia Seminars • Laboratory • Simulation • Models of Teaching • Learning Centers • Technology • Content Area Literacy Strategies

13. Ideas for Synthesis: The Six R’s • Reflection • Review • Re-teach • Relevancy • Record Notes • Recall for Tomorrow

14. Presentation (20-25 min) • Interactive Lecture • CD Rom • Video Disc • Videotape • Socratic Seminars • Inquiry • Direct Instruction • Directing Reaching/Thinking Activity • Etc.

15. Activity (30 – 35 Min) • Role Play • Simulation • Science Laboratory • Computer Reinforcement • Inside-Outside Circle • Writing Lab • Team Games • Roundtable • Learning Center • Pairs-Check • Etc.

16. Homework Review (10-15 Min) • Inside-Outside • Pairs-Check • Team Interview • Roundtable • Think-Pair-Share • Etc

17. Designing Lessons for Block Schedule with Active Learning Strategies • Homework Review (10-15 Min) • Presentation (20-25 Min) • Activity (30-35 Min) • Guided Practice (10-15 Min) • Re-teach (10-15 Min) • Closure (5-10 Min)

18. History Lesson • TLW (Objective Posted) • Homework Review • Presentation (Lecture) • Activity/Assignment • Written or Reading Assignment • Review and Check • Reflection & Connection

19. Thought When I die, I hope it’s during a lecture; the difference between life and death will be so small, that I don’t notice it! - Anonymous Student

20. Thought # 2 Teaching in a block schedule is like eternity, and eternity is spent in one or two places. - John Strebe

21. Question(s) John Fanning jfanning@lcdoe.org Jennifer Turpen jturpen@lcdoe.org