Hi all,
Although our school is smaller, I have a similar experience to Christina’s. The
students are supposed to be scheduled for various activities during the “Flex
time”, but many seem to be at loose ends. I also don’t try to keep the quiet,
but just strive for a bit or order. Our students are so academically stressed
most of the time that I do think the down time is a good thing even though it
does bite into my work time. I also find it is a good time to get to know some
of the students who are not library regulars. We have explored various block
schedules, but now have all 8 class periods at 70 minutes and therefore not
every class every day. This seems to me to be the best set up so far.
Happy Holidays to you all!
Alice
From: baisl-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:baisl-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf ;
Of Ms. Christina Wenger
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2018 8:43 AM
To: baisl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: Perotin, Tana <tperotin@xxxxxxx>
Subject: [baisl] Re: How does block schedule Community Time effect your Library?
Hi all,
We have a block schedule similar to what you describe. The free period, X
Period, is a madhouse in the library with hundreds of kids in the space. We
don't shush during that time. We monitor for food and, if students are being
ridiculous, ask them to leave. But for the most part, it's loud, and it's
packed with kids sitting all over the floors. Our campus doesn't have room for
students to hang out in very many places, so when there's unscheduled time, the
library fills out of necessity.
Happy holidays, all!
Christina
On Tue, Dec 18, 2018 at 8:37 AM Perotin, Tana
<tperotin@xxxxxxx<mailto:tperotin@xxxxxxx>> wrote:
Bellarmine is way behind the curve on this but we are finally considering a
change in our academic schedule. We have been at 6 periods a day (50 min
classes) forever. A committee is now considering a four period, 70-min block
schedule and a modified block schedule with some 50 min classes and some 70 min
classes.
One of the outcomes will be a daily (or 4-day/week) Community Time for 55
minutes. This may be used for tutorial time, teachers’ office hours and study
hall. Alternately there could be some tutorial days and some days set aside
for co-curriculars (club meetings, etc.).
I would like to hear from other high school and middle school librarians about
how this hour of Community Time has effected your Library if you have such a
block of time. I have concerns that the library could just devolve into a mad
house (we have 1,600 students that would be “free”) and we would be the witches
who have to keep telling kids to focus and study. I don’t want that
environment – librarians just shushing all the time. 😊 And I don’t anticipate
having enough staff to use that hour for any kind of enrichment instructions
taught by me or my assistant Librarian.
Anyway, I welcome any and all comments about how a school wide free period has
impacted your Library.
Thanks so much and of course Happy Holidays to all!
Tana
[https://render.bitstrips.com/v2/cpanel/ded21d24-cb38-4e67-862b-4fcb8201f661-487cf70c-f1ca-4cbc-b399-cc080f06dd41-v1.png?transparent=1&palette=1]
Tana Perotin
Director of Library and Research Services
Bellarmine College Preparatory
960 W. Hedding St.
San Jose, CA 95126
408-537-9257
www.bcp.org<http://www.bcp.org/>
--
Christina Wenger
Ask me about what I'm reading:
In progress: Hawaii, Michener
Just finished: The Descendants, Kaui Hart Hemmings
Director of the Library
AMP Teacher
St. Ignatius College Preparatory
2001 37th Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94116
Desk: 415.731.7500 ext. 6756
e-mail: cwenger@xxxxxxxxxx<mailto:cwenger@xxxxxxxxxx>
www.siprep.org<http://www.siprep.org>