To increase high-quality instructional time each day and reduce student stress, administrators are redesigning middle school schedules to increase instructional time and minimize transition time. Redesigned schedule models provide administrators with the freedom to align the schedule directly with the vision and needs of the school community.
Districts can modify the schedule to create an environment that promotes student learning and a positive middle school culture. This research covers how to implement redesigned schedules, engage stakeholders, assess the new schedules, and offer professional development for teachers to effectively use increased instructional time.
Redesign the schedule to maximize time in the classroomBy redesigning the schedule, administrators can deploy a combination of both longer and shorter blocks as needed to facilitate the demands of different subjects. Schedules with longer blocks can allow administrators to promote more enriching learning experiences and less stressful school environments. Designing A/B block schedules maximize time in the classroom by halving the number of classes that students take each day, which decreases transition time. Further, research suggests that less unsupervised time in hallways leads to improved student behavior.
Implement redesigned schedule modelsAdministrators at all profiled schools spent approximately two years implementing a redesigned schedule model, which provided time to finalize the schedule with the scheduling committee and to prepare the school community through multiple engagement tactics. Administrators didn't transition to the new schedule until the beginning…