Block Scheduling

[super kid]

Re: Block Scheduling

I never went to block days, because i didn't want to stay in the same class for 2 hours.

[jugglinguy]

Re: Block Scheduling

4 class blockscheduling is nice. being able to double up is 8)

[Prime8]

Re: Block Scheduling

I had block scheduling (4 classes per semester, 4 a day, AP courses counted as an honors credit 1st semester and an AP credit 2nd semester). I have a pretty short attention span (never been diagnosed with anything because all those diseases are bull**** IMO) but you just have to know how to use the extended time to your advantage. Some teachers would give us short breaks during class which also helped. I think it ended up hurting my chances for being salutatorian (valedictorian got 100's in classes I'd get 99's in) because I had 8 semesters of band taking away opportunities for weighted points, but I still ended up going to my first choice school with its most prestigious scholarship, and my college grades haven't been hurt at all.

For more involved, discussion-based courses it's nice to have enough time to receive instruction from the teacher on a topic and have time to discuss it fully within a single class period. It's not as good for stuff like math and science (which is what quality of education seems to be judged by in lots of cases) but it can be better for everything else. It balances out, in my opinion.

Similar situation, bro. I ended up 3rd because I was in band all 4 years while the top 2 played the AP game. They'd take all the AP classes they could, and when they had empty periods, they'd do office work or be a library assistant so the grade wouldn't affect their GPA. Bitches. Oh, but I didn't end up at my top college choice (University of Texas). Instead, I'm at Texas Tech.

I do agree with it hurting the math classes. We did have enough time to discuss a topic thoroughly in class, but we had to go to the next topic a lot sooner than normal, so it didn't seem to retain as easily. Still, I managed to get damn good grades, and even now in the Honors program at Texas Tech while dual majoring in Math and Computer Science, I've maintained a 4.0 GPA.

Overall, I prefer the block schedule (4 long classes per semester) over the regular schedule (7-8 short classes a year). It certainly taught me how to deal with 1.5 hour classes, which is what my Tues. and Thurs. classes at TTU are like (coincidentally, this semester I have 4 classes back to back from 9-3:00 on those days). While on some days, the professor may seem to drone on forever about something you don't care for and all you can think about is how much you want to leave/sleep, most days seem productive and somewhat energetic because you're learning more material per day. If you're not adept at math, block scheduling may be daunting, but since I have a natural knack and general enthusiasm for it (yeah I know, how lame), it doesn't bother me much.

[Superfreak04]

Re: Block Scheduling

I had block classes, it actually helps in some ways. You get used to being around the teachers, and you have more time for them to help you.

[rqm]

Re: Block Scheduling

as previously said, there are good and bad aspects to block scheduling. however, my initial feelings about this upon first hearing of it were that it is more bad than good. i talked to a lot of teachers, some of whom teach at schools with block scheduling and some who are on an 8 period schedule (7 classes and lunch, all 45 mins), and most of them tended to agree with me. although students can complete 8 classes in a year or 10 or whatever instead of 7 or 8, completing a class meant to be taught over a year in a single semester is not good for retention of information. some kids (like me and probably a majority) dont have amazing attention spans. im not saying im hey check out my new wallpaper but sitting through a 90 minute highschool us history lecture just doesnt seem like something i could handle every day. the teachers that were most adamantly opposed to block scheduling were foreign language instructers. these courses on the high school level are for the most part memorization, and as my friend mike, a high school spanish teacher said the other day, "memorization only goes so fast". id much prefer the schedule and set up i was on throughout middle and high school, 7 classes a day, all year round.

when it comes down to it, teachers seem to barely be able to fit their curriculum in over an entire year of 45 minute classes so i doubt itd be easy to fit it in half a year of 90 minute classes. maybe the longer class time would enable teachers to delve deeper into the wonders of the gilded age or the foil method or whatever but with only a half a year, students would miss out on the wild 1920s.

tldr i dont like block scheduling but i suggest you read

[psychoangel691]

Re: Block Scheduling

Just do online schooling its easier lol...

[Redorigami]

Re: Block Scheduling

I've had blockscheduling since I started middle school, I don't know what it's like without it.

[radxmad]

Re: Block Scheduling

Block scheduling sucks yeah, but most of us have to do it ;/