Inservice+Q&A

This page is designed for SHS questions, answers, and reflection for Dr. Rettig's instructional sessions on March 12, 2011.

**Questions and Answers:**
 * 1) Given that your book is 15 years old, what would you now suggest are the 5 most important things we need as a school about to enter teaching in the block?
 * 2) Pacing of your courses: will that change? Redo pacing guides for long-term planning. 90 days, exams days, total instruction days. How do I deliver instruction, guided practice, and assessment.
 * 3) Teaching strategies in the block. Develop lesson plans before the school year begins.
 * 4) Continued staff development: what's working, what's not.
 * 5) Analyze school policies related to schedule that need revision for the new schedule.
 * 6) Communications plan: how do we communicate change.
 * 7) Why do some school choose block then revert?
 * 8) pay, percentage of teaching time, number of students in the schedule impact economics.
 * 9) To save money, a 7 period day teaching 6 meant schools needed fewer teachers, so they go out of the block. But reasons vary.
 * 10) How do you deal with absenteeism, especially chronic absenteeism
 * 11) From student perspective, they feel they miss double but from half as many people.
 * 12) Schools tend to have a class notetaker and notes are posted or shared or handed out.
 * 13) Location for missed handouts.
 * 14) Homework posted on board and website.
 * 15) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Given a longer class, more time to touch base with absentee students.
 * 16) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Do you advocate the prep as a block, not half block?
 * 17) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Prefers a block a day, but knows that a school will do what it has to do economically.
 * 18) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">How does homework change with the block?
 * 19) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">From student standpoint: have several days v. every night, every subject.
 * 20) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">A little less because more of the purpose of homework--practice and review--in the block.
 * 21) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">80 minutes are more valuable than ever.
 * 22) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Do not finish a class with homework or you get "homework creep" and throughout the year you lose more instructional time.
 * 23) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Homework becomes reverse instruction, done prior to, so guided practices begin the class while the teacher helps and assists. Videos or podcasts done by teacher and viewed/listened to at home. Hence, homework. (HM answer)