West Essex Middle School

Rotate and DropSchedule

Goals for Today◈ To give the West Essex Community information about the

upcoming Middle School schedule change

◈ To offer attendees the opportunity to discuss the schedule change with one another

◈ To receive input from the community before the implementation of the schedule

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Schedule Change - Objective◈ To change from our current “Straight 9” schedule to the

“Rotate and Drop” schedule◆ The Rotate and Drop schedule has been in use at

WEHS since 2014

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Current Straight 9◈ 9 class periods◈ 42 minutes per period◈ 21 minutes for Lunch◈ 21 minutes for Lunch Study

Proposed Rotate and Drop◈ 6 class periods◈ 54 minutes per period◈ 30 minutes for Lunch◈ 30 minutes for Lunch Study

◈ We currently run a schedule that has 8 classes plus a Lunch

◈ To Rotate and Drop, start by visualizing Lunch as the center of the day

◈ Morning classes and afternoon classes rotate independent of one another

◈ Instructional time is increased by dropping one morning and one afternoon class each day

Rotate and Drop - How it Works

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Rotate and Drop Schedules

Block Time ADrop 4 and 8

BDrop 3 and 7

CDrop 2 and 6

DDrop 1 and 5

Length of Block

1 7:42-8:39 1 4 3 23 min HR + 54 min class

2 8:43-9:39 2 1 4 3 54 min class

3 9:43-10:38 3 2 1 4 54 min class

L 10:41-11:41 L L L L 60 minutes

4 11:45-12:39 5 8 7 6 54 min class

5 12:43-1:37 6 5 8 7 54 min class

6 1:41-2:35 7 6 5 8 54 min class

Regular School Day

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Rotate and Drop Schedules, cont.2-Hour Delayed Opening Single Session Day

Block Time Length Block Time Length

1 9:42-10:20 38 min 1 7:42-8:27 45 min

2 10:24-11:02 38 min 2 8:31-9:14 43 min

3 11:06-11:44 38 min 3 9:18-10:00 42 min

L 11:48-12:30 42 min 4 10:04-10:46 42 min

4 12:34-1:02 38 min 5 10:50-11:32 42 min

5 1:06-1:48 38 min 6 11:36-12:17 41 min

6 1:52-2:35 37 min

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Comparison

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Current Straight 9◈ 9 class changes per day with 4

minutes passing time = 36 minutes in the halls per day

◈ 7,560 minutes of instruction per course (126 hours/course)

◈ 21 minutes for Lunch/Study

Proposed Rotate and Drop◈ 6 class changes per day with 4

minutes passing time = 24 minutes in the halls per day◆ 36 hours passing time

saved/school year◈ 7,290 minutes of instruction

per course (122 hours/course)

◈ 30 minutes for Lunch/Study◆ Increase of 54 hours of time

for students to “decompress”

Rationale◈ Stress and anxiety are at an all-time high. Our current schedule may be

contributing - students change classes 9 times per day and have a limited amount of time to settle into their classes. Lunch and Study periods are shorter than we would like, and there is little time for recreation outside of P.E. class.

◈ 42-minute periods do not allow for the depth of content exploration, questioning, differentiation/individualized instruction, and discussion that we are looking for.

◈ WEMS is utilizing the latest in brain research to increase engagement in the classroom. More time in each class period would allow us to do this more effectively. 9

Rationale◈ Students and Faculty will experience classes at different

times of the day - helps with attendance issues, potential increase of student focus due to varying class times.

◈ Decrease in passing time = less transitions for students, more time on task in classrooms.

◈ Less number of classes each day = potential decrease in evening prep time/homework, thereby a potential decrease in anxiety.

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SUMMER 2019Logistics & Facility Preparation

Curriculum MappingAssessment Development

WINTER 2019-2020Review and Reflection

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SCHOOL YEAR 2018 – 2019

PD/Department MeetingsCurriculum Mapping/ContractLunch Logistics/Preparations

Build Master ScheduleTest Run of Schedule - June

Move Up Day – June 13, 2019

Proposed Timeline

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Lunch7th Grade

◈ Lunch: 10:41-11:11◆ Two locations

◇ Cafeteria◇ Small Gymnasium

◈ Activity/Study: 11:11-11:41

8th Grade

◈ Activity/Study: 10:41-11:11

◈ Lunch: 11:11-11:41◆ Two locations

◇ Cafeteria◇ Small Gymnasium

Activity/Study Period

Goal is to provide structured, supervised activities to meet a large variety of student interests. Number of activities depends on the number of teachers available for supervision. First, all students will report to their Lunch Study classroom. Then, first come-first served opportunities will exist in a variety of areas.◈ Intramurals in Large Gym - maximum of 40 students◈ Fitness/Yoga in Room 109 - maximum of 25 students◈ Quiet Reading/Study in Auditorium - maximum of 80 students◈ Library Makerspace Activities - maximum of 25 students◈ Classroom Lunch Studies - maximum of 25-30 students per classroom

◆ Subject-specific labs -- Math, ELA, World Language*Note - approximately 50 students per day will have a Band/Choir/Orchestra Lesson. 13

Activity/Study Period

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Scheduling Plan:◈ All students will start the year in their assigned Lunch Study.

◈ We are exploring software programs that will allow students to login and choose their activities for the week.

◈ The program has a “choice eliminator” that will cap off activities at the appropriate number.

◈ Students will check into the activity areas through the Genesis Turnstile Program, which allows us to keep accurate attendance.

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Research● Cromwell, Sharon. "Block Scheduling: A Solution or a Problem?" Education World.

Education World Inc., 2006. Web. 24 Aug. 2009. http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin029.shtml

● Cromwell, Sharon. "Block Scheduling: A Solution or a Problem?" Education World. Education World Inc., 2006. Web. 24 Aug. 2009. http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin029.shtml

● Daniel, L. "Flexible scheduling." National Middle School Association. Daniel, L., 2007. Web. 27 Aug. 2009. http://www.amle.org/Portals/0/pdf/research_summaries/Flexible_Scheduling.pdf

● Irmsher, Karen. "Block Scheduling." Eric Digests. ERIC Clearinghouse on Educational Management. Web. 24 Aug. 2009. http://www.ericdigests.org/1996-4/block.htm

DiscussionBased on what you learned today...

1. What do you like about the Rotate and Drop Schedule?

2. What changes would you like to propose?

Questions?

Thank you!