Scheduling?
Posted by sunnywilliams on February 18, 2007
We are having parent meetings this week to look at some options we have for schedules for next year 7th and 8th graders. We want to be responsive to student, family, and teacher needs and want to provide students with more opportunities to learn at high levels; this is one reason for the earlier post about classes students would be interested in. I would like to hear what you think about the middle school schedule. What would be changes that you would make if you had the ability? If you have heard about the possible changes, what do you think? We have already talked to the staff about some ideas and they are excited about the possibilities!
February 20th, 2007 at 9:19 am
i like the schedules because of just seven periods but i also would like to have maybe one more elective
February 20th, 2007 at 9:22 am
I think we nedd all Hewitt schools go to block schedule. It would be so much easier only having four classes each semester.
February 20th, 2007 at 9:24 am
I would change the way we move periods almost because it is just to crowded in the hallways sometimes. Also I think we should be aloud to maybe change electives every 18 weeks so we could get more coverd so that we could use it to get more credits towards Highschool. Other than that I love the way our school funtions because I am so used to it after 2 years of being here.
February 20th, 2007 at 9:24 am
One thing that I think I would want to change is how long we have between classes. Some people are coming from PE and have to be at the end of the 8th grade hall and are late. We do have time to get from PE to a class, but Im pretty sure we dont want to run to class. Also, its pretty difficult to go to the bathroom between periods. I think it would be a good idea to add one more minute and make it five instead of four minutes.
February 20th, 2007 at 9:29 am
I think we shouldn’t chandge the schedule becuase it is good as it is for now. It was a little bit different at the begining of this year so why change it now?
February 20th, 2007 at 9:32 am
Instead of four min. you should give them six or five min. That is all I think yall should change.
February 20th, 2007 at 9:33 am
I think the schedule is good like it is because it is easy to go by instead of changing all of the time. The schedule is very approiate and it makes a lot of sense so I think it would be best to leave it as it is.
February 20th, 2007 at 9:35 am
I think that we should stick with the same time because no matter how much time is between each class there will always be someone that is late. Four minutes is plenty of time.
February 20th, 2007 at 9:36 am
So far I like the schedule this year.But there is some changes that I would make. I would have more electives for students to take and a little more stuff. I have not heard about the changes.
February 20th, 2007 at 9:36 am
Even know i not goin to be here next year beacuse im a 8th grade. I think you need to put more time in between classes. And longer at lunch because we dont have anought time to eat. I think that would be great for the kid behinde us 8th graders
February 20th, 2007 at 9:36 am
I wish the time would go out farther, like getting up at eight o’clock to go to school, and go home at four. It’s a proven fact that most teenagers can not go to sleep until eleven o’clock. I have seen articles about it before. I usually can’t go to sleep until twelve o’clock. It’s really difficult to go to sleep because we have a lot of stress. We ask ourselves questions like ‘When is that paper due?’ and ‘Will I do good on that test?’and also’Will my parents find out?’. It’s jsut difficult being a teenager at this day in age. Peer pressure, school work, due dates, parents, teachers, homework, and tests. It’s just really hard.
February 20th, 2007 at 9:37 am
I like the schedule but I think we should have optional classes before or after school for kids that want it. Instead of going 7 hours a day I think for kids who want it should have 9 hours a day. That would add two extra class to each day and maybe we could finish high school earlier. people would also have a better chance to get in the elective that they want.
February 20th, 2007 at 9:52 am
I think we should have just one bell schedule. Because, we get use to one bell schedule one yaer, then the next year, we have to memorize another one. And it keeps going on like that. We should just have one bell schedule. Like one for all grades. No grade should have to change when another one doesn’t. That is why I think we should change the bell schedule.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:03 am
I think the different times would be good for the teachers and a few students. I also think it is a bad idea because some kids would have to get a time that wouldn’t work or have to stay home alone even longer than they do now. The schedule would make freinds get splint up and that is not fair. Some kids would have to skip breakfast and not have time for after school activities. I think we should keep the schedule the way it has been for centuries.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:07 am
I like the way our school day run is so far. I enjoy having seven periods in a day. But i do think that we could have something, like a zero period. I think that this would help with the fact that everyone forgets to bring home a book, or just forgets that we had homework. I think that by doing this we would all do better on tests, which would bring our scores up, because we would be able to have just a little more time to study before a test. I also think that this would decrease the number of people not doing their homework. I’m not sure if this would really work or not, but i think it has a possibility of working… it could be giving some thought!
February 20th, 2007 at 10:22 am
I really think we should have a 5 hour schoolday, considering that won’t happen, I really think we should go back to the block schedule. I have heard many positive comments about it, but since the high school went to a seven period schedule, we may not get to experience it.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:24 am
I think our periods should be 30 minutes long. This way our lunch break can be a little bit longer. On Monday you can to English twice, on Tuesday you can go to Math twice, on Wendsday you can go to Science twice, Thurday you can go to Social Studies twice, and on Friday you can go to another elective. This way we can still go to school until 3:00. That is what I think our schedule should look like.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:24 am
I think we should have 35 minute classes and should start school at 9:00 am instead of 7:55 am.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:32 am
Personaly I think we should have a little bit more time for lunch because we dont have enough time to eat with out trying to eat like a pig. I also think that we should have shorter school days. For example we should have two electives and two normal classes like math and science a day we would not have as much homework and we could learn more. We would also have more time to sleep and then we could be more awake in class and we could also have more time to play outside and get alot more exersise and that would be one million times better. Because I get home at 4:00 and I cant play outside because it gets dark and then I have to go inside and eat and take my shower. So that is why I think the days of shools should be shorter. I hope you and the high school think about that. Thank you for reading this.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:46 am
I think that our schedule now is working well and does not need rearranging or any sort of changes. I think that having two electives is a good number because its not too many, but not too few. So I think that our schedule now is working well and operating fine.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:51 am
Here are some times I would like us to have:
7:00 to 2:00
8:00 to 3:00
9:00 to 4:00
February 20th, 2007 at 10:52 am
I think that it is a great thing and I am very excited about it if we can get it to work. I have faith in our school board and am ready to get started.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:53 am
I think I would be interested in classes such as fashion and cosmotology. If I could, I would change the food in our cafeteria, sometimes it tastes really bad. I would also like to have a rest time, like 15 minutes every day. I would also make sure that the lunch time was later, because some of us go to lunch at 10. In P.E., I would like to have exercise machines and have lessons on dancing and pilates or stuff like that. I think these changes would make school fun and interesting.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:55 am
I thim=nk that we should add more choices to the electives list.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:55 am
I would like to be able to pick when my classes were. That would really be great. Like study halle first or seventh period.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:55 am
I wold like to change the schedule to 9am to 4pm because I can’t really get up in the morning beacause I had to finish homework.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:56 am
If I had to pick one thing that I wanted to change about the schedule, I would have to change the times that we eat lunch. If we could eat later it would be better. Sometimes, it is so early in the morning that I don’t feel like eating. Maybe if we could have shorter lunch times, we could fit more people in the cafeteria at once. That way, we can eat at a regular lunch time.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:56 am
I think that we could change the times to either seven to two or six thiry to two thirty. I have to get up early, and I have time to spare. I would like to have more time in the afternoon.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:56 am
If I could make some changes to the schedule, I think we could start school about an hour later, and stay until four. If people had after school sports to go to, we could have the last period for practices.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:57 am
I would make more electives and would let everybody do them. I would also get more lunchtime for the students. I would get more sports and put more time on that and get more time for tutoring than just in the mornings.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:58 am
I think that we should add more elective choices to the list.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:00 am
I think that one thing that we should do is make school start later. I think that this would be great for our school for many reasons. One is that this will allow people a longer amount of time to get to school. There will be less tartys and the teachers will have longer to prepare for their lessons in the morning so their lessons will be better. Also the students will get more sleep and will improva on their studies. A class I think that we should add is a class for talking. I have heard my perents say that the art of a small talk has been lost. Anyone could teach a class on how to help kids start a conversation. this could also help shy kids.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:11 am
I think we should have fewer classes and longer periods. First of all because the band program never has that much time of in class practice. Secondly, there is too much that we have to absorb in one day. It would be easier if there were fewer classes to make things easier to learn.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:12 am
I think we should use block schedule instead of seven periods. Block schedule is much more convenient and you have longer blocks, which I think would be better. It requires less books to carry and less classes to get to. Overall it would probably be better than having seven periods.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:14 am
I think that we need to have school from 8:30 to 2:30 so that we have six hours of school and only six classes. Then we could have more time to sleep in during the mornings and more time to do homework at night.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:16 am
If I had the ability to change the schedule I would change the schedule to block periods just because we could take classes that we need earlier and then take the more advanced class, pre-algebra to algebra. We could do this for the two second language class we need for diffrent careers.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:16 am
I think that it would be nice for both girls and boys to be trusted with athletics. Although the guys already have it, girls should also. I also think that P.E. should be optional. Yes, we do need to be in shape. But I dont think we should be forced to do physical work if we do not want to. Having P.E. is optional at the high school, so why can’t it be here too?
February 20th, 2007 at 11:19 am
The only thing i think should change on the scedule is the time after each block ith tends to get really hard to get from upstaris to 8th grade hall. So i you could make it even 1 min longer im sure it would help some of us out.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:19 am
I think that we should remain on the same schedule as we are right now.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Well, i’m pretty sure that other students, like me, don’t want the schedule any longer that it already is. However, we might need a longer schedule. If you could find some way to make it shorter or so that we have more daylight, I think that would make the students a lot happier.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:20 am
I think we should have 6 periods but be longer.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:21 am
I think that keeping athletics would be a great idea. I do think that girls should also get this chance to improve their skills and exercise. Girls as well as guys should be able to have this extra time during school to practice and keep in shape. Study hall is also another problem. In 7th grade we had the option of a study hall and I really got alot done in it, along with many other people. I know that some people were not taking this time seriously, but I don’t think that everyone should be punished because of some people socializing during study hall.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:24 am
Im in 8th grade and won’t even be here next year but I think that it would be nice to have only 6 periods and 10 minute breaks in between. I would like to see the 7 periods schedule to be trashed its sometimes hard to keep seven diffrent periods in your head along with the homework, when theres only 6 periods then theres less homework and less stress to pull the teachers and students down. The teachers have to grade all of those tests and homework so its not only easier on the students but also the teachers.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:51 am
I like the idea of being able to pick the classes we get to be
in. It is more free for the students to pick what they want first
period,second period,third period,and all the others. If I could
change some of the schedule this year I would.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:52 am
I definately don’t like all around school year. The idea that we can pick our classes sounds intersting. I like the idea of picking which class first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh period are.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
I think next year that there needs to be a study hall. Study hall will help students finish their work at school if they play sports and don’t have time to at home.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
I think that we should have school started at a later time because it will benefit the people that stay up all night.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
I think we should start school at seven and end at two. This could help parents get to work on time and give students another hour of free time in the afternoon.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
I think the schedule we have right now is fine.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Currently I am in the 8th grade and last year all of my classes were reght beside each other. But this year I have expereinced having all of my classes on all most all of the halls. Well to get to first period I have to come from Mrs.House’s room to Mr.Jones room on the 7th grade hall, Then from third to fourth i have to go from the Dugen all the way up stairs, and after that i have to go to the 8th grade hall for computer then back to my locker and back up staitrs. And another thing that i think that should be changed is about 20 or so 8th graders have lockers on the 7th grade hall, which is very difficult because we have to follow there locker schedule. So if there is any way to fix this situation I know My friends and I will greatly appreiciate it.
Sincerly,
SHELBIE DAILEY
February 20th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
I think it would be a good idea to make lunch a period by itself. This could be helpful because this way we wouldn’t have to leave in the middle of class to go to lunch, come back, and try to resume what we were working on. Also, if lunch was it’s own period we could use it as something of a study hall. If we forget some homework or need to study we could do that at lunch instead of during another class period.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
I think that four period block scheduling would be great for the middle school. That way over the period of the year you can have eight subjects instead of seven. Also, if you dont like some of the classes you are taking you will be able to change classes half way through the school year.
February 20th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Dr. Williams,
IF I could change one thing about our school schedules, it would be the way we change classes because the halls are always so crowded.I world also change how you choose your elective. For example if you were to choose an elective to see if you like it, and you decided you hated it than you could just start taking something else. I would like having school earlier or later. You would still have to think about how much sleep the student body gets. Never mind, I like the time we go to school. I would definately change the buses. I think we need more buses because our bus has to go to like 4 different neighborhoods before ours. Also, I think we need a new bus! Anyway, sorry I’m off topic!!! I think we should have an extra elective as well because let’s say you really really want to take band and choir but you need to take study hall if you have that extra elctive, hey, everyone’s happy! Well thanks for listening !!
~ Darby ~
February 20th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
I really like my schedule now but I don;t really like the timing. My dad went to the meeting on Monday night and told me about the new ideas. I really like the new ideas and I hope one day that we can actually have school from 9 to 4. That wouldn’t be bad. Thanks!!
February 20th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
I think we should have a free period after lunch for about fourty minutes and we should also have three electives instead of two.
February 20th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
I think that we should have only 30 minute periods, because we can do more even have more periods or more electives. I mean if we have more electives we can get more credits for High School and start early. That would give us all a boost just in case we fall behind a little. Also i think that we should have a little bit longer between periods because it’s hard to get to some of your classes especially classes like p.e. or art or any elective that is outside or far away.
February 20th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
I think we should have all of our classes as close together as possible. The hallways are always crowded with people who don’t even have a class on that hall. My fifth period class is upstairs and my sixth period class is on the eight grade hall and I can not go through the sixth grade hall to get there. I’m sure I’m not the only one.
February 20th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
I think that it would be a good idea to have lunch in a period by itself. If lunch had it’s own peirod, it could also serve as a study hall.
February 20th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
I think that the best thing for this school would be to go to block schedules. This would let the kids focus on less subjects at one time. It would also give us less homework which could give us more time to prepare for our other subjects. A block schedule will also allow us to change in the middle of the year so that we don’t take the same classes all year long. I also think that we should bring back study hall for athletes who have practice after school. One other thing i think we should change is to give girls athletics for some of the sports that they do. A lot of girls agree that it’s not fair that the boys get athletics and we don ‘t.
February 20th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
I think HTMS should go to block schedule it would make it better and lunch should be longer.
February 20th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
I think it would be cool if we had four peorid blocks and also start later in the day. Maybe, like nine or nine-thirty. Antoher thing is when we go to lunch be able to sit where we won’t with are friends because some poeple during lunch is the only thime to talk to their friends.
February 20th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
I think it is all ok and it should not change alot. but i do athink that school food should be better and it should not be so much i think it should be like $1
February 20th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Even though I am in 8th grade and I wont be here next year I think instead of learning all four different subjects each day we should learn a different subject each day of the week and still have the electives that we have now. If we learn a different subject each day instead of four differnt major subjects then we wouldnt have to worry about getting homework done for all four subjects we can just focus on one instead of four. We should also have shorter class periods and start at 9 in the morning and end at 3 in the afternoon. I think that we would have more time to be awake before school so that we dont sleep in class and we can pay more attention.
February 20th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
I think that we should have a schedule where we start school at 9:00 instead of 7:55. I also think that we should have the block schedule at the high school. I think that the block schedule will be benificial to students’ learning
February 20th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Girls, I am reading your posts as moderator. I just emailed Coach Marlow to see if we could work on the schedule to see if we can get athletics for girls too. I’ll see what we can do! Thanks for the thoughts.
Dr. Williams
February 20th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
I think that everyone should have a study hall.I had a study hall in 6th and 7th grade and it helped me finish all my homeowrk before my after school activities.I didnt have a study hall in 8th grade and my grades are alot worse.If everyone used their study hall wisely,alot of people would have better grades.
February 20th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
I spoke to my daughter after the meeting last night and she loved the ideas! She would like to you to consider electives like Archaeology, forensics, nasa, dance, fashion, cosmotology. We love that you are taking our school system to the next level!
February 20th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
I think that we should haveleast school time at 8:00am – 2:00pm. And have least homework and have 10 minutes to get to class that is in the ather building and at the gym.
February 20th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
I think the time is okay that we have now even if it is longer we couldn’t do after school activities. If we add more time to in between classes there will still be people late.
February 20th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
I think that I classes should not change, but we do need more time between classes. I also think that we should be able to choose our class period time and what teacher we what to have.
February 20th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
I think everyone should have a study hall 7th period, because i think alot of people that have sports they go to after school would be able to get there homework done. It would give us a chance to get help with work we dont understand. Also I think it would be great if we had some more electices like fashion, dance, cosmotology, photography and some that the high school has.
February 20th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Hey Dr. Williams! I think that everyone should have a study hall 7th period, because a lot of people have sports after school. And those who don’t usually have a couple plans. I guess you could have one less elective to make this work.THANK YOU!!!!!
February 20th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Some of the things I as a student would change if a had the opportunity are:
1)The ending time
2) the crowed halls.
The reason for the ending time is that because we get out at the same time as pain, it is hard for my parents to get me and my younger sister (who attends pain) to and from school an time. Maybe if we started and ended a bit later.
The reason for the crowded hall ways is that wile I am at my locker I often get stepped on. See I am on the snowy owls and the hall is WAY too crowed. I have bottom locker and I am nearly always stepped on by students traveling the narrow halls. Maybe some kind of mixed up schedule would help.
February 20th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
i would really like to have a zero period. i like it because i wake up early and i get to school real early. i would really get on to school then sit in the gym. htat is my opinion.
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February 20th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD CHANGE THE SCHEDULE SO WE CAN HAVE MORE TIME TO SLEEP.IT WOULD BE BETTER BECAUSE LESS PEOPLE WOULD GO TO SLEEP DURING CLASS.MORE SLEEP WOULD ALSO MEAN MORE TIME TO DO OUR HOMEWORK IN THE MORNING. SO I HOPE YOU TKE THIS THOGHT INTO CONCIDERATION
February 20th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
As a parent, I am curious if flexible schedule options would be available for each nine-week period, or must one commit to the same schedule option for the entire school year? Having different options available would seem to allow athletes to choose the existing 8A – 3P schedule (or a new 7A – 2P schedule) and be least disruptive to the existing extra-curricular activities.
February 20th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
We had not thought about the possiblity of allowing students and athletes to maybe have different classes different grading periods until last night. Mr. Jones and I began talking about ways that we might be able to work that. Ideas like these are reasons we wanted to have parent nights.
Thanks for your thoughts,
Sunny
February 21st, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Personally I think the schedule should remain the same. There are too many variables to the equation and someone is going to get lost in this process.
The Bible classes scare me! We have enough churches in our little community that have got us covered for Bible classes. The schools should not try to tackle that. The Bible is not a historical document…it is the living word of God. Also, if you offer classes in Bible, then you open the door for other religions to demand their “documents” be taught as well and that is not something I want my children exposed to.
February 27th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
I really agree with you JC. I we have the Bible classes should not occur at school. If you were to have classes for Christians then you should set up classes for Catholics or any other religions. That could become a major problem for the student body and for parents. If you have classes for one type of religion why can’t other religions get an opportunity during school to discuss their religion with any other students at the school of the same religion? The Bible isn’t a historical document, and it should not be taught at HTMS. The Bible is the word of God , and it is what we have left of him! I do argue that with all of these “classes” of religions students may look foward to coming to school so that they can have a chance to speak out about their religion. Still the school shouldn’t get involved with that, and let the churches take care of that. Teacher;’s jobs are to teach student subjects that don’t include any types of religions because those words about a different religion could really offend a student since they may not believe in that religion, and that could caus a bunch of problems with schools. I would keep the schedule the same though!
~Darby~
February 27th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
I think that I would make lunch a little later because I eat at 10:20! We basicly eat a late breakfast. That would be what I would change.
February 28th, 2007 at 7:31 am
I know it is difficult to eat so early. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like we can change that much. With the size of our cafeteria, we have to start early and finish late in order to feed everyone. We are already starting to look at the current high school’s cafeteria to see if we might be able to change that when we move over there.
February 28th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
I think the schedules should remain the same. It seems like this would be a scheduling nightmare. This seems better suited for high school since they have a GPA, are applying to colleges, and will take College entrance exams. I really do not want us to pattern our schools after a business (Google). It won’t matter to 99% of the kid’s futue employers whether they are morning people or not. They will more than likely have to be at work at 8:00 and leave at 5:00. I feel sorry for the students that parents that will push them into extra classes(we know that will happen). Please think long and hard before you implement this at the middle school.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
I think that the schedules should remain as they are now. This 0-8 period scheduling is more suited to high school. Students in high school could benefit more from this optional schedule since they have GPA’s, are applying to colleges, and are taking college entrance exams. I feel we should not pattern our schools after a business(Google). In the future, the majority of Trussville students will have employers that expect them to be at work from 8:00 to 5:00. This type of scheduling would also cause some parents to make their child/ren take 8 classes(you know this will happen) They have enough already!! I know this is optional and we would be able to stay with 8:00-3:00 but in time I think that 8 classes would be forced upon us. Please think long and hard before this is implemented.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:58 am
As a parent, I think the way Dr. Williams is “thinking outside the box” is fantastic. We are new to this area from Texas and I am impressed that she would create such an extra workload on herself to make a better, more progressive learning experience for our children. Even the work this blog page demands shows her willingness to listen and stand up for her middle school kids. Kudos for that. I am so for the adding of extra classes to enrich our childrens lives;if there is something we can do to make it better for them then we should embrace the chance. Will it be confusing..maybe ,will it be more work at times…definitely…could it create in a child a new interest to enhance there life later….most likely….Do the positives outweigh the negatives? I certainly think they do! I am proud to tell my Texas friends the kinds of things this Alabama school wants to do for their kids. Thank you Dr. Williams.
March 16th, 2007 at 8:27 am
I think that having a block schedule would be better because its only four classes. Some people need the extra time to get things in class that is hard to get in only a hour when there are more than 20 kids.
March 16th, 2007 at 10:31 am
I think scheduling should stay how it is.
March 16th, 2007 at 10:37 am
I think our school should consider block schedule. That way you can focus on one subject that maybe isnt your strongest, for a longer period of time. We also woulnt have much homework after school. Student barely get homework finished as it is because of their busy schedule. It would possibly even increase grades if kids could stay in one acedimic class longer and learn more.
March 16th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
I like the seven period a day schedule.
April 13th, 2007 at 9:34 am
I am in the seventh grade. I think we should come to school later so we could sleep more. I think if we get more sleep we would be more alert during the day and people would probably make better grades because they wouldn’t be so tired.