Help! Son's new middle school schedule makes no sense to me. Have you seen one 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

My sons had a weird schedule like this too and I'd suggest that if it doesn't bother your son, then leave it be. I don't think the school needs a bunch of parents trying to figure their system out and take up their time, that they may not have. Leave it be. If there are any quirks, the school will figure it out and fix the problem. Wait it out while they figure it out themselves. I'm sure they understand there needs to be time for the child to walk to their other classroom in between time schedules. I believe they're trying to fit classes into a system where they'll have math one morning, and then math in the afternoon another day because some kids learn better in the morning and other kids learn better in the afternoon. They're the pros, let them figure it out. You're not the one who has to follow the schedule and I bet the kids, your kid too, can and will follow it without a problem. Just hang in there and have some faith in the teachers. Good luck!

Answer 2

Call your board of education NOW. I seriously doubt that you're the ONLY parent concerned with the scheduling fiasco you've mentioned, and the ONLY way to get it clarified (and changed) is to get parents involved. Boards of education don't listen to teachers, students, etc. They listen to parents - they're scared to death of being sued. Tell them that your son (and you) are under an inordinately severe amount of pressure and stress trying to figure out this insane schedule, and you would like clarification from the board since you obviously aren't getting it from his school. Perhaps the board isn't even aware that there is a problem, and (in this case), they should be told NOW!