Block Scheduling Essay

Education is very important. Students being able to concentrate and focus in school is very important. The problem is that we can’t meet everyone’s satisfaction. Dress code, SOL testing, and many other things are issues. One such issue is class scheduling. I believe 4x4 scheduling would be a better option for everyone.

A part of my job as administrator is to work with students on keeping ethical standards throughout their lives. I work with others at my school to instill character building skills. We have a character word for the month that is posted in every classroom and other parts of the school. Part of my job as an administrator will be to work with teachers and how they relate to the students. During my Successful School Observation I was able to pick up on the teachers’ attitudes about teaching with the way they spoke to the students and about the students. Most of the teachers were working really well with the students. There were two or three who, if I was their administrator, would be placed on probation or written up because of the way they talk to the students. Belittling students is a big NO! NO! All students deserve to be treated with respect even on our worst days as

I currently attend a class at Northwest Vista College, which is two days of the week and is and seventy-five minutes long. This class is more difficult than any other class I have, yet I have higher success in this class than my others. I am more successful because I have more time to study for such class, and because I am exposed to more interaction with my teacher. Not only is there more study time, my teacher equally has time to prepare more effective lessons, and activities. As opposed to my normal high school schedule consisting of seven classes, around forty-five minutes each, five days a week. In which I struggle more with those classes as each day there is a new lesson taught,

In contrast to a traditional school schedule, a block schedule consists of different variations, such as A/B and 4x4 schedules. In an A/B schedule, classes meet every other day for an extended period of time. Students take eight classes throughout the year, taking four classes on A Days and alternating the other four on B Days.“The A days would be Monday, Wednesday, Friday, etc. Each class period

On Monday, September 25th, I was invited to sit in as the general education teacher in an IEP team meeting. The meeting was held for a student with down syndrome, identified at birth, who qualified for services under the category of intellectually disabled. This student is in a self-contained classroom, therefore, his current teacher, served as the special education teacher for the purposes of this meeting. Meeting participants included: Mrs. Fields (ARC Advocate), Dr. Neiman (Main speech therapist, participated over the phone), Mrs. Bennett (LEA representative), Mrs. Diggs (ACS EC Director, as a precaution because the parents expressed concerns for the education of their child), Mrs. Sikes (General Education Teacher), Mrs. Bernard

My response to this DQ is a situation that actually happened at the school I work at. At that time our district used a Co-op to provide Special education services such as speech, physical, and occupational services. After the speech pathologist we had for years moved out of state, a replacement was hired to take her case load. In the classroom I worked in at the time only had one student in need of a speech pathologist, but there were other students in the building she would see also. After a few week we noticed the speech pathologist was not coming to work with our student. The teacher emailed her and was told she had been in meetings and would see us soon. After about two more weeks of not showing up, it was questioned again and the principal looked into it.

As a student who has participated in high school sports and taken multiple AP and honors level classes, I know the challenges that accompany the standard school schedule. Practices and games for the basketball team took up over three hours of my time six days every week. During school days, I had to leave my fifth period early when I had games, taking away from my valuable learning time. This forced me to try to learn the material that I had missed during the time I was participating in an event that allowed me to represent my school district. This, accompanied by the homework of all my classes, led to my loss of sleep. During my freshman year, I went to bed around 12 A.M. every night and woke up at 6:30 A.M. the next day, allowing me three

Belle has a very unique job, she goes to school conferences and is typically the only person who specializes in children with special needs through the school system. She told me that she is probably one of maybe three in the state that holds this position. Her position entails Medicaid coordination and she helps to coordinate and work with PCG (Public Consulting Group), making sure therapists are documenting and are billing for Medicaid. Belle explained to me that her job involves working with Medicaid a lot and she feels is another reason why her job has so many different aspects to it. As an EC social worker for families, Belle is referral based therefore she does not go to schools unless she has an IEP (Individual Education Program) meeting or needs to meet with a parent at their request -- instead of going to the family’s house. Belle explained that a teacher will get her involved in a case if they see that something is going to support a child’s IEP so that she can take action and help the child and their family to connect with community resources. Most of her discussions with parents are face-to-face or over the phone so that she can connect with the person in a more personal way.

When you first hear about the schedule and look at its outline, it sounds pretty solid. More breaks, longer breaks, and the main idea of getting done with core classes faster. For a student, hearing that sounds pretty good. For example if a student doesn’t lie one of the core classes then they would only have to put up with it for one-quarter.

Special Services paid for a PM sub for Angie and I to work on setting up her classroom, lesson plans, behavior plans for Ammon (requested by Mr. Ramsey). Discuss communication and data logs and para schedules. I requested to see lesson plans and she did not have anything prepared for the day.

On this day, I was able to shadow the assistant principal in a 504 meeting. This meeting was being held for a student that was ADHD and having a difficult time in the classroom and on the bus. The student had been suspended from the bus eight separate times in a two month period. The 504

The first session will be forty three days on with thirteen days off. The second will be forty five days on with eleven days off. The third will be forty nine days on with nine days off. The fourth will be forty three days with thirteen days off. Every four years there will be a longer break using the extra 56 days not used during the past years. This lets kids experience both types of schooling. During the school years kids, teachers, and staff will be interviewed on their opinion of the scheduling that year. Kids will be tested on intelligence while teachers will be tested on the convenience of when they taught. If their lessons were easier or harder during what part of the year and each year. The information can be analyzed to determine which type of schooling is the most effective.

I am fulfilling my 60-hour practicum at Miracle Hill Administrative Offices. As Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, Miracle Hill is planning for their Great Possible Turkey Fry. I have attended event planning meetings to gain insight on the process and planning that goes into the Turkey Fry. The Turkey Fry is contingent on donations and volunteer involvement. During event planning, Miracle Hill is currently switching to a new volunteer management system, “Community Connect”. I have been given the responsibility of overseeing this new system, through training and management title. Responsibilities of this new system and the Turkey Fry includes contacting volunteers by phone and email, giving directions on how to use the system, and answering

For the TeachLive conference I received scenario #1. The goal of the experience was for Ms. Mcgowan to be aware that her son received a detention due to rude behavior and attitude and to schedule a date and time for him to serve the detention. This did not take place. I did not bring up the detention nor did we schedule a date and time for the detention. What worked in the conference is I showed concern for Sean. What did not work was I allowed Ms. McGowan to deter me from focusing on Sean because of defending my teachers by assuring her that I would look into her concern of Sean being humiliated. I also interrupted Ms. Mcgowan to deter her rampage about Mr. Ferguson from escalating and focus our conference back to Sean.

Question #3 If you were the district’s EEOC officer, what would you conclude? What disciplinary action, if any, would you take?