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About Me
- Robert Hankes
- PSPA President; PSPA Literary Magazines Evaluation Chair for many years; teaches at Big Spring HS in Newville, PA; co-advises the literary magazine Charisma with PSPA Vice-President Mike McVitty; married with three kids (23, 9, and 6).
3 comments:
This is really about 3rd period. I'm having difficulty maintaining a sense of continuity in my 3rd period class. When we miss a Monday or a Friday and then we have clubs on a Wednesday, it makes teaching rather clunky. My delivery seems to go in fits and starts. I don't like the way 3rd period is going this year or last year. It's not just that I miss the resource period. There is just a lack of continuity here.
Also, a class taught in a block and a class taught in 3rd period are two very different animals. Is anyone looking at whether one is better than the other. I can't imagine that the 3rd period as it is provides a more effective or efficient means of instruction. Finally, I wish we had resource back because I think our students actually need the time for catching up, completing homework, and getting remediation.
I'm going to continue writing about this because I like talking to myself. I'm wondering if we need a club day bell schedule so that a little is taken off each period so that 3rd period is left without the interruption during the week. I'd then put Channel 3 into 3rd period permanently so that other classes are not interrupted and so that there is some consistency as to when it is aired. The overall amount of instructional time in 3rd period would still remain about the same for over the course of the year. This could be done easily by knocking 15 minutes off of each period (1,2,4, and 5)giving one hour for a club. The fact that Channel 3 would no longer be shown during these periods would balance out the lost time from club day.
Here's what should be done with 3rd period. Third period should be used for remediation and enrichment. The Math Department should teach sections of math enhancement; the English Department should teach a Reading I, II, III, and IV course to those students who are not reading at grade level; an SAT prep course should be offered; HACC dual enrollment classes can be taught in social sciences and sciences. If there are teachers who do not have a remedial course or enhancement class, then they can be given a duty. If we don't want to stick these teachers with a duty, then we should pay a stipend to those teachers in math, English, science, and social sciences who are teaching 3rd period.
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