Making Block Scheduling Beneficial in a Four Track School

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Making Block Scheduling Beneficial in a Four
Track School

• Presented by
• Jim Gniadek Dawn Ruff

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Introducing

• 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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7th Grade Morning Schedule

• 855 - 1020 Reading with homeroom
• 1020-1100 Prep (4 week mini-courses)
• 1100-1110 Homeroom
• 1110-1130 Lunch

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7th Grade Block Schedule Monday-Thursday

• Monday/Wednesday
• 1140-110
• 107-Math
• 117-Science
• 127-Social Studies
• 137-English
• 110-240
• 107-English
• 117-Social Studies
• 127-Science
• 137-Math

• Tuesday/Thursday
• 1140-110
• 107-Science
• 117-English
• 127-Math
• 137-Social Studies
• 110-240
• 107-Social Studies
• 117-Math
• 127-English
• 137-Science

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Friday ScheduleStudents and teachers dread this
day!

• 1140-1225
• 107-Science
• 117-English
• 127-Math
• 137-Social Studies
• 1225-110
• 107-Math
• 117-Science
• 127-Social Studies
• 137-English

• 110-155
• 107-Social Studies
• 117-Math
• 127-English
• 137-Science
• 155-240
• 107-English
• 117-Social Studies
• 127-Science
• 137-Math

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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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Typical English Block

• Word of the weekintroduce 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 Writingstudents respond to a prompt and
  share responses
• Writing Workshopwork on different types of
  writing
• Extended Response
• Using graphic organizers

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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.

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Science Contd

• 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.

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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

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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

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CPS-Sandoval Scorecard
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Putting it all together

• Students love block schedulingmore time to
  focus, work together in groups, not rushing to
  beat the clock or get through a lessonmany
  students have commented, Its time to go
  already?
• Teachers find block scheduling less
  stressfulable to present a lesson, give an
  assignment in class to check understanding and
  still time to review before the block is over.

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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

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Contacts

• Dawn Ruff
• druff_at_sandoval.cps.k12.il.us
• Jim Gniadek jgniadek_at_sandoval.cps.k12.il.us