Dedication and Acknowledgments
About the Author
1. The Current Status of Block Scheduling
2. Block Scheduling and the High School
3. Developmental Aspects of Growth and Behavior
Physical Development From Early Childhood
Characteristics of Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development
Schemata and the Process of Assimilation, Accomodation, and Equilibration
The Period of Preoperational Thought
The Period of Concrete Operations
The Period of Formal Operations
Cognitive Theory and Block Instruction
Erikson's Stages of Personality Development
Implications of Erikson's Theory for Block Instruction
4. Building the Block Culture in the School
5. Selecting the Best Fit
The 4´4 Block Schedule Model
The A/B Block Schedule Model
New Lesson Designs for the Block
6. Block Scheduling in the Middle School
The Middle School Defined
Characteristics of the Middle School
Team Teaching Interdisciplinary Teaming
Benefits of the Block Schedule in the Middle School
Shortfalls of the Traditional Schedule
The Flexible/Alternate/Navigate (FAN) Models
Advantages of Modified Schedules in the Middle School
Teaching in the Block in the Middle School
7. The Elementary School on the Block
Historical Events Impacting the Elementary School
Part 1: For Today's Students, Better, More Accountable Schools
Part 2: For Tomorrow's Students, a New Generation of American Schools
Part 3: For the Rest of Us (Yesterday's Students and Today's Workforce), a Nation of Students
Part 4: Communities Where Learning Can Happen
Goals 2000: Educate America Act
A State Example: The Elementary Curriculum in North Carolina
Disadvantages of Graded Arrangement
Alternative Possibilities for Scheduling
4-Blocks Model for Elementary Education
Parallel Block Scheduling
8. Aligning Standards and Course Content
Models for Use of Instructional Time
Assigning Outside Content
Integrating Content: C-Clustering
Curriculum Alignment and Instructional Pacing
Curriculum Alignment Phase 1
Curriculum Alignment Phase 2
Instructional Pacing Phase 1
Instructional Pacing Phase 2
9. Sample of Curriculum Alignment and Pacing
10. Effective Instructional Strategies for Block Scheduling
Recommendations for Improving Block Scheduling for the Future
11. Teacher-Directed Instruction
Direct Instruction as a Teaching Model
Direct Instruction as a Continuum of Teaching Behaviors
Our Mr. Jefferson: A Sample Teacher-Directed Lesson
12. Discovery and Inquiry
The Inquiry Training Model
Building the Tower: A Sample Discovery Method Activity
13. Simulations and Role Play
Forms for the Simulation Model
Rationale for Appropriate Use
Gifted and Talented Simulation: A Sample Lesson Using Simulation
14. Cooperative Learning
Building the Perfect School: A Cooperative Staff Development Activity
15. Synectics
Gordon's Stages of Creativity
To Kill a Mockingbird: A Syectics Sample Lesson
16. Socratic Seminar
Group Discussion and Student Participation
What Happened: A Socratic Seminar
17. Instructional Assessment
Methods of Instructional Evaluation
Assessment of Student Acheivement
A Positive Classroom Climate Through Instruction
18. Program Evaluation and Student Assessment
Defining Program Evaluation
Evaluation Resource 1: Block Schedule Teacher Survey
Evaluation Resource 2: Teacher Survey: High School Instruction
19. A Guide to Traditional and Authentic Assessment
Writing and Evaluating Test Items
Categorizing Items on Cognitive Levels
Using Authentic Assessment for Student Evaluation
The Trouble With Tests Is...
What Is Authentic Assessment?
Brain Growth, Brain Enrichment, and Attention
Effective Implementation of Authentic Assessment
Multiple Intelligences and Authentic Assessment
Types of Authentic Assessment
References, Recommended Readings
Internet Resources
Index