THE ROTATING SCHEDULE an alternative approach

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1 THE ROTATING SCHEDULE an alternative approach

2 The manner in which a high school organizes itself and the ways in which it uses time create a framework that affects almost everything about teaching and learning in the school. imaginative, flexible scheduling must be the order of the day high schools develop flexible scheduling that allows for more varied use of time in order to meet the requirements of the curriculum Breaking Ranks (NASSP publication)

3 The most effective school systems in the world ensure that all of their schools have a process in place to monitor each student s learning on an ongoing basis and a systematic plan of intervention that provides a struggling student with additional time and support for learning (Barber and Mourshed, 2007) Schedules should (1) give school personnel access to students who are experiencing difficulty learning during the school day and (2) ensure students receive additional time and support for learning in ways that do not require them to miss new direct instruction.

4 Our advice to educators is simple: Your schedule is not a sacred document. If your current schedule does not allow you to provide students with something as essential to their academic success as extra time and support for learning, you should change it! DuFour, DuFour, Eaker, & Karhanek)

5 The goal of any Master Schedule is to help create a supportive learning environment. Our goal with any new schedule is to enhance student learning and to improve student achievement as we present our curriculum.

8 LONGER PERIODS ACTIVE LEARNING Time 4 Day 3 Day 2 Day 1 Day 7:30 Warning Bell Warning Bell Warning Bell Warning Bell 7:35-8:30 Period 4 Period 3 Period 2 Period 1 8:34-9:29 Period 1 Period 4 Period 3 Period 2 9:33-10:35 (Homeroom 7 minutes) Period 2 Period 1 Period 4 Period 3 10:39 11:34 11:38-12:08 Period 8A 2 nd Lunch Period 7A 2 nd Lunch Period 6A 2 nd Lunch Period 5A 2 nd Lunch 10:39-11:09 11:13-12:08 1 st Lunch Period 8B 1 st Lunch Period 7B 1 st Lunch Period 6B 1 st Lunch Period 5B 12:12-1:07 Period 5 Period 8 Period 7 Period 6 1:11-2:06 Period 6 Period 5 Period 8 Period 7

9 SAMPLE TEACHER SCHEDULE Teacher is scheduled to teach periods 1, 2, 4, 6, (B), 8 Time 4 Day 3 Day 2 Day 1 Day 7:35-8:30 Period 4 Period 3 - Prep Period 2 Period 1 8:34-9:29 Period 1 Period 4 Period 3 Office Hours Period 2 9:33-10:35 (Homeroom 7 minutes) Period 2 Period 1 Period 4 Period 3 - Prep 10:39-11:09 Lunch PLC Lunch PLC 11:13-12:08 Period 8B Lunch 11:14-11:44 Lunch Duty 11:45-12:09 Period 6B Lunch 11:14-11:44 Lunch Duty 11:45-12:09 12:12-1:07 Period 5 - Prep Period 8 Period 7 - Prep Period 6 1:11-2:06 Period 6 Period 5 - Tutor Period 8 Period 7 - Tutor

10 SAMPLE TEACHER SCHEDULE Science Teacher is scheduled to teach periods 2, 4, 6, (B), 8 Time 4 Day 3 Day 2 Day 1 Day 7:35-8:30 Period 4 Period 3 - Prep Period 2 Period 1 - Prep 8:34-9:29 Period 1 - Prep Period 4 Period 3 Tutor Period 2 9:33-10:35 (Homeroom 7 minutes) Period 2 Lab Period 4 Lab 10:39-11:09 Lunch PLC Lunch PLC 11:13-12:08 Period 8B Lunch 11:14-11:44 Lunch Duty 11:45-12:09 Period 6B Lunch 11:14-11:44 Lunch Duty 11:45-12:09 12:12-1:07 Period 5 - Prep Period 8 Period 7 - Prep Period 6 1:11-2:06 Period 6 Lab Period 8 Lab

11 SAMPLE TEACHER SCHEDULE Teacher is scheduled to teach periods 1, 3, 4, 5, (A), 8 Time 4 Day 3 Day 2 Day 1 Day 7:35-8:30 Period 4 Period 3 Period 2 - Prep Period 1 8:34-9:29 Period 1 Period 4 Period 3 Period 2 - Prep 9:33-10:35 (Homeroom 7 minutes) Period 2 - Prep Period 1 Period 4 Period 3 10:39 11:34 Period 8A Prep Period 6A - Tutor Period 5A 11:38-12:08 Lunch Lunch PLC PLC 12:12-1:07 Period 5 Period 8 Lunch 12:13-12:43 Office Hours 12:43-1:08 Lunch 12:13-12:43 Office Hours 12:43-1:08 1:11-2:06 Period 6 - Tutor Period 5 Period 8 Period 7 - Tutor

12 SAMPLE TEACHER SCHEDULE Teacher is scheduled to teach periods 1, 2, 4, 5, (B), 7 Time 4 Day 3 Day 2 Day 1 Day 7:35-8:30 Period 4 Prep Period 2 Period 1 8:34-9:29 Period 1 Period 4 Prep Period 2 9:33-10:35 (Homeroom 7 minutes) Period 2 Period 1 Period 4 Prep 10:39-11:09 Lunch PLC Lunch PLC 11:13-12:08 Tutor 11:14-11:39 Lunch Duty 11:39-12:09 Period 7 Tutor 11:14-11:39 Lunch Duty 11:39-12:09 Period 5 12:12-1:07 Period 5 Lunch 12:13-12:43 Office Hours 12:43-1:08 Period 7 Lunch 12:13-12:43 Office Hours 12:43-1:08 1:11-2:06 Prep Period 5 Period 8 - Tutor Period 7

13 Math Tutoring Center Advantages Preliminary data from September 13 th through October 4 th shows the following: 165 students received tutoring at least once 69 students for a single session 32 students for multiple sessions (as many as 8 visits) On average, 10 students per day are benefiting, but this average is showing signs of increasing.

14 Limitations of Tutoring Center Currently: Students can only attend during Lunch or Study Hall. Students may not necessarily be helped by their actual math teacher. More flexibility, in both student and teacher schedules, would allow for drastic changes in tutoring effectiveness.

15 SCHEDULE ADVANTAGES Longer (55 min) periods for more active learning opportunities More time for quality assignments and assessments Increased daily instructional time More productive school and classroom climate Instructional process has fewer disruptions Day is less frenetic for students and staff Rotation of classes for a more interesting day Enhanced socialization and co-curricular opportunities

16 INCREASED INSTRUCTIONAL TIME Past Present Rotating Period length 41 min 43 min 55 min # class meetings Instructional Time 7380 min/yr 7740 min/yr 7425 min/yr 4.9% increase in instructional time per class from 09/10 to 10/11 A 4.1% decrease from 10/11 to 11/12 Plus an additional 9.6% since students are not scheduled for lunch (9/10 to 11/12)

17 9.6 % Increased Explained Present Rotating Period length 43 min 55 min # class meetings Instructional Time 7740 min/yr 7425 min/yr Instructional Time 7740 * * 8 =54,180 minutes =59,400 minutes Over 5,000 additional instructional minutes gained

18 QUALITY ASSIGNMENTS / ASSESSMENTS 55 minute periods provide time for research, reports, debriefings, closure, and other active learning strategies and performance assessments with time for practice and application. Fewer subjects daily allow students and staff to focus better during homework hours. 55 minute periods provide more time for content depth and higher level thinking activities. Increased time for staff to design authentic assessment. Less fragmentation of instruction, more time on task.

19 SCHOOL AND CLASSROOM CLIMATE Fewer passing times two in AM, and two in PM. Less stress for students; not all classes meet each day. Lunch is not a disruption of the instructional time. Rotation of classes creates variety and supports various teaching/learning styles of teachers and students. 2 Unit lunch allows opportunities for increased cocurricular involvement and community building. Goal is to develop a 9-10 & lunch

20 ADVANTAGES OF 2 UNIT LUNCH Builds a sense of community. Improved room utilization and class size balance Students can use lunch time for library usage. Provides peer counseling opportunities. Students have more access to guidance programs. Students can use time to get extra help. Athletes can become more involved in clubs/activities. Interventions become a reality 9-10 and lunch periods

21 ROOM UTILIZATION AND CLASS SIZE Better class size balance Minimize class size range in multiple section courses Full utilization of all instructional spaces each period

22 Professional Duty could be: * Tutorial Center * PLC s * Office Hours Custodial Duty: * Lunch Supervision * Front Desk * Office Aid * Bathroom / Hall Duty In this schedule, teachers would have the following per 4 day cycle * a minimum of one 55 minute prep per day * a minimum of one 30 minute lunch per day

23 A sample student schedule of eight classes Period 1 Anatomy & Physiology 2 P.E./Lab 3 HN Spanish IV 4 English IV 5 College Accounting 6 Study Hall 7 HN Statistics 8 AP US History would look like this

24 Day A Day B Day C Day D English IV HN Span IV P.E./Lab Anatomy Anatomy English IV HN Span IV P.E./Lab P.E./Lab Anatomy English IV HN Span IV 1 st L U N C H AP History HN Statistics Study Hall Accounting Accounting AP History HN Statistics Study Hall Study Hall Accounting AP History HN Statistics COURSES THAT DO NOT MEET ON DAYS LISTED ABOVE HN Span IV P.E./Lab Anatomy English IV HN Statistics Study Hall Accounting AP History

25 SCHEDULING SCIENCE LABS All current 6 period/week science classes would be scheduled for lab with an aligned physical education class. The class would be 114 minutes in length (55 min of class + 4 min passing + 55 minutes of the next period). Lab would occur once every four day cycle. Both AP science classes and current lab science classes would gain time under this new arrangement.

26 BOTTOM LINE The rotating schedule provides 1. Time during contracted hours for effective PLC s 2. Time for student interventions during the school day 3. Senior ambassador program to help with Freshman transition Budget implications 1. Additional staff not required for schedule 2. Additional cafeteria tables are needed (approx 50 tables or seating for 350 students) 3. Custodial time needed to set up / break down tables

27 The College Board, in a study of Alternative Schedules and performance on AP exams done in May 1998 stated the results from this study suggest that students obtain higher grades when instruction is given over an entire year students in longer instructional periods (60-80 min) resulted in higher grades and improved student learning

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