
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 20, 1995                   TAG: 9508210084
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BUENA VISAT                                 LENGTH: Medium

BLOCK SCHEDULE ALLOWS FOCUS AT MCCLUER

A year ago, Parry McCluer High School added another innovative educational program - a block schedule that allows students to take only two courses each quarter and earn a full credit for each course during the 60-day period.

In the block schedule, each student has two classes of two hours each in the morning. In the afternoon, the student returns for a 45-minute work session for each course. During these sessions, the students can seek individual help from the teachers or do their homework. Advanced students also may undertake independent projects during these sessions.

State regulations require at least 150 hours of instruction in a course for students to receive a full credit. By devoting 2 hours and 45 minutes a day to a course during a 60-day quarter, Buena Vista exceeds the 150-hour requirement in a quarter, and students can earn a full credit.

The summer quarter is shorter than 60 days, but the requirement for instruction time can be met, because a block in summer lasts four hours. Summer school starts at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 12:15 p.m. Students are free in the afternoon.

Superintendent James Bradford Jr. said the block schedule assigns fewer students to each teacher and provides for more interaction between students and teachers.

Many Parry McCluer students said they like the block schedule as much as, if not more than, the quarter system.

"You can concentrate on two courses at a time. You don't have to worry about keeping up with five or six courses," said senior Shawn Sorrells. "It gives you more time to learn a subject."

Cheri Davis, a senior, said her grades improved when the school switched to the block schedule last year.

"You have the time to do the homework because you don't have so many courses to worry about," she said.

Other students said they got to know their teachers better because they spent nearly three hours a day with them during the 60-day quarter.

"You get to know more about your subject and your teacher," said Michelle Agee, a sophomore.

Math teacher Janet Dale said the block schedule allows teachers to cover entire ideas or concepts in a single day rather than addressing them piecemeal in the traditional 50-minute high school class.

"The six-period day was too much starting and stopping. Now, you have time to follow through and cover a whole idea in a day," Dale said.

by CNB