The MS and HS will be evaluating a variety of scheduling models in the coming months. They will take a critical look at their current schedule formats as well as a variety of others. The merits of block schedules vs traditional schedules, of trimesters vs semesters, of 5, 6, or 7 hour days, of zero hours, late start days and summer school will all be discussed and debated. The alignment between the MS and HS schedules, (particularly for those MS students who earn HS credits), the maintenance and creation of elective opportunities and any possible impacts upon class size will be areas of particular focus. However, it is worth noting that if there were a single, best schedule format that promoted student achievement, every school in the nation would adopt it. Rather, a schedule format is simply a reflection of a school's priorities and a series of subsequent compromises.
While discussions about schedule formats can sometimes become emotional and contentious, they need not. Students in Saline will succeed. We have involved and educated parents who have high expectations for their children. We have tremendous teachers, paraeducators and administrators who go to extraordinary lengths to meet the needs of our students.
A school schedule is, at it's core, a frame that students and teachers operate within. It's the art within the frame where the true value lies!
No comments:
Post a Comment