Teaching on the block

1. Teaching on the Alternating Block Chester County High School

2. Agenda 8:30-11:00 Topics 12:30-2:15 Lesson Plans Introductions

3. When I die, I hope it’s during a lecture; the difference between life and death will be so small, that I won’t notice it ! (Anonymous Student)

4. Think, Puzzle, Explore What do you think you know about this topic? What questions or puzzles do you have? How can you explore this topic ? Visible Thinking Strategies

5. Pros and Cons – Alternating Block Pros Less students per day; more time with each student More time for labs, hands-on activities and group work Students have less homework/less subjects to study each night More planning time* Less transitions therefore less opportunity for wasted time Teachers are not limited in teaching strategies Less information to process throughout the day More time to integrate our student organizations into classes Cons If student misses a day, they actually miss more content Teacher sees students either 2 or 3 times a week. Teachers may not use all of the minutes available wisely Loss of continuity in subjects requiring daily repetition

6. Lesson Planning Average Adult Attention Span = 20 minutes Bell work/Attendance-10 Review-10 Direct Instruction-20 Guided Practice-20 Independent Practice – 20 Closing/Homework-10 Only a Guideline Adjustments can be made according to topic Warren County, NC Patty’s Blog

7. Lesson Plan Templates

8. Direct Instruction / Demonstration (I do) Guided Practice (We do) Independent Practice (We do) Application (You do) Gradual Release

9. I do!

10. We do!

11. We do!

12. You do!

13. Build assessment strategies into the learning cycle to give the learners ongoing feedback based on their progress toward targeted standards .* Vary the type of assessment strategies so that all learners may thrive.* * Gayle H. Gregory; Lynne E. Herndon. Differentiated Instructional Strategies for the Block Schedule (Kindle Locations 359-360). Kindle Edition. Checks for Understanding & Formative assessment

14. Chunking – 3 or 4 chunks; could be different topics. Vary teaching strategies to appeal to different learning styles. Build in opportunities for interactive dialogue, movement, and hands-on tasks, as well as for intrapersonal moments of reflection . Gayle H. Gregory; Lynne E. Herndon. Differentiated Instructional Strategies for the Block Schedule (Kindle Locations 357-358). Kindle Edition .* Differentiating delivery of instruction

15. Bell work ACT question of the day ACT sample questions Incorporate ACT skills into lessons Ex: Writing business letter with proper verb tense Ex: Ex: Ex: Inclusion of ACT content

16. Effective Use of Planning Time Time Management Use of Technology Other topics for discussion:

17. individually develop a 90-minute lesson plan for submission complete the KWL chart for submission CCHS teachers will :

18. Additional Resources Gayle H. Gregory & Lynne E Herndon, 2010 Websites Making Blocks Work Strategies for Block Mike Rettig - the Block