What would an ideal Grade 7 & 8 program look like if there weren’t any logistical restrictions?
Greenwood's expanded and renovated building will allow increased scheduling flexibility. |
During the Greenwood Summer Institute, the Grade 7 & 8 Focus Group took on this task, challenging ourselves to design a Grade 7 & 8 program that is suited specifically to learners at this stage.
Rethinking Scheduling
Currently, our Grade 7 & 8 program operates on a high-school schedule with some modifications. The modifications allot more time for core subjects (English and math) as well as longer, simultaneous periods for the arts to allow for cross-curricular art experiences.
There are many advantages to this model - some being that it:
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Exposes Grade 7 & 8 students to the time management and personal organization expectations of high school
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Allows Grade 9-12 teachers with subject expertise to work with the Grade 7 & 8 students.
In many ways, it is a win-win situation. However, young teenagers are neither the children they once were nor the adults they will eventually become. Some of their needs are different than those of the older students. It was these needs we tried to address when beginning our investigation.
Exposes Grade 7 & 8 students to the time management and personal organization expectations of high school
Allows Grade 9-12 teachers with subject expertise to work with the Grade 7 & 8 students.
Unique Needs
We began by researching and brainstorming about the unique needs of our Grade 7 & 8 students. What program characteristics would we want to include if we were designing a schedule solely for them?
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Increased daily break time at more regular intervals, with opportunity for physical activity every day.
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Reduced student movement between classes and subjects.
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Increased contact time with a smaller number of subject teachers.
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A more flexible schedule, allowing for longer blocks of time to work on some projects, and daily, shorter time blocks for others.
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A schedule that facilitated subject integration, such as math/science blocks coordinated by a team of teachers.
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Reduced class time dedicated to final assessments, with more emphasis placed on integrated culminating projects.
After several iterations, we developed two proposed schedules that would meet these unique needs of our Grade 7 & 8 students, while still operating within the current timetable model at Greenwood.
Increased daily break time at more regular intervals, with opportunity for physical activity every day.
Reduced student movement between classes and subjects.
Increased contact time with a smaller number of subject teachers.
A more flexible schedule, allowing for longer blocks of time to work on some projects, and daily, shorter time blocks for others.
A schedule that facilitated subject integration, such as math/science blocks coordinated by a team of teachers.
Reduced class time dedicated to final assessments, with more emphasis placed on integrated culminating projects.
After several iterations, we developed two proposed schedules that would meet these unique needs of our Grade 7 & 8 students, while still operating within the current timetable model at Greenwood.