by Sicily

Created on: August 02, 2008

Being a student that attended seven schools in twelve years I have experience with normal scheduling, and block scheduling. Both types of scheduling provide a child with an adequate education, but they offer different structures.

A block schedule can be very efficient in many ways. It offers enough time for a teacher to conduct a normal class, and the opportunity for the students to begin homework assignments. It all depends on how the teacher conducts the class. I've had teachers that have done a forty minute lecture, a class assignment that lasted on average twenty minutes, plus time to start homework. This was great because it gave the students a regular structured class, plus the opportunity to receive more individual one on one help for difficulties with the in-class assignment and homework. Other teachers that decide that they will lecture for the whole eighty minute block were horrid. Some teachers even opted for the "read from your textbook" for eighty minutes deal. This was found to be very ineffective.

In 1985 a study showed that nearly 500,000 children and teenagers were diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. Today between 5-7 million suffer, and more than 80% of those diagnosed also have learning disabilities.

Given the statistics block scheduling itself is neither beneficial nor detrimental. It all depends on how the teacher uses the time, to make sure each child is given the time to do what is asked of them. A block schedule provides teachers the opportunity to give the children more time to learn and work with their help. If a teacher chooses to break down the time period, and offer multiple assignments, and tasks a child has the ability to learn more quickly. If a math teacher uses an eighty minute class period to introduce subtraction, multiplication, and division with a small assignment covering the basics of each topic, each student can do it at their own pace and have the teacher there for their disposal. A teacher that chooses to cover three topics a class for three classes in a row, is more efficient that a teacher that chooses to cover a different topic for three classes in a row. If a child is given a three small tasks, and is allotted significant time to complete them, and is reviewed on the tasks for the following days it makes the learning process run smoother. This entitles every child to work at their own pace, but never feel left behind.

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