As I have stated before, my principal is considering a change to the master schedule. The impetus for this change centers around budget, failure to make AYP in Math and English and needs to change due to RTI.
This class has got me thinking about our curriculum and how it is affected by a school's master schedule. I can't stop thinking about how schools need to tap in to what the students are interested in and also, the many strengths and passions of their faculty. Like Zhao's Olympic analogy, schools need to use the resources available to them in their community as well to make their curriculum come to life.
So what is it that drives the creation of a school's master schedule? Is it the bus schedule (that's the word in the teacher's room)? Exposure to core subjects in order to improve test scores? Meeting the needs of students who aren't meeting the learning targets?
In the 21st Century article, the author stresses the importance of adaptability and flexibility in preparing students for an ever-changing workforce. I believe that schools need to look long and hard at their schedule and to attempt to be flexible and adapt to the needs of as many of their students as possible.
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I just watched the TEDTalk "a different view of curriculum" before reading your blog post and am more convinced in the importance of making sure the curriculum is flexible and authentic. I look at what some of those kids were accomplishing in India and there is no doubt in my mind that we could do the same thing here, but when? We are brought back to your point about the master schedule. What is the most valuable use of our time and how can we make it beneficial to all of our students on a larger scale?
ReplyDeleteOur principal is itching to make more schedule changes, too, but is trapped because of bus issues. Whatever we do affects the other schools, which means she has freedom to change the schedule within the bus time frame only. Administrations need to start working together to solve this scheduling problem - it's definitely bigger than just one school!
ReplyDeleteWe are changing our schedule next year to adapt to a freshman academy. This will allow for a better transition for freshman to succeed in high school. Part of me really wonders if that is going to help students. I know that there is no really easy transition for college freshman or for a new career. I think change for the sake of change is not doing anyone any good from teachers to students. Maybe we should try researching and studying what is working with schools and then making them work for the school as a whole.
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