It is so much easier to keep your students on the same page because of
the Monday Friday holiday problem. Some times it takes parents a while
to keep the schedule clear but putting the day number on the school
calendar has helped this in the past.
Another advantage is the ability to schedule individual grade levels
into the special subject classes all together.
When we had 4 of each class we did 4 day cycle, 5 of each grade level =
5 day schedule. When the grade level numbers were not equal we
scheduled the largest number and have an extra planning period when the
least grade level is scheduled. This empty period can be used for
scheduling special things into the empty period.
I always liked the flexibility of the number day cycles as opposed to
the week day schedule. It is OK if you have 5 of each grade level to
schedule. Otherwise you have grade levels scattered all across the
schedule and neither classroom teachers nor specialists can schedule
grade levels together.
On Monday, March 29, 2004, at 01:03 PM, Hillmer, Jan wrote:
> Tomorrow, my school looks at our schedule again (annually). Right
> now, Art, Drama, and Music meet each once a week for each child. We
> have grade levels meeting at the same time, in order to be able to put
> all the students together for things like the Winter concert, 5th
> grade play, etc. During this time, the grade level teachers have the
> opportunity to meet together and plan for their grade level.
> Any ideas that might be alternate schedule ideas would be
> appreciated. I am going to repeat our Fine Arts Specials request from
> last year to move to a five day program - So we don't continually miss
> Mondays because of legal holidays.