THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 1, 1995 TAG: 9502280100
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY LENGTH: Long : 133 lines
SMITHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL senior Justin Lowery, 17, decided long ago that he wants to be a pediatrician.
So ever since he started high school, Justin's life has revolved around the rigorous academic classes that he hopes eventually will land him in a hospital delivery room: advanced calculus, biology, chemistry.
But this year, things are different. Justin has lightened his class load this semester by enrolling in basic technical drawing, a diversion he's found to be fun and challenging.
This opportunity would never have been possible without Isle of Wight County's switch to block scheduling.
One of the newest trends in public education today, block scheduling is a different way of breaking up the time students spend in school. It is enabling the county's high school students to spend longer periods of time in fewer classes per day, Smithfield High Principal Dr. Donald Alvey says.
In past years, students at Smithfield and Windsor high schools were enrolled in the same six 55-minute classes all year. But under block scheduling, these students now take four 90-minute classes a day per semester. After taking exams on their four classes in January, students began a block of four new classes.
Although block scheduling reduces the number of classes taken at one time, it gives students the chance to take two extra elective courses per year.
And that is something students are finding they like, Justin says.
``I think block scheduling is a major advancement for Smithfield High School. I enjoy this drawing class because it is not as academic as the others I take. Even if I never become an architect, which I probably won't, I will become a more well-rounded person because of what I've learned in technical drawing.''
Erica James, 17, a Smithfield High senior who plans to study biology at Norfolk State University next year, agrees. She says block scheduling has given her time to take auto mechanics this semester.
And because students are able to focus on just four courses at one time, they are able to delve deeper into their subjects, James says.
``This is especially important in classes where we have labs. Now we have more time to finish experiments. In chemistry last year, we always had to stop in the middle of our experiment and restart it the next day. It's hard to come back without losing focus on what you are trying to do.''
At first glance, block scheduling appears to be only a different way of dividing up the school day.
``But it is not just another way of ringing the bell or re-slicing the time in a day,'' Alvey said in a recent interview. ``You can't take a class period from 55 to 90 minutes without doing things differently. Teachers have had to change how they deliver instruction and students have had to change how they learn.
``For years, schools have operated with an assembly-line mentality,'' Alvey said. ``Students were taught to listen quietly at their desks while the teacher lectured and then to work independently on their class work.''
But block scheduling has made that a classroom scenario from the old school, said Rita Richardson, a math teacher at Windsor High.
``There's more of a focus on cooperative learning - that is, having kids work together in small groups to come up with ideas that solve problems more creatively,'' Richardson said. ``We couldn't ever have done that in a 55-minute class period.''
Despite having more class time, teachers are spending less time lecturing and students are spending more time huddled in small teams talking and learning, Alvey said.
For example, a teacher might spend 20 minutes instructing the class before having students divide up into several teams. Team members then work together to discuss and solve problems related to that day's classroom topic.
``Everything I do these days is done in groups,'' said Carlton Wright, 19, a junior at Windsor. ``I like it better than working by yourself because you can check your answers with other people. I think I'm learning more.''
Paula Herrmann, an English teacher at Smithfield, divides her classes into small teams that work together to design group names, logos and mottos. When students working in their groups have questions, they have learned not to turn first to their teacher for help.
``Students' first reactions are to turn to their teacher. But I want them to turn to three other sources before they come to me,'' Herrmann said. ``This encourages students to figure things out on their own.''
When the concept of block scheduling was first introduced to Isle of Wight educators two years ago, some people in the community questioned the need for change, recalled Amy Leinart, president of the Windsor High Parent Teacher Student Association. But she said recently that time has dissolved many of the concerns people had mentioned to her in the early days of block scheduling.
``Between opening a brand new school and making the transition to block scheduling, we have been hit with a double whammy that has required students and teachers to make a lot of adjustments,'' she said. This is Windsor High's first year. ``I can't say making the change has not been entirely painless.
``I think the advantages of block scheduling outweigh any disadvantages . . year.''
It's difficult to measure academic improvement after one semester into block scheduling, say Alvey and Windsor High Principal Bill Worsham. Both say they are confident that it's only a matter of time before positive results will be evident.
``I expect the proof will be in the pudding two or three years from now,'' Worsham said. ``By that time, I expect our grades and standardized testing scores will be up.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Cover]
A different way to learn
[Color Photo]
Staff photos by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
In lab classes such as this one taught by Phillip Edwards, there is
more time to complete experiments.
Carrie Phibbs works with fellow students at Smithfield High to
resolve a problem in advance placement for a Latin II class.
I kind of like it, and I kind of don't. Sitting in a class for an
hour and a half can be hard sometimes. Jeremiah Lewis Windsor High
freshman
My friends like block scheduling because we can take more classes.
I've always taken a lot of academic classes, but I'm taking drama
this term. Elaine Roberts Windsor High sophomore
I have less homework now since I'm not taking as many classes.
Carlton Wright Windsor High junior
"I'm learning more." Tiffany Elam, Windsor High senior
"In chemistry last year, we always had to stop in the middle of our
experiment and restart it the next day. It's hard to come back
without losing focus on what you are trying to do." Erica James,
Smithfield High senior
by CNB