Implications of Block Scheduling on a Middle Level School

Implications of Block Scheduling on a Middle Level School
Author: Audrey C. Frank
Publisher:
Total Pages: 102
Release: 2009
Genre: Block scheduling (Education)
ISBN:

Middle level school reform has recently been placed center stage in an effort to improve student achievement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implications of block scheduling on a middle level school and whether its implementation increased student achievement. The three questions guiding the research and analysis were as follows: 1) did block scheduling support increased student achievement; 2) did the increased instructional time provide a platform for teachers to change instructional practices; and 3) did block scheduling provide an avenue to promote teacher collaboration? Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from state standardized tests and teacher surveys in order to evaluate the impact of block scheduling. The analysis of state testing results showed increased student achievement for all demographic groups once block scheduling was implemented. Teacher responses to the survey were consistent with the literature review and generally positive. Based on these results, although no direct cause and effect relationship exists between block scheduling and student achievement, the data clearly shows an environment was created through block scheduling for teachers to influence student achievement.

Scheduling Middle Level Schools

Scheduling Middle Level Schools
Author: Ronald D. Williamson
Publisher:
Total Pages: 74
Release: 1998
Genre: Education
ISBN:

This book investigates school schedules by examining the use of time at the middle level and discussing strategies that schools may use to provide greater flexibility to the school day. Eleven specific scheduling models are presented and described. Complementing the models is a discussion of the factors that propel a school's investigation of alternative schedules. The manual views time as a resource and discusses ways to empower teachers to use time to make decisions. It also considers the role that adolescence plays in schedules and presents tips on how to schedule activities with this in mind. The text examines the importance of scheduling, outlines some scheduling myths, and explores the "block-time" schedule at length, considering its advantages and disadvantages for administrators, teachers, and students. Some block-time models are provided. Other kinds of schedules that are considered include alternate day, rotating, and dropped schedules. The booklet explores ways to get started on scheduling reform, offering details on planning steps, whether or not to use a computer, simulations, building the schedule, the uses of singletons and doubletons, staffing decisions, and selecting staff members. The text concludes with strategies for manipulating the schedule by challenging regularities, focusing on students, and starting small. (RJM)

The Effect of Block Scheduling on Academic Achievement of Lower Level Math Students

The Effect of Block Scheduling on Academic Achievement of Lower Level Math Students
Author: Susan Milder
Publisher:
Total Pages: 52
Release: 2012
Genre: Academic achievement
ISBN:

A good deal of research has been conducted on the effect that block scheduling has on student engagement and student academic success. As one of the teachers selected to teach the block format class, the researcher was interested in learning whether the block class was indeed serving its purpose of increasing the number of students that passed Algebra A. The studies reviewed and the need to determine the academic outcome of the block classes, helped lead to the main research question: Is there a relationship between block scheduling and academic achievement in lower level math students at Case High School? The researcher hypothesized that there is a positive relationship between passing rate and the block schedule.

The Impact of Block Scheduling on Student Achievement, Attendance, and Discipline at the High School Level

The Impact of Block Scheduling on Student Achievement, Attendance, and Discipline at the High School Level
Author: Smooth (Poet)
Publisher:
Total Pages: 157
Release: 2011
Genre:
ISBN:

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact block scheduling has on (a) student academic achievement, discipline, and attendance, and (b) administrator, teacher, and student perceptions. The study compared 2005-2010 data from a high school utilizing the A/B block schedule and a high school under a traditional schedule, in one suburban school district. The study used mixed methods. The quantitative data described, analyzed, and interpreted reading and math FCAT [Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test] scores, attendance rates, and discipline referrals from 2005-2010. A total of seven repeated ANOVAs were conducted to analyze the difference between the two schedule designs with respect to two achievement indicators; reading and math FCAT scores. The qualitative data offered a voice to administrators, teachers, and students, and was gathered through individual face-to-face, email, or phone interviews. The quantitative findings for the study yielded the following conclusions: (1) students experienced higher FCAT reading scores on the A/B block schedule than the traditional schedule; (2) students experienced higher FCAT math scores under the traditional schedule than the A/B block schedule; (3) attendance rates decreased for students under the A/B block schedule and increased for students under the traditional schedule; and (4) discipline referrals decreased at a higher rate for students under the traditional schedule than students under the A/B block schedule. The administrator, teacher, and student perceptions contributed to the following qualitative findings for the study: (1) block scheduling fosters extended learning sessions when properly planned; (2) with fewer transitions discipline issues decreased; (3) attendance was not affected by the block schedule; (4) block schedule allows for the implementation of various instructional strategies; and (5) transitioning from a traditional to a block schedule was thought to be difficult at first, but attainable, and would alleviate any feelings of being rushed. Four appendixes present: (1) Florida High School Report Card; (2) Interview Questions; (3) Participant Consent Form; and (4) Parental Permission Form. (Contains 22 tables.).

The Impact of Middle School Scheduling Practices of Adolescent Math Achievement in Louisiana Public School

The Impact of Middle School Scheduling Practices of Adolescent Math Achievement in Louisiana Public School
Author: Deborah Lynn Gegg
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2022
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN:

Research on middle-level schools and student achievement revealed a drop in academic performance when students transitioned from elementary school to a traditional middle school. In the United States, the middle school years have historically seen a decline in student achievement following a transition from elementary school. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the performance of United States eighth-grade students in mathematics continued to lag behind globally based on the 2015 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (U.S. Department of Education, 2017). Specifically, United States eighth graders were ranked 12th in mathematics, which was three notches down from eight years prior. Similarly, the Louisiana Department of Education (2018), found Louisiana students struggled in mathematics compared to other tested subjects. In addition, middle school student achievement in Louisiana revealed consistently lower performance in mathematics compared to the other content areas. The purpose of this study was to determine if a particular scheduling practice had a significant effect on overall student math performance in Louisiana public middle schools. The sample population for the study included 179 schools containing grades six, seven, and eight. An independent t-test was conducted with the data for each of six hypotheses to determine if there was a difference in the group mean proficiency and mastery scores on the mathematics portion of the 2018 state assessment in Louisiana public middle schools that implemented either a traditional or block schedule. Based on the results of the independent t-test of the sample population, sixth graders in block scheduled schools demonstrated significantly higher proficiency and mastery scores on the math portion of the Louisiana assessment in the spring of 2018. In addition, seventh graders in block scheduled schools demonstrated significantly higher mastery scores on the math portion of the Louisiana assessment in the spring of 2018. While not significant in all cases, the mean proficiency and mastery scores for sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade math on the Louisiana assessment in 2018 were higher in the sample schools utilizing block scheduling. Recommendations from the study include using the schedule as only one factor for a school improvement effort.

The Effect of Block Scheduling on Student Achievement

The Effect of Block Scheduling on Student Achievement
Author: Neil D. Bucher
Publisher:
Total Pages: 174
Release: 2008
Genre: Academic achievement
ISBN:

"The issue of time usage in educational institutions across America has been a topic of debate in the last two decades as some educators have seriously questioned the effectiveness of the traditional daily school schedule and the student learning that takes place within it. Block scheduling is a recent scheduling phenomenon seen in today's secondary schools in an effort to provide teachers a flexible school schedule that is more conducive to student learning and not so closely tied to time. This paper explores student achievement on both state and national standardized exams and compares any differences between students learning on a block schedule compared to those on a traditional schedule. With these results the reader will be better able to determine if block scheduling is an educationally sound method of restructuring time."--leaf 3.

Scheduling Strategies for Middle Schools

Scheduling Strategies for Middle Schools
Author: Michael D. Rettig
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 269
Release: 2013-10-30
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1317921763

With over 150 sample schedules, this book shows how scheduling strategies can enhance your school's capacity to offer exploratory courses, interdisciplinary teaching teams, teacher-based guidance programs, and other programs and practices which are responsive to the needs of early adolescents.

Prisoners of Time

Prisoners of Time
Author: United States. National Education Commission on Time and Learning
Publisher: Commission
Total Pages: 58
Release: 1994
Genre: Education
ISBN: