Help! School schedule makes no sense---have you seen a schedule like this?

Question

My son just started middle school (gr 5) and this is his 3rd schedule. The school has lengthened the day and can't seem to figure it out. Could you tell me if you have had a schedule like this, and did it work for the kids? And where was the schedule used?

The order of his subjects rotate daily, but not always in the same order. The times the classes start and finish are different depending on the day of the week. So second period is 8:10 to 9:03 OR 9:30 OR 8:50. Third period is 9:30-10:10, 9:03-9:56 or 8:50-9:30. A new "el" period for extra help/?? is always the same and lunch is the same, though 1 class is scheduled to start 5 min. before lunch ends. No time is scheduled to allow movement from class to class or lunch to class.

The class lengths are not tied to the subject (ie math is always 45 min) The core classes do not get the same exact amt. of time each week, the greatest difference is 10 minutes.

I am calling the curriculum coord. today. Your thoughts?
Thanks!

Answer 1

Ugh - 5th graders in middle school. It is hard when a community is forced to do that but they usually keep them separate and run their classes like elementary school.
Now that so many states have standard test for all the kids the schools need to teach according to the required instruction times for subjects like math or English (in MA they will test science in 5th grade) while allowing for the exploratory classes like music or foreign language. And we are supposed to be trying to reduce our kids' stress levels?
It sounds like they are trying to work the kinks out of some new policies. Definitely express your concerns - I would talk to the school board if you don't get any answers from the school admin.

Answer 2

Our 5th grader is also in the middle school in our district. Because of the sheer size of the 5th grade class this year, they were having trouble balancing out the classes. Our son is now on his 5th schedule. One of the other kids is on her 6th. The class length has remained the same. They also will have the same class at the same time every day. Your schools scheduling did indeed confuse me & I'm sure it is confusing to a bunch of 10-11yr olds too. Good luck with this.

Answer 3

Call your board of schooling NOW. I critically doubt that you are the ONLY guardian involved with the scheduling fiasco you could have acknowledged, and the ONLY option to get it clarified (and modified) is to get moms and dads worried. Boards of schooling do not concentrate to lecturers, scholars, and many others. They concentrate to moms and dads - they are scared to loss of life of being sued. Tell them that your son (and also you) are beneath an inordinately extreme quantity of strain and strain making an attempt to determine this insane time table, and also you might like rationalization from the board due to the fact you certainly are not getting it from his tuition. Perhaps the board is not even conscious that there's a predicament, and (on this case), they must be instructed NOW!

Answer 4

sounds like it wont work the bells at different times is what doesn't make sense.. I used to have tutorials 8:50 - 9am first 9-10 second 10-11 recess then third 11.20-12.20 fourth 12.20-13.20 lunch until 2.10 the firth 2.10 -310 when the bell went and that worked.. some times I would have double periods ....

Answer 5

wow I am dizzy just trying to make sense of that, its insane ! Who thought that was a good idea? If I were still in school I would give up on that and go hang out at the mall =) Not that you should, Im just saying that is crazy.

Answer 6

they are all in that order but call to see what you can do ,it will probably take more than just 1 phone call ,and more than 1 parent calling talk to parents at PTA meeting and see who feel the same way a you ,maybe you all can get together and petition to school board

Answer 7

Offer an alternate schedule or keep your mouth shut.....complainer.