Change Proposal
By Carla Darunday
Where are we now?
 Looking for ways to improve
 A fantastic Learning Commons
 So much capability at our fingertips
 So many who can’t take advantage
 Challenged by athletics schedules
 Interfere with class time
 Interfere with group project time
What can we do about it?
 Find a way to stop:
 Students from missing the same classes constantly
 Students being tardy to the same classes constantly
 Create a schedule that allows for:
 Time for group work
 Time for study
 Time for meetings
What does research say?
 Fixed schedules can be stifling.
“Most fixed-period schedules minimize instructional flexibility and
there is little opportunity for shared or collaborative planning
(Williamson, 2008)”
 Rotating schedules allow for different perspectives for
teachers and students.
“When a rotating schedule is used, teachers and students report
that the schedule changes their perception of one another and of
the content area, often because both students and teachers
perform differently at different times of the day (Williamson,
2008).”
More Research
 “Providing flexibility in the schedule facilitates an instructionally
rich program (Williamson, 2008).”
 “(Some students are) most alert during the first class after
lunch, while (some do their) best in the last class before gym.
That’s one of the reasons teachers like the rotating schedule.
The system tries to find ways for students to do their best to
stay on their toes (FitzGerald, 2005).”
 “Different kids have different learning styles…For the same
reason you vary the instruction practices, you vary the time
(FitzGerald, 2005).”
Cons from Research
 After thorough research these are the negatives:
 Rotating schedules can be confusing and hard to
remember.
 And….. That’s pretty much it.
 Schools have needed time and effort to figure out
which version of a rotating schedule works for
them, but everyone agrees that, after the
difficulty of planning and initiation, they WORK!
How will it benefit us?
 Athletes will not miss the same classes constantly.
 Perpetual tardies will not be to the same classes
every day.
 Teachers and students will see each other at their
best times of day.
 Built-in activity period
 Students easily coordinate schedules for group
projects
 Eagle week meetings, etc.
 Make-up work
Let’s get down to the nitty gritty…
 Relative Advantage
 Improved performance
 Compatibility Complexity
 Aim of rotating schedules match our goals.
 We have shown the ability to change.
 Trialability
 Perhaps use Fall semester to prepare the minds of the
staff and have a trial semester in the Spring.
 Observability
 More balanced numbers of absences between classes.
 Higher performance of students
 Fewer student referrals, stronger teacher/student bonds
Ely’s Conditions for Change
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Dissatisfaction of status quo
Knowledge and skills exist – can do it
Resources are available
Time is available
Rewards or incentives exist for participants
Participation is expected and encouraged
Commitment by those who are involved
Leadership is evident
Plan for Communicating
the Proposed Change
 Mass Media – Start with a survey on my wiki
 Interpersonal – Discuss among peers, talk it up
 All-School meeting
 HS and MS team meetings
 Heterophily – Because of the team and their
interpersonal relationships, communication will
spread across diverse groups.
 Homophily – MS and HS team meetings will
allow for sharing and communicating with
groups of people who share our standards.
Our Biggest Challenges…
 Coordinating our schedules between the High
School and Middle School Campuses
 MS has 8 classes
 HS has 7 classes
 Coordinating Lunches
 A-Lunch 9th-10th Grades
 B-Lunch 11th-12th Grades
 Deciding which rotating schedule is best for us
...and How We’ll Overcome
 Create a team
 Members include admin, HS faculty, MS faculty,
board members
 Provide options of schedules that can work, along
with data supporting them
 Begin discussing the benefits of the change among
friends and around the water cooler.
What can we expect if the
change happens?
 More balanced absences from athletes across classes
 Better behavior patterns
 Less stressful environment in the classroom and out
 Other ideas?
How will we know if we
have succeeded?
 Fewer referrals
 Better success in classes
 Other ideas?
Sources
 http://www.nassp.org/Content.aspx?topic=57198
 http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Rotating-class-times-aidmiddle-school-students-62770.php
 http://www.eht.k12.nj.us/Documents/High_School/EHT_ROTATI
NG_SCHEDULE.pdf
 http://www/bishopbrady.edu/page.cfm?p=516
 http://www.bmhs.us/Community/BellSchedule/tabid/179/Default
.aspx