[NIFL-LD:4090] RE: Block Scheduling

From: Art LaChance (arthur@ellijay.com)
Date: Wed Mar 19 2003 - 13:43:49 EST


Return-Path: <nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov>
Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id h2JIhnH06470; Wed, 19 Mar 2003 13:43:49 -0500 (EST)
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2003 13:43:49 -0500 (EST)
Message-Id: <3E78BA49.752B6498@ellijay.com>
Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov
Reply-To: nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov
Originator: nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov
Sender: nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov
Precedence: bulk
From: Art LaChance <arthur@ellijay.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-LD:4090] RE: Block Scheduling
X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.7 [en] (Win98; I)
Status: O
Content-Length: 2655
Lines: 66

I've worked for over 15 years in an open entry adult literacy / GED program.
I came to recommend two hour blocks of study - two days a week - with a
maximum of three days inbetween those sessions to achieve 'minimum progress'
- for all the reasons specified here by Maureen.

Art


Art LaChance
Gilmer Learning Center
Ellijay, GA

Maureen Carro wrote:

> Hi,
> I am an educational therapist working now in private practice.  I have
> not worked with a prison population but did work extensively for a
> number of years with Welfare to Work clients who had similar learning
> issues.  I worked 2 hour sessions twice a week, quite effectively for
> those who had regular attendance.
>
> Persons  with ADHD /ADD often have trouble initiating and shifting
> tasks, so the 50 minute periods often have them shifting before they
> have gotten much out of the session. I find these issues are equally
> problematic to "sustaining" attention.
>
> Also, many have other learning issues that have been unidentified or
> "masked" by ADHD.
>
> On Wednesday, March 19, 2003, at 08:07 AM, Marie Doerner wrote:
>
> > In our high school program, we have two hour classes daily for 9 weeks
> > which
> > gives students one semester credit. It has been very successful. It is
> > relatively quick for students who can take two classes and so get two
> > credits in nine weeks. Compared to our open labs, this class has much
> > better
> > retention and pass rates.
> >
> > Marie Doerner
> > San Diego Community College
> > Centers for Education and Technology.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: mag [mailto:mag@sover.net]
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2003 2:54 AM
> > To: Multiple recipients of list
> > Subject: [NIFL-LD:4087] Block Scheduling
> >
> >
> > Hello!
> >       I work in a prison setting with incarcerated youth under the age
> > of 22. We used to have primarily long-term offenders. Now we have a
> > number of short-term detainees as well as long-term guys. We honor any
> > high school credits previously earned and put them in classes to finish
> > up the rest of the 20 they need to graduate. It has been estimated that
> > 49% of the students have a prior history of ADD or ADHD. Many were
> > special ed. students. In order to help the short-termers earn credits
> > faster it has been suggested that we go to a block scheduling system,
> > holding 2 hr. classes three or four times a week instead of the current
> > 50 minute classes. I'd like to hear pros and cons about using block
> > scheduling with this population from teachers who have tried it in
> > their
> > settings. Please respond to: jdickins@doc.state.vt.us    Thanks!
> >



This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Thu Mar 11 2004 - 12:17:22 EST