The six schools in the Freehold Regional High School District will switch to a block schedule format beginning with the 2018-19 school year.
The school district which enrolls students from Colts Neck, Englishtown, Farmingdale, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Howell, Manalapan and Marlboro currently follows a schedule of seven 47-minute classes and a 28-minute lunch period each day.
The period based schedule has fixed times and days for classes. Administrators said the block schedule format will follow a rotating class schedule with five 67-minute classes per day and a 35-minute lunch period.
According to district administrators, “Each day there will be five ‘blocks’ that are 67 minutes in length, as well as a 35-minute unit lunch period. The new schedule consists of a seven-day cycle (A, B, C, D, E, F and G days), with students seeing only five of their seven classes each day. This means two classes will be ‘dropped’ each day.
“A feature of the schedule is the rotation of classes, meaning that a class meets at different times during the seven-day cycle. The FRHSD rotating block schedule includes four classes that rotate through three blocks prior to lunch and three classes that rotate through two blocks after lunch. On ‘G Day,’ a class from the afternoon rotation will occur before lunch.
“The number of days in each marking period (approximately 45 to 47), semester (approximately 91 to 92), and quarter (approximately 45 to 47) does not change. The number of class meetings will range between 32 and 33 per marking period,” administrators said.
Superintendent of Schools Charles Sampson said, “A couple of years ago during negotiations with the teachers’ association, one of the things we chose to explore together were the parameters to transition the district into a block schedule.
“One of the things that was important to us is that we have seen over time a number of districts transition to the block schedule and it is an overnight transition. We wanted to be much more deliberate than that.
“We have taken a total of three years of planning and collaborating about how we were going to go about doing this because we wanted to do it right. We recognize that people who have been teaching in a 47-minute compartment for their entire career need the support to be able to transition to a 67-minute (period) and that was one of the reasons we wanted to take our time with this,” Sampson said.
“We have spoken to a number of students as to what worked for them in the classroom. Providing the opportunity (for) a more authentic learning experience rather than just having people stand up and talking is something the district has been focusing on for the last couple of years.
“We hope the transition to the block schedule will provide students an opportunity to engage much deeper in their learning and have teachers help in that process,” the superintendent said.
District administrators said the benefits of moving to a rotating block schedule include:
- Longer periods allow for greater depth of instruction. This increases the opportunity for teachers to use differentiated and varied teaching strategies (e.g., cooperative learning, inquiry based lessons, simulations), as well as student-centered learning experiences and instructional approaches;
- Classes meet at different times during the day, which assists with students’ perception and focus. Students will not have a particular class at the same time every day. This is helpful for students who miss class time at the end of the day for athletic events and/or students who struggle to focus first thing in the morning;
- Students focus on five classes per day rather than on seven class per day. Students have fewer classes to prepare for on a given day (e.g., assessments, homework, projects), which can allow them to give each class greater attention;
- Teachers benefit from more usable instructional time each day because less time is lost with beginning and ending classes;
- Additional teacher preparation time is afforded in order to plan student-centered
lessons.
“We are excited for the implementation of the rotating block schedule which will greatly enhance instructional time for our students,” Sampson said. “This new schedule increases the opportunity for teachers to use differentiated and varied teaching strategies, as well as student-centered learning experiences.”
The district operates high schools in Colts Neck, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Howell, Manalapan and Marlboro.
FAQs
The traditional schedule only allows for so many points to be harvested, leaving little room for students to partake in classes that they are truly interested in. Most of the time, it forces schools to shorten all class periods, causing less productivity, which can cause frustration for both teachers and students.
What are the negatives of block scheduling? ›
The block schedule can also make it difficult for students to miss school. Since the course material is being covered much faster, students miss a lot more when they are absent. “Being absent is really difficult when you're in some of those high level courses, because you miss so much at a time,” Ewart said.
Is block scheduling better for high school students? ›
Research indicates that the block schedule structure generally results in lower workloads for both students and teachers. Since students are enrolled in fewer courses during a given time period, the number of assignments that need to be completed is generally lower in the block schedule.
How many schools in the US use block scheduling? ›
While this changes from year to year, the best estimate currently given is that about 72% of high schools use some form of block scheduling.
How does block scheduling affect students? ›
Nationally, schools following 4x4 block schedules (90-minute classes that meet daily for only one semester) were found to have mathematics achievement scores two thirds of one grade-level lower than schools following a 50-minute year-long mathematics courses.
What does it mean to block your schedule? ›
A block schedule is a time management strategy that helps you structure your day into blocks of time dedicated to distinct areas of your work and life. If you tend to switch quickly between tasks, get distracted easily, or battle to do deep, focused work, a block schedule can help you stay on track.
What is the best schedule for high school students? ›
Similar to a college schedule using semesters, a 4X4 block schedule allows students to sign up for eight classes. These classes are then divided into two semesters, with four classes at the beginning of the year and the other four at the end of the year. Each class lasts approximately 90 minutes.
Does block scheduling save money? ›
Block scheduling, in which students take fewer classes per day for longer periods of time, is more expensive because teachers teach fewer students and fewer hours than in a traditional schedule. Block schedules can work several ways. At some area high schools, students take four 90-minute periods each day.
What are the cons of blocked practice? ›
Athletes in blocked practice settings haven't really learned anything – they've simply adapted to the task at hand. It may look good or feel good in the short term, but the monotony of it does not engage the physical and motor learning systems in a meaningful way that promotes long term retention of skills.
Is block scheduling good for ADHD? ›
The way time blocking makes tasks and time visible, as well as the flexibility that comes from moving the blocks as needed, is what makes the technique such a powerful tool for people with ADHD.
Remember, effective study isn't just about the hours you put in—it's about how you use them. Time blocking can be that crucial strategy that turns endless hours into effective, productive learning.
What does block scheduling work best for? ›
With block scheduling, you'll have better time management and ownership of your own time. You can make sure that clients only book meetings with you at set times and that your employees know when it's the best time to share what they're working on.
What are the disadvantages of block scheduling? ›
Cons of Block Scheduling
- Loss of Continuity. If schools elect an A/B block schedule, then a student's schedule is changing on the daily. ...
- Greater Loss If Absent. When students are out sick for a day, they may miss more in a block schedule than a traditional schedule. ...
- Too Fast.
Traditionally, secondary school schedules include six to eight courses daily, typically ranging from 40 to 55 minutes. In a block schedule, classes range from 75 to 95 minutes, and students attend fewer classes per day. Longer classes give teachers more time to build relationships with students (Pate et al., 2022).
Who created block scheduling? ›
The Copernican Plan (Carroll, 1990) was designed by Joseph M. Carroll. In this plan a student has just two classes per day, each 180-minutes. These courses are accelerated and completed in just 30 school days.
Why does school block settings? ›
Safety and Security: Ensuring the safety and security of students online is paramount for educational institutions. By blocking websites that host inappropriate or harmful content, schools aim to protect students from exposure to explicit material, violence, hate speech, and online threats.
What is the difference between block system and semester system? ›
In a school using the semester system, there may be 6 to 8 class periods in one day, with each period lasting forty minutes. So students study many different subjects in one semester. In block scheduling, students might have only 4 class periods in a day, but each period is ninety minutes long.
Why do school districts block websites? ›
Web filtering in schools blocks students from inappropriate and distracting content across the web, while allowing sites that are selected by school administrators.
