Intervention System
Posted by drpezz on January 21, 2008
Currently my school is looking to create an intervention system which exists during the school day. The requirements we must meet are: it must occur during the day, must not require any new cost, and must not require any new staff. Tough restrictions, but we have to think of something.
So far, we have decided to create a small learning community of 90 Freshman students to pilot a block-style schedule which could become a larger program. It would include English, Science, and P.E. and would allow the teachers involved a common preparation period. If implemented on a larger scale, I’m guessing 270 Freshman students would be involved leaving the other half of the Freshman class to be part of the traditional program.
I still believe we are not solving all our issues with this block schedule. Namely, I think we still need to address class size, how we grade students (moving from turning in paper to standards-based), and changing the types of instruction and procedures implemented in classrooms (like sharing best practices). Our attendance policy also leaves something to be desired.
Still, this is not an intervention program. We still need to discover what to do for all students, and everything is on the table. Any ideas?
Anonymous said
Odd. I was just discussing this with some teachers last week. They hate the block idea because it limits freshmen from taking advanced coursework. It would mean that all freshmen teachers were limited to freshmen classes only and it would be a limited number of teachers because of the limited number of students. Students who are academically advanced would not be able to move out of the block time and take the classes they need to best serve their needs. Think about it before you hold those gifted and academically talented students back.
drpezz said
There is no honors option for the block. It would be intended for students who are already taking the so-called “normal” level of Freshman English, Science, and P.E., and would not limit the students’ electives opportunities since the block consists of the required courses. So far, it looks feasible as a pilot. Plus, the option is only for about 15% of the incoming Freshmen.
The advanced students would be in their own self-contained, traditionally styled courses.