Our High School Building Improvement Team (BIT) is working to explore options regarding potential changes to the current structure and schedule of the school day. Research, recommendation, and implementation of the new schedule will likely require more than a year. We hope to recommend a 2 year plan. The first year should allow for the discontinuation of the January Exam, since NYC has said this is a very real possibility.
- What are structures or schedule that you would like to see implemented?
- How might the various options positively or negatively impact student learning?
If Students have other questions and they would like to speak with a student representative from BIT, they are... Nick Kibler (Freshman), Will Rutkowski (Sophomore), Dylan Phelps (Junior), and Eric Vona (Senior).
-Thanks for your opinions
I like how our schedules are set up, and I don't really want them changed. I like the 80 minute classes with the four blocks and I think it works good and makes getting work done more do-able.
ReplyDeleteI believe that it could be better. Many schools have 8 classes a day and they all manage it
ReplyDelete.
I like block scheduling, although I wish we could pick what class and what time we could have the class. I'd rather have that than " the luck of the draw" every year.
ReplyDeleteAlternating block schedule I think would be the best solution if the current block scheduling were to be out dated. JFK has 80 minute periods like us, but they have days one and two. For instance a person may have math science and Spanish on day ones, and history and English on day two. This would still incorporate the 80 minute classes, and incorporate regents exams to be taken in June
ReplyDeleteI agree with the discontinuation of the January exam because I think it's impossible taking a big exam on something we haven't spent much time learning. Kids feel rushed along with the teachers because we can't spend too much time on a single topic because we have to keep moving. And it's difficult because students start to become interested in what we are learning and then we have to move on. But at the same time I don't think it's right either because we are in the class for 20 weeks and then we would have to wait another 20 weeks to take the exam. Kids are bound to forget what they've learned the first 20 weeks, so the January exams are also nice in a way.
ReplyDeletei lkie the block schedule now. its 80 minutes a class or block. it seems like the school day goes by way faster with the block schedule.
ReplyDeleteI would like for the 80 minute classes to continue. I think it is easier o get work done since you have less classes and more time to get the work done for a certain class.
ReplyDeleteThe bulleted questions are good starting points for people to consider when leaving a comment.
ReplyDeleteI think that the block scheduling is the best way to go. Having a 9 period days will negatively impact learning, and students' lives. Having 9 classes will also mean there would be a lot more homework for students daily. The block also allows for longer instruction, meaning teachers are able to get through more of a lesson, or even a whole lesson in one day, instead of it taking 2 days to complete one lesson.
ReplyDeleteIf Alden must switch from their current system, a alternating daily block schedule might be the best option. Meaning one day you have one set of classes, then the next you have another set, then back to the first set the next day, and so on.
In my opinion that a nine period day would effect Alden High School as a whole. Most of the High School students are use to block scheduling. Block scheduling it separates high school students from middle school students. Also that an 80 min blocks gives high school students an opportunity to take more classes in a year than regular periods does. Block scheduling gives high school students more opportunities in my opinion. Therefore in my opinion if the state is cutting January regents then Alden High School should blend blocks with periods, this would still let students take the class they want in theory along with the classes that are mandatory.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tom. Having a block schedule is the best way to go. We get longer instruction, even if it is a class we hate. I want the block schedule to stay.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jim. That would make it so your classes all ended in June and still keep 80 minute classes.
ReplyDeleteIn response to xxoemmielouxxo:
ReplyDeleteSwitching to 40 minute classes would end up equaling into about the same amount of time of instruction as the block, so you'd still be rushed to get through different lessons.
You would also be rushed to complete more within the smaller 40 minute time frame which would be stressful.
In response to: xxoemmielouxxo:
ReplyDeleteYes it is true that some kids feel rushed, then you have the kids who wish they can spend more time on a topic which is a good thing.
Then if you think of middle school teachers still are going to rush to get everything cramped in to that year. Also you have to remember information longer then if you took a course for 80min for 20 weeks.
I agree with Tom, I think if the schedule must be changed it would be best to keep 80 minute classes, but alternate days. Having 9 classes a day would make way too much homework and not enough time to learn.
ReplyDeleteThe implementation of periods into harms exam grades as well as marking period grades. The block scheduling now allows students to remember and recall information for 20 weeks before the exam comes. In traditional periods, exams come after 40 weeks. The block scheduling allows for more material to be covered in one day. By the time all students report for class, homework is corrected and attendance and other procedures are completed, you are lucky to have 20 minutes of class. The Block helps eliminate this problem by having longer classes and allowing for over 60 minutes of class.
ReplyDeleteif we were to wait till June to take the exams from the first half of the year, more people would have a larger rate of getting a lower grade on the finals than if we were to take it a week or so after the classes end.
ReplyDeletei think that jims comment was pretty good. having days 1 and 2 and still having 80 minute classes and exams in june would work out really good.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be best for the 80 minute classes because kids have less classes and it gives them time to concentrate on a few classes. In a 40 minute class you have to remember that stuff you learned from the begining of the year and in a 80 minute you only have to remember stuff for a half a year and you will remember it better.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the majority of these comments, especially Jim's. I think it's important that we keep the block scheduling because it allows us to take more classes through out the course of the year, but at the same time it is easier for us to focus on and to retain everything we learn within the 80 min classes and 20 week course. The idea of the day 1/day 2 block rotation seems interesting.
ReplyDeleteI think that 9 class scheduling would be better. There may be shorter periods but the classes would go on for the whole year instead of just half and it saves confusion from students when they change classes. The teachers also wouldn't be stresses on time and there could be less homework.
ReplyDeleteI like how are schedule is set up with 80 minute classes. Changing it to 40 classes will make learning harder trying to learn a bunch of different subjects with double the homework. Block scheduling gives more time to learn with less classes to remember information from.
ReplyDeletei think that block scheduling is better for kids to learn. it gives them less classes to focus on and do better in those classes. if we have classes all year it would be harder to concentrate on all the classes and may affect kids grades. i think that it should maybe be where something like every other day you can have blocks for some classes witch would also only have classes for half a year. i think it would be better to keep blocks and find a way to make it work
ReplyDeleteI like the period system better. Because you can collaberate with your friends to get work done outside of class...In the block, some of your friends may have a class that you do not have, so you can't work with your friends to get homework done. That is a drawback of the block that I dislike. If you are in the period, everyone has the same class and can work together outside of class. -Ryan Flip
ReplyDeleteI think that the 80 minute blocks should continue because it helps us prepare for college. Also, it is way easier to give more time to concentrate on certain classes, rather than all of our core classes at once. Some classes are rushed, but it just is because they make the curriculum difficult to understand and there is a lot of material to cover in only half of the school year. As long as the base of the course is covered, then there is usually nothing to worry about. And I think that having 9 periods a day would make it more likely for students to score lower on an exam rather than having 80 minute classes for half of the year.
ReplyDeleteRight now I don't think there is anything wrong with the block scheduling. It works out pretty good seeing we are a smaller school. However I Know that some bigger schools have a similar block scheduling but they take the same classes all year. One day it will be the classes for like one half of the year, and the next day it would be like the second half of the year classes. This would work better for bigger schools were more classes are available, but it may work out for a smaller school too.
ReplyDeleteI like the 80 minute classes, only having to deal with only a few classes each semester makes it easier for me as a student because you can focus on the courses you are taking for only that semester. For me, it's ahrd to deal with so much homework for one night and i'm sure it is the same for other students too. I like having block scheduling and 80 minute classes so i don't think we should get rid of them.
ReplyDeleteI think that the block scheduling is great and should still be continued. Having an eighty minute class rather then a forty minute class gives students the opportunity to learn topics taught in class more thoroughly, rather than in a forty minute class you feel more rushed and less focused.
ReplyDeleteIf the high school decides to switch the schedule I think the best way is to keep eighty minutes and have different days. Such as taking all classes but having them on opposite days. Although students will always be busy it gives them a new challenge to face.
I really like block scheduling because having only four classes helps me concentrate. It makes school easier because I don't have to concentrate on everything at once. I think that if we had 40 minute classes, the teachers wouldn't be able to get our attention right away and we would have to rush through everything. With an appropriate time to travel from class to class and time to go over homework and get the help you need, by the time class was over, nothing would be taught. I like the exams in June because then the stress of final exams are separated and students don't have to deal with them all at once.
ReplyDeleteI think having all classes on different days would be a bad idea because students would forget what they learned and they would still have to deal with everything at once. I don't think anything should change!
I really like the block schedule because there is more time in class and because it is easier to concentrate on the various assignments and lessons. I really hope the block schedule can continue, but if it can't then hopefully the alternating schedule mentioned in other comments can be used.
ReplyDeleteBy keeping the 80 minute classes and having all exams at the end of the year, it will be hard. The classes that you might have taken at the beginning of the year you might not remember when it comes time to take the exam at the end of the year. So either keep the scheduling the way it is or change it to 45 minute classes. To have it with 80 minute classes, where classes would only be taken half of the year, it would make it so much more difficult on students to prepare for exams towards the end of the year.
ReplyDeleteI really like the block scheduling. I feel it gives us enough time to accomplish a lot with out rushing. I think it makes the day go by a lot faster. Another key point is that it gets us students ready for college. I believe it is good have time adapting to longer class time.
ReplyDeleteI think we should stay with block scheduling. It allows students to focus on a lot less classes at a time, causing us to learn and concentrate better on the classes we are taking. I understand that other schools have block scheduling as well with everyother day to switch in between which classes they take through out the year. This would eliminate the problem of the exams in January, because all exams would be at the end of the year. However, with that said, it will cause a tremendous strain on teachers as well as students. Tearcher would have more classes, deal with a lot more kids, and they would have to make sure that the classes for one day is at the same point as the classes for the other. For students it's not a walk in the park either. Students would have all of their classes to deal with at once, and if the schedule was everyother day then the students would forget a lot of material that they learned the previous day. With the block scheduling we have now it's much easier to organize everything. Students can concentrate on fewer classes better, and with this scheduling the students can remember a lot more from the day before and not switch to new classes and forget everything. Before I was in Alden High there were forty mintute periods, all classes everyday, and all year. With this it takes longer to get through material, and as for us students we have to remember all our classes all at once, which is very stressful. As for the January Exams if we stuck with block scheduling then maybe we should make our own exams that are exceped by the exam people that they can count as a regent, so as not to disrupt the scheduling in school. I don't know how much that would go over but it's always worth a try.
ReplyDeleteThe block scheduling is good because it gives us more time to concentrate on our classes because we don't have as many as if we would be on periods.
ReplyDeleteI like 80 minute classes with four blocks a day. I prefer having four classes a day instead of 7 or 8 because then students can focus on a couple class and get there work and studies done instead of having eight classes with a bunch of work to worry about and try to get done. I hope that block scheduling will stay at Alden High School.
ReplyDeleteStudents: If you have friends going to another high school, perhaps you could ask them what type schedule they have and how it impacts their learning.
ReplyDeleteI like the block sheduling. I think that if we change to 45 minute classes then we will get homework for every class and it would be a lot more work.
ReplyDeleteI really like the 80 minutes classes and only 4 blocks. I think it is way better than having 9 periods a day. Students have less classes to worry about so they can focus on the 3 or 4 classes that they have.
ReplyDeleteI believe that everyone is missing the point. Its not that they are taking away the scheduling on purpose. Its that the January exam is being taken away. So please consider revising your comments.
ReplyDeleteI like how are schedules now I don’t want them to change. It helps us when we go to college. We get more stuff done in the day with 80 minutes instead off 40 minutes.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the schedules we have now, because we have a lower amount of classes we are able to focus on those few classes more than we would be able to if we had an 8-9 period day. The schedule we have now also has a direct correlation with our schools ranking, when we introduced the four block schedule Alden shot up in rank. This schedule also reduces the stress level on students making it easier for them to do well in school.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tom K's comment.
ReplyDeleteThat way we could take our exams in June, and still have practice before hand. 40 minute classes rush students, and focusing on 2 or so subjects at a time is very effective. Personally i love the block schedule. I found my grades have improved since i moved here. Before i was used to 9 periods a day, but found that in some areas, i was lacking. But i'd like to try the day one and two block schedule. I think everyone would benefit from it.
I like the block scheduling that is in practice now at this school. Another teacher of mine has shown that grades and the rank of Alden high school has gone up in New York State since the practice of block scheduling. The blocks allow students to be happy and most likely the teachers also. This most likely means that both students and teachers are going to do their work. Blocks allow student to have less classes to do work in which means they can concentrate on less classes at a time. This means that the quality of work is probably going to be better. Going back to periods will shorten the time you have to concentrate on one class and will lessen the work quality. Furthermore I think that the percentage of drop outs could go up and that the percent of graduation would go down. This is most likely because of the less time to concentrate and more work. Also having classes every other day would probably not benefit the teachers or the students. This would give more time to complete work or homework but then it will take time each day to find where you had left off. Also teachers will have more students to account for and they could get side tracked which causes a uncomfortable situation for both the teacher and student. This then lessening the quality of work for both. I think that it would be in the best interest for everyone at the school to try and keep the block scheduling. But if it is not possible there has to be other ideas then periods or alternating days. This website contains a couple different ideas for a different school day structure. (http://performancepyramid.muohio.edu/pyramid/shared-best-practices/Alternative-School-Structures.html) Also looking on the Internet I’ve found that some places have 6 periods. “we have 6 periods a day, each lasting 52 minutes. We start school at 8:30am and have form for 10 minutes to take the register etc. then we go to our first two classes, get a 20 minute break where we do whatever we like. Then we have our next two periods, and then at 12:30 we get an hour for lunch, and we can go out into town to buy food from wherever we want...do whatever we want basically :L then we have out last two periods and finish school at 3:15pm” Basically this is close to both a period and block scheduling. The class length depends on how many classes and periods that are decided to put in the day. Also what time school starts and ends. But overall I think its in the best interest of everyone to keep blocks or if it is changed to at least have longer periods. Also I’ve seen from other schools that Alden has a higher number of credits you need to graduate. I don’t really know a lot about that topic and why its high, other then the obvious to keep grades up, but it it was lower this would mean you need less classes. So if you had 6 periods you could have 5-4 core classes and the a couple of electives. I know that electives are just as important as core classes but this could probably save the school money and allow longer classes. But you then give up the experience kids go through when they take these classes plus it gives them less of a feel to as what they want to do when they get out of high school. But I think having these longer periods it would benefit everyone. But the main point here is that if the blocks are changed back to periods that the number of periods have to be lessened from that in middle school and the length of the classes need to longer. Hopefully we don’t have to get rid of block scheduling.
ReplyDeleteI like the block scheduling and i think everybody benefits from it so if we have to get rid of the January exams then i would much rather have the rotating block thing as opposed to the nine periods because being a freshmen, it was a nice refresher to come into the high school having something completely different and the day rolls on so much easier.
ReplyDeletei think that 40 minute schedules are bad because then we would get lots of homework from many classes. and alternating days are confusing focusing on different classes
ReplyDeleteEven though I am graduating, I think that block scheduling is a very effective way to study in high school. Even if the blocks were every other day it would not be a problem. I believe 40 minutes classes are too rushed and there isn't enough time to ask questions and talk to teachers one on one. Block scheduling is very effective for many students. If the NYS Regents exam was cut in January, they should keep block scheduling as an every other day occurance.
ReplyDeletekeep blocks. Its definitely more convenient for everyone rather then periods. If a student needs help theres Adv and Afetrschool.
ReplyDelete