This is the Power Point created by Liz Brandjes for her seminar with us on May 27, 2011

1. Too Much Time? Strategies for Teaching and Learning in the Extended Block

5. Buffalo seminary Will follow a Modified Block Schedule Students will take math and foreign language every day for 42 minute blocks. Students will meet English, history, science, math and art 4 times every 6 days. They will meet 2x for 42 minutes; 2x for 80 minutes. Periods 3 and 5 of each day are the extended blocks. With a group of three : What are the Pros of the new schedule? What are you excited about? What are the Cons of the new schedule? What are you worried about?

9. HOMEwork Think about the purpose of the homework assignments you assign Consider assigning more substantive homework that includes ongoing completion of multiple, self-paced assignments, e.g. research projects, independent reading logs, written summaries or reports on discipline-based readings Build in individual or small-group student accountability for homework which the next class session relies upon Build the “review” of the homework into the lesson; student led, in small groups Homework as a continuation of class time or as the discovery of Information/ skills necessary to solve problems posed in class.

11. More time for….. Guest speakers Library research Labs Computer lab Extended viewing of films

12. Technology Integration Utilize your teacher website to house materials and information students can access as needed Create on-line discussion forums, particularly to monitor on days you do not meet; or to check that students are adequately pacing their work Allow and expect students to create films, art, projects using technology Create digital portfolios of individual work or class products Please share….

13. community involvement Connect studies to the solving of real problems in the community Allow students to become agents of change in the community Expect students to use what they are learning to examine local issues Incorporate experts from the community into your studies, either virtually or via field trips or guests to class Invite the public to experience the products created by your students: Exhibitions, Defense of research; poster presentations, portfolio sharing, etc.

14. WhAT Brings all of this together?

17. Other benefits Increased sense of belonging at school or in class Increased sense of mutual accountability and interdependence among class group Increased student accountability for learning Shifting the focus from “performing” for the test or the teacher to more authentic, intrinsic motivations for acquiring knowledge. More positive relationships among students; interpersonal skills improve Improved time management skills Independent learning---students learn to pace themselves and their workload Students come to know themselves as learners