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Making the Most of a 90-Minute Block

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Topic tags:
block schedule, instructional strategies, instructional planning
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Teacher Quality Standards

  • QS I: Teachers demonstrate mastery of and pedagogical expertise in the content they teach.
    • Element A: Teachers provide instruction that is aligned with the Colorado Academic Standards and their district’s organized plan of instruction.
    • Element C: Teachers demonstrate knowledge of the content, central concepts, inquiry, appropriate evidence-based instructional practices, and specialized characteristics of the disciplines being taught.

PD resource content

Resource material

This three-part resource highlights strategies teachers can use as they plan instruction for longer "block-style" class periods. Included in this resource are the following: 

  1. Making the Most of a 90-Minute Block - This podcast  (which is also transcribed into an article) from the Cult of Pedagogy provides practical tips and structures that can help teachers make the most of an extended learning period. 
  2. Managing Instructional Time - This chapter from the book Key Elements of Classroom Management presents information about how to best maximize instructional time for many situations and also dives into important considerations for student learning in a block schedule. 
  3. Planning Lessons for a Block Schedule - This blog post, from experts at Illustrative Mathematics, relays how to convert their problem-based lesson structure for a standard class period into one for a longer time span. 

Resource Links

Making the Most of a 90-Minute Block
Planning Lessons for a Block Schedule
Chapter 2. Managing Instructional Time

Citation

Gonzalez, J. (2017). Making the most of a 90-minute block. [Web log post]. Retrieved from https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/block-scheduling/

McLeod, J., Fisher, J., & Hoover, G. (2003). Managing Instructional Time. In Key Elements of Classroom Management. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/103008/chapters/Managing-Instruct...

Wilson, J. & Cerrahoglu, V. (n.d.). Planning lessons for a block schedule. [Web log post] Retrieved from https://illustrativemathematics.blog/2019/02/28/planning-lessons-for-a-block-schedule/