Comments on: Reorganizing School Schedules: Start Times, Light, Scheduling http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/09/05/reorganizing-school-schedules-start-times-light-scheduling/ Brain Fitness and Cognitive Health news Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:58:08 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Laurie Bartels http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/09/05/reorganizing-school-schedules-start-times-light-scheduling/comment-page-1/#comment-196712 Laurie Bartels Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:22:29 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/09/05/reorganizing-school-schedules-start-times-light-scheduling/#comment-196712 For reasons about which I am not clear, the tinyurl is not going to the correct page. When using the URL for the National Middle Schools Association research summary, please be sure to add "pdf" to the right of the dot. Cheers, Laurie For reasons about which I am not clear, the tinyurl is not going to the correct page.

When using the URL for the National Middle Schools Association research summary, please be sure to add “pdf” to the right of the dot.

Cheers, Laurie

]]> By: Laurie Bartels http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/09/05/reorganizing-school-schedules-start-times-light-scheduling/comment-page-1/#comment-194813 Laurie Bartels Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:17:12 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/09/05/reorganizing-school-schedules-start-times-light-scheduling/#comment-194813 p.s. The link to the National Middle Schools Association is very long, so here it is as a tinyurl: http://tinyurl.com/4oy3x5 Cheers, Laurie p.s. The link to the National Middle Schools Association is very long, so here it is as a tinyurl:
http://tinyurl.com/4oy3×5

Cheers,
Laurie

]]> By: Laurie Bartels http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/09/05/reorganizing-school-schedules-start-times-light-scheduling/comment-page-1/#comment-194811 Laurie Bartels Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:15:21 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/09/05/reorganizing-school-schedules-start-times-light-scheduling/#comment-194811 Hi Laurie, In Mel Levine’s book, A Mind at a Time, he discusses schedules and notes “Changing classes every fifty minutes may limit how well students are able to consolidate much of what goes on during a class.” He goes on to suggest that block schedules and opportunities to spend several months focused on one subject area, “are likely to allow for more complete digestion of content. Fewer and longer classes also help.” (p. 332-333) The National Middle Schools Association has a research summary about flexible scheduling (http://www.nmsa.org/portals/0/pdf/research/Research_Summaries/Flexible_Scheduling.pdf), the gist of which suggests that longer block periods permit more variety in types of activities utilized. At the high school level, here is a link (http://www.principalspartnership.com/hsschedules.pdf) to The Principals’ Partnership Research Brief on High School Schedules, which contains links to a large number of resources also summarized on the site. I have not read all of them, but you will probably find much useful information in the links. From all that I have read and written, and from my experience teaching, regardless of how classes are scheduled, providing snacks, access to water, and breaks that engage the body physically, all provide important positive benefits to everyone engaged in the schooling process. Hope you find some of this helpful! Regards, Laurie B. Hi Laurie,

In Mel Levine’s book, A Mind at a Time, he discusses schedules and notes “Changing classes every fifty minutes may limit how well students are able to consolidate much of what goes on during a class.” He goes on to suggest that block schedules and opportunities to spend several months focused on one subject area, “are likely to allow for more complete digestion of content. Fewer and longer classes also help.” (p. 332-333)

The National Middle Schools Association has a research summary about flexible scheduling (http://www.nmsa.org/portals/0/pdf/research/Research_Summaries/Flexible_Scheduling.pdf), the gist of which suggests that longer block periods permit more variety in types of activities utilized.

At the high school level, here is a link (http://www.principalspartnership.com/hsschedules.pdf) to The Principals’ Partnership Research Brief on High School Schedules, which contains links to a large number of resources also summarized on the site. I have not read all of them, but you will probably find much useful information in the links.

From all that I have read and written, and from my experience teaching, regardless of how classes are scheduled, providing snacks, access to water, and breaks that engage the body physically, all provide important positive benefits to everyone engaged in the schooling process.

Hope you find some of this helpful!
Regards,
Laurie B.

]]> By: Laurie http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/09/05/reorganizing-school-schedules-start-times-light-scheduling/comment-page-1/#comment-193595 Laurie Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:32:54 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/09/05/reorganizing-school-schedules-start-times-light-scheduling/#comment-193595 Hi ! I am concerned about the high school sched. where our daughters attend. They go from 8:30am to 12:06 with only one 4 minute break. This is to meet required gov. hours and accomodate 2 weeks off twice a year (and summer holidays). Afternoons are about 2 1/2 hours with no formal break. Snacks, especially for athletic kids, diabetics, etc, water,bathroom breaks and just a mental break would seem to me to take more than 4 minutes. These students are high achievers and complain of an inability to focus deeply for this long. Is there evidence/research that shows what sort of time spans are optimal for classroom learning and when our minds and bodies needs a break, and for how long? Thank you so much! Laurie Hi !
I am concerned about the high school sched. where our daughters attend. They go from 8:30am to 12:06 with only one 4 minute break. This is to meet required gov. hours and accomodate 2 weeks off twice a year (and summer holidays). Afternoons are about 2 1/2 hours with no formal break. Snacks, especially for athletic kids, diabetics, etc, water,bathroom breaks and just a mental break would seem to me to take more than 4 minutes. These students are high achievers and complain of an inability to focus deeply for this long. Is there evidence/research that shows what sort of time spans are optimal for classroom learning and when our minds and bodies needs a break, and for how long?
Thank you so much!
Laurie

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