PCHS Block Scheduling Workshop

1. PCHS Block Scheduling Workshop July 26, 2012

2. Welcome • Connections • Never Have I Ever… • Movement in the block schedule

3. Pros/Cons • Con: Ninety minutes is a lot of class time. • Pro: Ninety minutes is a lot of class time. • C:The temptation is there to simply combine two lessons to stretch from bell to bell. • P: Students can read a work during class and have time for discussion/questions. • C: Student attention spans will not last ninety minutes. The brain can only absorb what the rear can endure. • P: Students can practice group and individual skills all in one session. • C: Irrelevant activities planned to “fill time” must be avoided. • P: Teacher can conference with students, students can peer edit, etc.

4. What does my classroom look like? • Good News • Starter (writing/reflection prompt; critical thinking; I Heard, I Noticed, I Wondered; Editor-in-Chief) • Launch lesson • Group work/individual work/share-out • Closure/exit ticket (index cards, post-its, etc.) These are useful for informal formative assessment to guide pacing.

5. Sample Lesson • Advertising PowerPoint(s)

6. Brain Breaks • Double, double, this, this • Thumbs up and shoot • Gotcha • Say 21 • Slap & spell • Do this, do that

7. Movement w/in content area • Amnesia • Active discussion • Gallery walk

8. Non-negotiables of block scheduling • Plan multiple activities (vary skill sets) • Plan individual AND group tasks • Daily review (can often incorporate as starters) • Time management • Facilitate, don’t dominate

9. Resources • readwritethink.org • webenglishteacher.com • teachablemoment.org • successfulpractices.org