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Post by WeNeed3 on Oct 29, 2008 7:02:14 GMT -5
Has anyone heard what they are going to do regarding the lengthening of classes in MS next year? I heard they are going to combine health and PE to get the needed time period but they are keeping Connections. With my daughter though, health was a semester and then she still had 2 electives in that spot so I don't see how that would work.
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Post by WeNeed3 on Nov 14, 2008 16:22:29 GMT -5
204 E-news Parent Meetings on Middle School SchedulingIn the 2009-10 school year, all middle schools in Indian Prairie will adopt a new schedule in order to enhance the core instructional program for students. Parents who will have middle school students in 2009-10 are invited to attend a presentation that outlines the schedule with special attention given to the elective offerings and what should be considered when selecting electives at each grade level. These presentations are set for December 1 through December 4. Each middle school will offer a presentation for each grade level. If you are not able to attend the presentation at your child's home school, you are welcome to attend a presentation at any other middle school since the presentations will be identical in each building. Please note that these grade level presentations are for the grade that your child will be going into for the 2009-10 school year. The presentation is for parents only. Separate presentations for students will be given during the school day. A schedule of meeting dates and times is online at www.ipsd.org/Uploads/news_20959_1.pdfA message from Superintendent Stephen Daeschner that was shared with parents last April about the schedule is also online at ipsdweb.ipsd.org/News.aspx?id=18487---------------------------------------------------------------------------- School District 204 www.ipsd.org780 Shoreline Drive Aurora, IL 60504 USA
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Post by WeNeed3 on Nov 14, 2008 16:33:16 GMT -5
I just read the message from last April. I can't believe they are going to reduce the passing period time? Yikes. The kids are going to need scooters to get from one classroom to the next.
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Post by gatormom on Nov 14, 2008 16:55:51 GMT -5
I just read the message from last April. I can't believe they are going to reduce the passing period time? Yikes. The kids are going to need scooters to get from one classroom to the next. Passing periods should be somewhat easier in the MSs next year. Fischer will be opening so the overcrowded hallways should be a thing of the past. I still don't see how you can make them any shorter. Good suggestion though weneed3, scooters are probably much safer than roller blades.
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Post by WeNeed3 on Dec 2, 2008 21:14:53 GMT -5
Well, I just attended an informational meeting and I must say, next year will be bizarre. They are going to have to do away with the bell system because everyone will be passing at different times. Some classes are 100 minutes, some are 49, some are 41 and lunch is 30. Some passing periods look like they will be 2 minutes while others are longer. Way weird. Sounds like an administration nightmare. Actually, passing at different times might make it easier to get around.
Connections will be taken away and put within the core classes and PE will be three quarters with health one quarter.
Also, computers will be a mandatory 2 semesters and they are adding a new optional quarter class called Study Skills to enhance organization and study skills for HS.
Foreign language is also expanded.
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Post by gatormom on Dec 3, 2008 7:26:48 GMT -5
Wow, those are some changes. It sounds like the electives are going to take a hit. Extending periods, adding more mandetory classes, sounds like the day is pretty full. Do they have room in schedules for sewing, cooking, and shop? The band, chorus, and orchestra students use an elective for that, will they have to chose between BCO and a language?
They have been doing some of this on a small scale at some of the MSs. Block classes have been very successful at Still, Math.
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Post by momto4 on Dec 3, 2008 8:07:51 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing this. I heard that once all of the MS meetings have been held, the presentation will be available online. They didn't want it out there before-hand because they want MS parents to attend the meetings and get first-hand information and Q&A. It sounds like there will be a lot of potential issues to be worked out with the new schedules and I'm betting there will be a few bumps along the way. I commend the district for working with the teachers to make improvements to the MS curriculum and I hope this is a positive change.
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Post by wvhsparent on Dec 3, 2008 9:13:44 GMT -5
If it helps to improve grades, I'm all for it. IMHO the Core subjects need the most concentration.
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Post by momto4 on Dec 3, 2008 9:56:56 GMT -5
If it helps to improve grades, I'm all for it. IMHO the Core subjects need the most concentration. What about kids who have high grades and score almost 100% on the standardized tests? Do they really need more time in core subjects or should they be allowed more exploration?
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Post by WeNeed3 on Dec 3, 2008 10:34:32 GMT -5
Wow, those are some changes. It sounds like the electives are going to take a hit. Extending periods, adding more mandetory classes, sounds like the day is pretty full. Do they have room in schedules for sewing, cooking, and shop? The band, chorus, and orchestra students use an elective for that, will they have to chose between BCO and a language? They have been doing some of this on a small scale at some of the MSs. Block classes have been very successful at Still, Math. The electives actually get a whopping 2 minute increase to their times. But it seems like with the increase in computer now to 2 semesters, you might get less choices depending on if you elect the band/orch/chorus and/or the language. There's three slots for what they call ENCORE classes. Everyone has to take the PE/Health as one slot. Then the band etc kids get the second slot. For those kids that don't take band, they can choose electives. The third slot can be foreign language or other electives. The biggest problem with the electives is for those kids who choose to take Band/Orchestra/Chorus as well as the two year commitment to foreign language. They basically get no other electives because they have to take the full year of computers in 6th grade and then the two years of language. If you just choose between the band/orch/chor and the language, then you get some electives along the way. Our principal did remind us that all electives go through high school, so if someone really wants to take foreign language in middle school, they still have basic sewing, media technology etc. in high school.
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Post by WeNeed3 on Dec 3, 2008 10:36:35 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing this. I heard that once all of the MS meetings have been held, the presentation will be available online. They didn't want it out there before-hand because they want MS parents to attend the meetings and get first-hand information and Q&A. It sounds like there will be a lot of potential issues to be worked out with the new schedules and I'm betting there will be a few bumps along the way. I commend the district for working with the teachers to make improvements to the MS curriculum and I hope this is a positive change. The meeting was very helpful and at our school, they even passed out a question form. You could submit it in a box and they would call you or email you to discuss your concerns. They also gave us a nice booklet which kind of helped explain the electives.
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Post by gatordog on Dec 3, 2008 14:47:06 GMT -5
A friend in Oswego 308 said their MS's also recently switched to "block" scheduling. My wife (who went to the presentation last night) said our friend "didnt really like the Oswego block scheduling" but said "the 204 way sounds better."
Sorry for the vagueness of this post! But I will find out more, and try to compare/contrast this way to what Oswego is doing.
My middle schooler is right now very excited about the chance to take two years of language. She is leaning towards French.
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Post by wvhsparent on Dec 3, 2008 21:46:11 GMT -5
If it helps to improve grades, I'm all for it. IMHO the Core subjects need the most concentration. What about kids who have high grades and score almost 100% on the standardized tests? Do they really need more time in core subjects or should they be allowed more exploration? How many kids would this be? Could they help the struggling kids?
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Post by momto4 on Dec 4, 2008 12:32:52 GMT -5
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Post by momto4 on Dec 4, 2008 12:46:11 GMT -5
The PPT presentation says that a 4 person teaching team will consist of - 2 language arts block teachers, 1 math teacher, and 1 science teacher. Each of these teachers will also be expected to teach a section of social studies! This seems like it would be a big change for many teachers. Are there teachers now who teach math or science and also teach social studies?
But then there are also 3 person teaching teams that have one math/science teacher, one language arts/science, and one language arts/social studies.
I am just wondering if a lot of teachers next year will be teaching subjects they have not previously taught, or if they are arranging the teams in a way that allows teachers to continue teaching the subjects they are experienced with.
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