Education Law

Extra classes means extra fun

With NCLB focusing on math and language arts classes, districts across the country have changed around their school-day schedules to add in extra help courses so that students can higher achieve in these two subjects. While some schools have had to say goodbye to electives in order to meet these math and language arts achievement demands, a school in Rancho Cordova, Calif. is implementing a new plan that includes both more remedial help and a chance to have some fun.

The Scaramento Bee reported that the Mills Middle School has changed around their school day for the 2008 academic year to include eight periods instead of the previous six. Both math and language arts periods will be double, but students will also get to choose to enroll in an art, music, computer, or other elective in a new 43 minute period.

To accommodate the new schedule, the time between classes was shortened from five to three minutes and social studies, science, and physical education classes will be shortened by about 12 minutes from last year. Teachers hope having a fun elective will improve student's attitude about the larger focus on math and reading classes and hopefully lead them to higher achievement.

Math, language arts, and fun electives? BoardBuzz thinks Mills Middle School is on to something here and hope the new school year yields higher achievement and more fun in the classroom. For more information on time and scheduling, check out the Center for Public Education.

Full post as published by BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog on August 12, 2008 (boomark / email).