Get Schooled

By beth

November 15, 2006 02:16 PM | Link to this

I’m not sure if the time of day is the issue here. It could be that the teachers don’t feel as comfortable teaching science or social studies and just gloss over those subjects and focus on the reading and math.

My husband and I (both 25) remember focusing a lot on Native Americans and the Civil War in social studies and not much else. He said they also used to talk about Coca Cola a lot, I guess being close to Atlanta. I remember flipping ahead and reading chapters about the Depression and WWII, Vietnam, Jimmy Carter BUT OUR TEACHERS NEVER EVER GOT THAT FAR. Its like every year we just went over the same thing.

And I hated science. Boring. Flimsy little science books. Learning about the Solar System and Acid Rain. That was the big thing back then. Now I believe its “Global Warming.”

By Joy in teaching

November 15, 2006 03:28 PM | Link to this

My school has been doing an alternating schedule for the past two years and it seems to be helping not only test scores but classroom discipline as well.

This is what we do. During “Week 1”, all students go to first, second, third, fourth, and fifth period. During “Wee 2”, students go to second, third, forth, fifth, and first period. And so forth. It sounds confusing, but it’s really not that difficult to keep up with.

What we’ve discovered is that students who have behavioural problems in the afternoon do not exhibit those behavioural problems in the same class all the time. (Spreading the “wealth”, so to speak.) Additionally, students who perform better in the mornings when they are well rested have the chance to do well in more classes rather than just a couple.

By Lu

November 15, 2006 04:47 PM | Link to this

Patti Think about it…do you wear out after doing something strenuous and/or focusing for a period of time? I think both the teacher and the kids are winding down after lunch..particularly a starchy lunch like kids today tend to choose from the cafeteria.If they.. [teachers and students].. have been vigorously involved in whatever subject, then they stop, change classes or go to lunch, I don’t think you are likely to get the same level of participation and /or interest. More evidence is that the instructions on most major standardized tests recommend morning administration for best results. Granted there are “morning souls and evening souls”, but overall, I think Superintendent Hall is a long time out of the classroom and falls into the category of those administrators who interject theory when, in fact, experience in the real world of the classroom does not support the theory. No administrator that I have ever met would hesitate to assert that a teacher should be able to be on stage for the entire day and keep her audience captivated and spellbound with her performance for the entire time. I DON’T THINK THERE ARE MANY TEACHERS THAT WOULD DISPUTE THE FACT THAT TEACHING TODAY IS EXACTLY THAT…A PERFORMANCE..WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF KEEPING HIS/HER PRIMARILY APATHETIC AUDIENCE’S ATTENTION.

By Janine

November 15, 2006 04:48 PM | Link to this

OOps.. the above post was me…I forgot to remove “LU” that I use on another blog….

By Thomas

November 15, 2006 04:54 PM | Link to this

I have taught elementary school for several years and fourth grade the past four. I always try to teach science, social studies, and health early in the morning. At the 3-5 grade levels (particularly 4th and 5th grade), there is A LOT of content that must be taught in SS and SCI. The days of drawing and coloring are over. The content children are exposed to is enormous.

Both the children and teacher do better when those intensive subjects are taught in the early morning. For years I taught SS/SCI/health starting sometimes as early 8:20.

People who teach those subjects at the end of the day, do it because they have put those subjects off. SS/SCI/health were put on the back burner. Forget about test scores and that other garbage. If you don’t teach SS/SCI/health properly on a daily basis, it will cause you FAR MORE problems than some language arts or math test results issued in the summer.

By Janine

November 15, 2006 04:55 PM | Link to this

I suppose I need to acknowledge that there are classes of motivated students who not only would do well no matter what time of day, but would also inspire a teacher to be in top form…I have had classes like that, but not many.,

By Thomas

November 15, 2006 05:06 PM | Link to this

Beth, you have a point. To PROPERLY teach SS, SCI, or health:

It takes KNOWING THE CONTENT. It takes TIME and PLANNING. It takes ENERGY. and some times it takes MONEY.

Sadly, many teachers don’t want to put in the above when teaching these subjects, ESPECIALLY SCIENCE, ESPECIALLY SCIENCE, ESPECIALLY SCIENCE!!!!

So what happens is that students are treated to boring, dull, repetitive “lessons” and they end up hating history and science.

I won’t lie— I put a lot of time, energy, money, and reading to enhance my instruction. IT TAKES WORK TO HAVE ANY LESSON WORTH A SALT (whether it’s reading, writing, math, science or social studies). When I first started teaching, I taught straight out the book, too. Day after day. I still believe the textbook is a valuable resource to be used in instruction. But you have to spice things up a little if you want to keep an captive audience.

By Becky Mattix

November 15, 2006 06:47 PM | Link to this

At my child’s middle school, their subjects are on a rotation basis. Ex: 1st period: Math 2nd Period: language Arts 3rd period: Science 4th period: Social Studies 5th period: An elective class The following week, the subjects rotate out so that your child is not taking the same subject at the same time every week all year. Great idea!

By PattiPleaseConsider

November 15, 2006 07:02 PM | Link to this

Patti,

Please, please, PLEASE tell me that the editorial board had the guts to ask her about the FALSIFIED discipline data! If you can’t be honest about that, really, do you have any credibility about anything?

As far as the attention wondering later in the day: Ask about the attention of the teachers at the END of the “celebration” at the Georgia Dome.

By JustMe

November 16, 2006 08:17 AM | Link to this

No, it is not impossible.

What happens is this. The kids “hear” that they are “supposed” to be unable to learn after lunch, and so they do not.

I teach high school. Every time (I mean every time) a kid gets into trouble, their repsonse is atomatically, “It is because of my ADD.” They may not even know what ADD is, all they know is that it has become an acceptable excuse for bad behavior, period.

Forget about excuses. The GHSGT does not have a check box for “ADD” or for “test taken after lunch.” The CRCT does not have check box for “ADD” or for “test taken after lunch.” The SAT does not have a check box for “ADD” or for “test taken after lunch.”

Expect that kids will learn and behave, and they likely will.

By Brioken Record

November 16, 2006 08:24 AM | Link to this

The subject matter is not the problem, it’s the long hours of sitting frozen in uncomfortable hard seats, followed by starchy/fatty indigestable lunches You wonder if kids are having an after lunch slump? Well, duh, yes. Here’s a remedy: RECESS, walking around outside for at least 15 minutes, getting a little sunlight and fresh air after a simple and healthy lunch of sandwich, fruit and milk. Each class would benefit by having pre class and mid class stretches, getting everyone out of their seats, doing some toe touching and stretching, then sit down refreshed. Good posture should also be taught and reinforced, as poor posture is fatiguing also.

By JustMe

November 16, 2006 11:38 AM | Link to this

Broken Record,

The type of seats is not the problem at all. We adults had the same wooden desks when we were in school.

The type of lunch may be a problem. When I was in school, we did not have the selection that there is today. And of course, the kids select only the nachos, the hamberger, etc. without any vegetables. Evidently, the schools cannot force kids to eat healthy. This is something that (duh!) must be enforced at home. Parents needs to teach their children the good foods to eat. Schools provide the good foods as part of the selection, but it is rare that students ever select the brocolli, the greens, or the salads.

Finally, stop with the “oh poor me has to sit still for an entire class.” Some adults sit still for an 8 hour shift. And, adults had to sit still when we were in school. You have to learn self control (what a novel concept!).

By Buy Danish

November 16, 2006 12:52 PM | Link to this

Patti,

My son has the alternating schedule that others have mentioned, but I think the problem is that they do not get enough breaks and just zone out.

When I went to school we had recess and got 40 minutes for lunch, plus a study hall most days. There was no “after lunch slump”.

Broken Record,

I agree that they need to have recess, a chance to get outside et cetera - even in Middle School.

JustMe,

Do you go through the entire day with only one 20 minute break which is what they get for lunch?

By Lisa B.

November 16, 2006 02:57 PM | Link to this

Back when we had recess, my fourth grade students were fine for afternoon subjects. Since the administration banned recess (it’s not on the CRCT, the kids are bouncing off the walls after lunch. At my school, we’re required to teach literacy block in the morning. Unfortunately, that leaves math, science and social studies after lunch.

By Broken Record

November 17, 2006 08:15 AM | Link to this

Just Me, I am not saying “poor me has to sit still for a class.” It’s a fact that when a child or adult sits for long periods of time without getting up and moving around, the body stiffens, the circulation slows, and if you don’t sit up straight or you are twisted in your seat, then you can get pains in your neck, arms, back, and legs. When I was in Catholic school (plenty of discipline) in the 50’s and 60’s we always had morning and afternoon recesses and playtime after lunch. The students today do not have the opportunity to get up and stretch, to get some fresh air and take a mental break, too. At work I take a walk at lunch, and I get up and down throughout the day, go up and down some stairs to refresh myself, and do some yoga stretches to work the kinks out. You can have a disciplined day of study and work, BUT do it better if you take occasional breaks. RECESS RULES!!!!

By Lee

November 17, 2006 08:47 AM | Link to this

Count me in with the pro-recess crowd. Way back when, I too had a morning, after lunch, and afternoon recess.

Having worked in the corporate world for the last 30 years and attended more training seminars that I can count, the one thing the seminar instructors do is to give numerous breaks throughout the day. Now, if you can’t expect adults to sit still for more than an hour, how the heck do we expect 6 and 7 year olds to sit still all day?

All this blogging has made me tired. I think I’ll go take a nap….

By Buy Danish

November 17, 2006 08:50 AM | Link to this

Broken Record and Lisa B,

Thank you for your comments.

Clearly “JustMe” is “Just Clueless” about the most basic human needs of children in particular…and adults.

The idea that eating brocolli will solve the problem of inactivity is absurd.

Just Silly.

By Broken Record

November 17, 2006 09:06 AM | Link to this

Buy Danish, Thanks! Maybe the brocolli idea is not such a bad one…. Give the students some raw brocolli for lunch, and about an hour later the teacher would be taking them outside just to clear the air…. Recess by design : )

By Jeff

November 17, 2006 09:13 AM | Link to this

Here in SGA, our kids go outside to the courtyard when they finish lunch. MOST come back in too hyped up to work. (My most serious fights always occurred after lunch….)

By Broken Record

November 17, 2006 09:19 AM | Link to this

Gosh Jeff, I think you are trapped in a parallel universe where everything is in opposition to the one I reside in.

By Jeff

November 17, 2006 09:30 AM | Link to this

BR:

Actually, I think that all of you recess proponents forget the snow ball effect. You allow them a little time to run around, and they don’t know how to come back down. Its the same mistake I’ve been making in class… I’ll goof off, the kids will get wound up, and it is almost impossible to regain control..

By Broken Record

November 17, 2006 10:00 AM | Link to this

If you lose control, you never really had control. The nuns I had in K-8 NEVER had a problem getting control of the class and getting us on task for the next lesson after lunch or recess. Their discipline was absolute and enforced. And our classes had 50-60 children in them. I feel better after I take a break, and others here agree that recess is necessary for children and adults. Why are you so different? Perhaps you need some guidance in your classroom management skills. Some of the best teachers I had were the ones who could quiet the class with just a look. Some people just have that presence, but others can learn it.

By Buy Danish

November 17, 2006 10:25 AM | Link to this

Broken Record,

I had exactly the same thought about the brocolli. I think we’re on to something!

Jeff,

I don’t know how we all survived before the end-recess movement began.

By OldSchool

November 17, 2006 10:54 AM | Link to this

Here’s how I solved our lack of a break schedule: my students come in and take out something to read. I keep Reader’s Digest and Consumer Reports for those without academic subject area reading assignments. They read silently for the first 15 minutes of the block. That gives me a chance to check the roll, deal with anything that has come up AND gives them a chance to calm down after being in the main hall during class change. It works. Everyone is calm and can quietly get their equipment out and start working (Engineering/Architectural Drafting…high school level).

I also have no tardies to class and life is pretty good.

By Broken Record

November 17, 2006 11:10 AM | Link to this

OldSchool, I love your transition acitivity. Haven’t you said before that you also play some classical music during this time?

By RW

November 17, 2006 11:51 AM | Link to this

Tons of medical research shows that we are slower and less alert after meals. After lunch, students will be less attentive for that reason, if no other.

By luvs2teach

November 20, 2006 06:27 PM | Link to this

My afternoon classes definitely have a different energy level than my morning classes. We don’t normally rotate, but ocasionally (early release or testing days) when we have a change in the schedule, and I see my classes at unusual times, I am surprised at how their behavior changes.

What I really think though, is that the middle school day is too long, and that you can’t pour any more water into an already full glass.