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Making Block Scheduling Beneficial in a Four Track School

Making Block Scheduling Beneficial in a Four Track School. Presented by Jim Gniadek & Dawn Ruff. Jim Gniadek Undergrad from St. Xavier University Currently working on ESL endorsement 11 years with Chicago Public Schools 5 years at a four track school

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Making Block Scheduling Beneficial in a Four Track School

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  1. Making Block Scheduling Beneficial in a Four Track School Presented by Jim Gniadek & Dawn Ruff

  2. Jim Gniadek Undergrad from St. Xavier University Currently working on ESL endorsement 11 years with Chicago Public Schools 5 years at a four track school Introduced & implemented block scheduling in 7th grade Reading & math instructor Rochelle Lee grant recipient Dawn Ruff Undergrad from Eastern Illinois University Masters degree in Reading from St. Xavier University 14 years with Chicago Public Schools; 2 years private schools 3 years at a four track school Introduced & implemented block scheduling in 7th grade Reading & English instructor Rochelle Lee grant recipient Currently Instructional Facilitator Introducing…

  3. How can block scheduling be implemented at your school? • You will need the following: • Common prep and lunch times for grade level and two 90 minute blocks scheduled per day • Departmental program needs to be scheduled on the same track-(example: Our 7th grade is all on Track A and our 8th grade is all on Track B) • Teachers must be certified to teach in their content areas (Math, Science, English, Social Studies) • Team effort and collaboration • The following makes block scheduling possible:

  4. Mini-Courses and Block Scheduling • Often referred to as Prep or Specials • Ancillary and Classroom Teachers collaborate to maximize learning and practice • Students receive a four week intensive course in one of the following: • Learning Technology • Gym/Health • Library • Writing Lab • Art • Course changes monthly when tracks change

  5. Chicago Public Schools Statistics • 623 Elementary Schools • 15 of which are year round • 5 multi-track • 10 single track • 115 High Schools • All on traditional calendar • Total enrollment of 420,982 students

  6. Socorro Sandoval School 5534 S. St. LouisChicago, IL 60629773-535-0457 Background Information • Enrollment • 96.2% Hispanic • 2.6% Caucasian • 0.5% African-American • 39.6% ELL (English Language Learners) • 96.3% attendance rate • 92.1% Low income • 26.4% Mobility rate

  7. 7th Grade Morning Schedule • 8:55 - 10:20 Reading with homeroom • 10:20-11:00 Prep (4 week mini-courses) • 11:00-11:10 Homeroom • 11:10-11:30 Lunch

  8. Monday/Wednesday 11:40-1:10 107-Math 117-Science 127-Social Studies 137-English 1:10-2:40 107-English 117-Social Studies 127-Science 137-Math Tuesday/Thursday 11:40-1:10 107-Science 117-English 127-Math 137-Social Studies 1:10-2:40 107-Social Studies 117-Math 127-English 137-Science 7th Grade Block Schedule Monday-Thursday

  9. 11:40-12:25 107-Science 117-English 127-Math 137-Social Studies 12:25-1:10 107-Math 117-Science 127-Social Studies 137-English 1:10-1:55 107-Social Studies 117-Math 127-English 137-Science 1:55-2:40 107-English 117-Social Studies 127-Science 137-Math Friday Schedule…Students and teachers dread this day!

  10. Typical Math Block • 20 minutes-correct homework and review missed problems. • 30 minutes-Present new lesson with 10-15 minutes of guided practice on overhead. • 30 minutes-Assign and complete in-class assignment. • 10 minutes-Correct in-class assignment and assign homework. • Group work: • Skills Tutor • partner quizzes • daily cumulative review problems • problem of the day. • Math short response and extended response practice using T-chart • Whole Class • Small Group • Partners • Individual

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  12. Typical English Block • Word of the week…introduce a new word • Partner work using the 4-square • Scope Magazine (Scholastic) plays, writing activities, grammar practice, vocabulary practice • Skills tutor groups use the internet practice program • Grammar Lessons • Review and correct homework • Students learn a new lesson • Assign homework • Journal Writing…students respond to a prompt and share responses • Writing Workshop…work on different types of writing • Extended Response • Using graphic organizers

  13. Typical Science Block START OF CLASS PROCEDURE • More class time to do work means less work that has to go home! • Read the Daily Science Trivia and copy into your science journal. The Daily Science Trivia is located on the board with the use of the overhead. • If an assignment is due, turn it in the tray for your class period. Write down the homework in your agenda. INDIVIDUAL WORK PROCEDURES • Students will be assigned to skills tutor. • Students will be assigned Timed Reading Plus Stories.

  14. Science Cont’d GROUP WORK PROCEDURES • Some of our work is group work • QUIET talking is allowed during group work. • If materials or supplies are needed during group work, someone will be assigned to get supplies. Only one person from each group is allowed out of their seats at a time. • Activities and demonstrations are presented at this time. A discussion of the objectives are discussed while students take notes. END OF CLASS PROCDEURE: • Begin to clean up and put materials away only AFTER you have been given instructions to do so. DO NOT get ready to leave early. • Put ALL supplies, materials, and equipment back in the appropriate place. • Clean up any trash; wipe down your desk if needed. • Remain in your seat until you are dismissed.

  15. Sandoval Assessments • Low Stakes • Learning First • CPS mandated • STEP Assessment • Curriculum driven • Skills Tutor • Internet based practice & assessment • High Stakes • Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) • State Mandated • CPS promotion tool

  16. What does assessment have to do with block scheduling???? During the 90 minute blocks curriculum is based on… • Data driven instruction • Lessons are built on results from STEP and Learning First data • Curriculum must align to standardized tests to ensure student success • Intersession tutoring • Writing Lab (Prep) • Skills Tutor student practice

  17. CPS-Sandoval Scorecard

  18. Putting it all together… • Students love block scheduling…more time to focus, work together in groups, not rushing to beat the clock or get through a lesson…many students have commented, “It’s time to go already?” • Teachers find block scheduling less stressful…able to present a lesson, give an assignment in class to check understanding and still time to review before the block is over.

  19. Websites • Chicago Public Schools www.cps.k12.il.us • Sandoval School www.sandoval.cps.k12.il.us • Skills Tutor www.myskillstutor.com • Illinois State Board of Education www.isbe.net

  20. Contacts: • Dawn Ruff: druff@sandoval.cps.k12.il.us • Jim Gniadek: jgniadek@sandoval.cps.k12.il.us

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