6 period vs. 7 period
Day
Linda Gohlke, Nina Potter, Anzara Miller, & Andrew Cain
Presentation Overview
•
Why a 7 period day?
•
How much does it cost?
•
What questions were raised?
•
What we learned?
•
Other considerations?
Middle School: 6 Period Day Schedule &
Academic Requirements
The schedule consisted of six 50 minute periods
7th Grade
English
Math
Science
PE/Health, 2 trimesters
Social Studies, (Kellogg)
Social Studies, 1 trimester
(Einstein)
Art, 1 trimester (Kellogg)
2 Full year of electives
(Einstein)
1 Full year of electives
(Kellogg)
8th Grade
English
Math
Science
Social Studies
PE/Health, 2
trimesters
4 Trimesters
Electives
(allows for a full year
Course)
Why change from a 6 period to 7 period
day?
Increase Academic Challenge

Achievement

Rigorous Academic Program

Increased Academic Opportunity
How much does a seven period
day COST?
•
10.1 additional teachers across
two buildings
•
$74,000 per certificated full time
employee
•
Overall estimated annual staffing
cost increase of $747,400
Committee’s Questions Is there academic benefit?
1.
What is the 7 period daily schedule?
2.
Has the learning time been extended?
3.
What remediation courses have been
implemented? Were they successful?
4.
Has enrollment in honors, music, and
world language courses increased?
5.
Does research support a seven period
day?
Committee’s Questions - Continued
6.
Have discipline referrals decreased?
7.
Has attendance increased?
8.
Have students’ connection to school
increased?
9.
What was the configuration, focus, and
result of increased collegial time?
10.
What does research state about collegial
planning time?
7 period daily schedule •
School day is extended 25 minutes
•
Schools run a mixed block schedule.
•
Students are divided into cohorts
and attend classes taught by a
common team of teachers.
•
Teachers provided 2 conference
periods of approximately 50 minutes
each.
7 Period Day Schedules
Middle School:
7 Period Day Academic Requirements
7th Grade
English
Math
Science
Social Studies
Health/Fitness, full year
(Kellogg)
PE/Health, 2 trimesters
(Einstein)
2 Full year electives
8th Grade
English
Math
Science
Social Studies
PE/Health, 2 trimesters
Art, 1 trimester (Kellogg)
2 Full year electives
Remediation Courses
•
Support students with academic
deficiencies in English & Math
•
Assigned by team
•
Full Year Classes: Read 180, ELL, &
Special Education Study Support
•
Trimester Classes: Math & English
Study Tech
English Study Tech
•
The results from the study tech classes
were mixed.
•
Read 180 classes have shown an
increase in SRI scores which are
positively related to WASL scores.
•
Example of successful English study
tech class:
•
26 students who had received a D or F in their
English course for the 1st trimester.
•
By the 3rd trimester, 17 of these students were
receiving As, Bs and Cs (65%).
Math Study Tech
•
There were mixed results in the math
study tech classes as well.
•
Example of a successful class:
•
Comparing the results of students below
standard on the 7th grade WASL.
•
Students in the study tech class had higher
scores than students not in the study tech
course.
Math Study Tech
Average 8th Grade
WASL Scale Score
Not In Study Tech
(N=87)
367
In Study Tech
(N=37)
386
Enrollment in Honors Courses
•
There has been an increase in the number
of students enrolled in honors courses over
the past six years.
•
The 7 periods allow for an increase in the
number of honors sections offered. In
addition to the change to a seven-period
day there have been changes in the
enrollment requirements that make it
difficult to determine whether the increase
is due solely to the 7 period day.
Enrollment in Music and World
Language
•
Large body of research that shows a
positive relationship between participation
in music program and academic
achievement.
•
Shoreline data shows that students
enrolled in music classes or world
language classes have higher performance
on WASL reading, writing and math tests.
•
Analysis was done with 7th grade WASL scores
while controlling for differences in 4th grade
WASL scores.
Enrollment in Music and World
Language
•
Current number of students enrolled in music
classes:
•
•
•
340 (43%)
304 (42%)
Current number of students enrolled in
language classes:
•
•
•
Einstein
Kellogg
Einstein
Kellogg
450 (57%)
245 (34%)
Current number of students enrolled in both
music and language classes:
•
•
Einstein
Kellogg
169 (21%)
66 (9%)
Total enrollment:
Einstein = 791
Kellogg = 731
Extended Learning Summary of Research
Quality of instructional time is more important than quantity
of instructional time.
•
“Increased time, appropriate instruction, and
corrective feedback will enable 95% of students
learn what is learned by 20% without these
elements.” Bloom, 1968 & 1974 (as cited by Weischadle, 2002, p. 77)
•
When comparing time allocated to instruction,
engaged in instruction, & successfully completed
instructional activities, only the last demonstrates
a correlation with academic achievement. (Ellis, 1984)
•
The current question is not whether increased
time has benefit, but how to best deliver extended
learning opportunities to bolster overall
achievement. - CCSSO, 2001 (as cited by Weischadle, 2002, p.73)
School Climate
•
Attendance: Lack of consistent data
•
Discipline: No trend
•
The Healthy Youth Survey (HYS)
reports the percent of students with a
“low commitment to school.”
»
The 2002 8th graders had completed one
year at middle school with a six-period day.
State 34.4 % vs. Shoreline 40.2%
»
The 2004 8th graders had completed one
year at middle school with a seven-period
day.
State 37.1% vs. Shoreline 37.2%
Collegial Planning Time
•
2 Consecutive preparation periods
(approximately 95 minutes)
•
•
•
1 period is collegial planning time
1 period of individually directed time
Expectations: Interdisciplinary grade
level or elective teams
•
•
•
Support students
Plan curriculum & evaluate instruction
School wide training or focus groups
Collegial Time - Structure
Einstein MS
 96 daily minutes:
48 conference &
48 collegial
 Meetings focused
upon student
support, integrated
curriculum, &
school wide
training
 Meetings led by a
staff team leader
Kellogg MS
 95 daily minutes: 45
conference & 45 collegial
 Kid council meetings
focused upon supporting
students within team
socially & academically
 Study group, focused
upon evaluation of
lessons, & Team
Meetings, professional
development
Collegial Planning Time
Teacher Perspective
•
Establish rigorous standards aligned with curriculum &
Teaching practice
High Priority 70%
•
Kid Council is improving the quantity & quality of
teacher/student interactions
High Priority 75%
•
Low Priority 26%
Ensure teachers assess individual student learning
needs
High Priority 67%
•
Low Priority 25%
Need for structured teacher planning time
High Priority 74%
•
Low Priority 30%
Low Priority 33%
Align teacher learning plans with content, instructional
strategies, and student development
High Priority 60%
Low Priority 40%
Survey completed by 36 teachers, 3 support certificated staff, 3 classified staff,
& 1 administrator from Kellogg MS.
Collegial Planning
9 Characteristics of High Performing
Schools
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Clear & shared vision & purpose
High standards & expectations for all
students
Effective instructional & administrative
leadership
High levels of teamwork & staff
collaboration
Aligned curriculum & instruction with
standards and assessments
Closely monitored teaching & learning
Focused professional development in high
need areas
Supportive learning environment
What does 10.1 FTE at a cost of
$747,400 provide?
•
Extended learning time
•
Increased academic focus in student
schedules by enabling a greater variety of
program options
•
Students divided into cohorts supported by
a common team of teachers
•
Opportunity for interdisciplinary, collegial
teacher planning time
Other Questions & Considerations
Do middle school students require additional
resources to maintain academic progress?
Is the cost necessary for preparing students for
increasing high school graduation
requirements?
Is there another model for a daily schedule that
provides the breadth of academic options?
Is there another model for providing collegial
planning time?
Does the 6-8 middle school model enable a 6
period day meet the same objectives as a 7
period day?
Bibliography
Adelman, N., & Pringle, B. (1995). Education Reform and the Uses of Time. Phi Delta
Kappan, 77(9), 27-29.
Black, Kris. (2002). Changing Time: The 4 + 1 School Week. Catalyst for Change, 32(1),
8-9.
Chmelynski, Carol. (2006). Extend School Day and Year for NCLB? Education Digest,
71(7), 41-44.
Dickinson, D.,McBride, J., Lamb-Milligan, J., Nichols, J. (2003) Delivering Authentic Staff
Development. Education, 124(1), 163-168.
Dufour, Richard. (1997). The School as a Learning Organization: Recommendations for
School Improvement. National Association of
Secondary School Principals, NASSP
Bulletin, 4, 81-87.
Ellis, Thomas. “Extending the School Year and Day. ERIC Clearinghouse on
Educational Management, ERIC Digest 7. (1984).
Goodnough, Karen. (2005). Fostering Teacher Learning through Collaborative Inquiry. The
Clearing House, 79(7), 88-92.
Gerber, S., Finn, J., Achilles, C., Boyd-Zaharias, J. (2001). Teacher Aides and Students’
Academic Achievement. Educational Evaluation and Policy
Analysis, 23(2), 123143.
Hughes, T., & Kritsonis, W. (2006). A National Perspective: An Exploration of
Professional Learning Communities and the Impact on School
Improvement Efforts. National Journal for Publishing and Mentoring Doctoral
Student Research, 1(1), 1-12.
National Association of Secondary Principals & The Education Alliance, Brown
University.
(2006). Breaking Ranks in the Middle School: Strategies for Leading Middle Level
Reform. United States of America.
Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. (2005) School Improvement Planning:
Process Guide. (OSPI Publication No. 05-0002). State of Washington.
Stidham, Joan. (2001). Moving to the Block Schedule. Kappa Delta Pi Record, 37(3), 13335.
Wesichadle, David. (2002). Extended Learning Opportunities: Some Lessons From the
Field. Education, 123(1), 71-81.
Other Models
•
Bellevue
•
•
•
•
1 prep period
1 prep period
1 prep period (block schedule)
7 period day
1 prep period
Northshore
•
•
7 period day
6 period day
4 period day
Everett
•
•
2 prep periods
Edmonds
•
•
7 period day
6 period day
1 prep period
Tahoma
•
6 period day
1 prep period