The Challenges and Benefits of a Zero Period Class
Most of us have heard of the terms “first period” or “second period” class when students are describing their high school schedules, but how about Zero Period? Sound familiar? Well, if your answer is “no,” this article is for you. Even if you have heard of a Zero Period, it may be helpful to [...]
What’s an Advisory Class?
You might be reading this blog post because you’re a student or parent who noticed a new class on the schedule that you know nothing about. Maybe you’re a teacher whose school is rolling out a new advisory program and you’re doing some research. You might, also, be an administrator looking for more information to [...]
Advantages of Flexible Learning, and Ways to Implement It
One of my favorite scenes in literature is where Tom Sawyer convinces all the boys in the neighborhood to whitewash the fence for him, a task he had been given as punishment. Not only does he not have to do the work, but his friends all empty their pockets of little boy goodies to "pay" [...]
Student Choice Activities
There are often times in school schedules when there is a planned period of non-academic studies. For example, middle schools and high schools sometimes allow students to have an activity, advisory, flex, or study period. However, there may be questions about how to use this time productively, while giving students the opportunity to make [...]
Simple SEL Strategies
I made a few promises to myself when I became an administrator: find opportunities to teach regularly, really listen to teachers to involve them heavily in the decision making process, and remember that education is a relationship business at its core. I had seen too many good teachers go into administration and forget what teaching [...]
How to Run an Intervention Period
“An intervention period? There’s no time for that.” “Flexible time in our bell schedule sounds great…but I don’t know where to start.” There’s no denying it: school schedules are busy. Between classes, passing periods, lunches, activities, pep rallies, and drills…every minute at school is precious. Given this, administrators, teachers, and parents want to know: [...]