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M cDougal Littell is dedicated to providing the educational programs needed to succeed with block scheduling. Each of our World Languages programs offers teachers a wide variety of educational tools, which helps make planning 90-minute class sessions much easier. Such tools include:

• Textbooks that include numerous creative and motivating strategies and activities.

• Paired and group communicative activities.

• Teacher support materials such as block scheduling lesson plans.

• Teaching tools such as transparencies, videos, audio, and CD-ROMs.

• Internet support such as links, flipcards, self-scoring quizzes, and more.

In addition, we offer consultant support to help customize our programs to the type of block scheduling in your school.Just call us at 800-323-5435 to arrange for special consultant support. A McDougal Littell representative will be glad to answer your questions and provide you with the block scheduling information and resources needed.

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P.O. Box 1667

Evanston, Illinois 60204

www.mcdougallittell.com P00993 1700.114

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helping blockWork for YouWorld languages teachers working in the block scheduling environment face challenges—

how to plan lessons that organize and streamline material, and how to maintain the pace and variety required in the extended class period. As educators gain experience with block scheduling, we begin to recognize the advantages of the system and to discover effective strategies to help us use block more successfully.

Advantages of Block Scheduling The block scheduling environment offers some advantages for world languages educators. The student-centered classroom offers a longer period of immersion allowing students to spend more time actively learning and developing communication skills. Teachers have more time to understand each student individually, which creates a more trusting learning community and thus increases everyone’s motivation and achievement.

Strategies for Planning Lessons A creative and flexible approach to developing lesson plans maximizes the strengths of the block. When looking over the material to be covered, teachers may want to run through a mental checklist.

• How can I be a facilitator of instruction? • How can I insure a variety of instruction? • How can I employ a balance of explanation, application, and synthesis?• How can the students and I share responsibility in the learning process? • How can I make more cross-curricular and real-world connections? • How can I use assessment as a positive motivator?

Often teachers plan in 10 to 30 minute segments, choosing to cover all of the language skills, all of the multiple intelligences, or both. When planning for a block class, it is important to remain flexible—if one approach does not work, try something else.

Regular assignments help students keep up the practice of the language and encourage

their homework assignments by having them write the assignments on their calendars.

Strategies for Assigning Homework Most teachers assign homework every day, even if they do not see the students daily.

the retention of material presented in class. Teachers can help students keep track of

Strategies for Dealing with Absenteeism When absent from a block class, students miss a substantial amount of material. In a student-centered class, teachers may want to offer extra credit to students who can mentor the absentee. This type of peer teaching will support the absentee’s return, while offering the mentor additional practice with the language and an opportunity for extra credit.

Eight Strategies for Success

s with any new teaching situation, block schedulinga will require a change in the way teachers plan each class period. Since most block scheduling models are made up of 90-minute sessions, a new level of creativity and variety is needed for each class.

Here are eight success strategies that teachers using block scheduling have found to be effective: Warm ups Get the ball rolling quickly with an activity. This can be a journal entry, a review of the last class, or a preview of today’s class.

Exercise and Movement Ninety minutes is a long time to sit still. Plan classes so that students change seats, turn in papers, move to another area of the school . . . anything to stretch the legs and get the blood circulating.

Cooperative Learning Plan group activities, such as group discussions. This allows students to share ideas, interact, and learn socialization skills.

Technology Take full advantage of supporting media, such as computers, videos, and audio. Better still, combine these activities with exercises and movement by walking to the media center.

Games and Puzzles Use fun diversions after tests or when shifting from one concept to another. These activities should reinforce skills, practice current lessons, or be a preview to upcoming lessons.

Creative Projects Let students research topics of interest that relate to the curriculum. Let them present their projects to the rest of the class using the method of their choice.

Interactive Lectures Lecturing for long periods of time can bog down a 90-minute session. Stop at certain key junctures of the lecture to discuss the material with the students.

Peer Teaching High achieving students will retain even more if they are required to teach other students. Assign tutors to students who may be struggling, allowing time for this in class.

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School: Curriculum: Spanish Block Scheduling Model:

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What was the biggest challenge in making the transition to block?

What strategies do you use in planning a longer class session?

What do you see as the key to successful block scheduling implementation?

positive about block scheduling.

What advice would you give other

with what works. Also, you have to be willing to place

Q & A ndoubtedly one of the major challenges of block

to cover the traditional amount of material in less time. Since the cumulative time spent on a course is significantly

plan for a block scheduling curriculum.

Have the Right Attitude.

implementation is heavily dependent on the attitudes of

is on teachers to spend significant time planning.

When allotting time for planning a curriculum under block

take. This is especially true at the beginning stages.

Highlight and pull out the most essential lessons and activities

of each lesson, and do not attempt to fit too much material in any single period.

These five tips can help in planning a block scheduling session,

teachers and students alike can thrive under block scheduling.

for better

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Teacher: Laura Burns Coal City High School, Coal City, Illinois

Alternative Years On Block:

In truth, it was a very easy transition. A lot of foreign language teachers are apprehensive about “the block,” but I think it’s more in alignment with what we do. It fosters getting students involved in an active learning process, which is ideal in teaching foreign languages.

I mix things up quite a bit and include many paired and group activities, which helps eliminate passive learning and gets them out of their chairs. I use the activities workbook, with the textbooks as more of a reviewing tool.

By far it is the attitude of everyone involved. In our school everyone has always been very supportive and

foreign language teachers considering block? You have to be willing to risk. Try new things and go

the interests of the student above your own.

Success Story

scheduling is pacing. A common mistake is trying

lower, this approach usually results in incomplete coverage. To avoid this, here are five tips to help

It’s not surprising that the success of block scheduling

individual teachers. This is especially true since the burden

Allot Significant Planning Time.

scheduling, do not underestimate how much time it will

Streamline Materials.

in the curriculum. Focus on core concepts that cut to the heart

Refresh, Don’t Reteach. One advantage of block scheduling is that concept retention of students will deepen significantly. Thus, less emphasis should be spent going over the same materials with more focus on briefly “refreshing.”

Integrate Dynamic Teaching Tools and Methods. Students will learn quicker and retain concepts better if the activities are fun, interesting, and interactive. Improving language retention in students is particularly challenging, thus the need for a dynamic approach is even more vital. Activities such as cooperative learning, jigsawing, and other interactive games can prove invaluable to the curriculum.

yet there are many more techniques and methods that can be implemented. With a little creativity and a willingness to risk,

Tips

pacing

in the Absent Student Copymasters

The Absent Student Copymasters walk

tips for students struggling with the assignment. Self Check Questions and answers allow students to assess

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in the

includes sample Block Scheduling Lesson Plans at the beginning of each etapa

and expand lessons.

in the Block Scheduling Copymasters

The Block Scheduling Copymasters Scenarios, and Change-of-Pace Activities for each etapa. Block Scheduling Homework Options incorporate materials

pace of the class.

Help for Absent Students

students through a day of missed classroom activities, providing a Materials Checklist and Steps to Follow. Each activity includes

their progress.

Block Scheduling and

Time-Saving Lesson Plans Teacher’s Edition

The comprehensive Teacher’s Edition

that offer options for pacing and variety. Point-of-use Block Scheduling suggestions appear throughout the text as well, offering the support teachers need to change

Change-of-Pace Activities

offer Projects, Learning

from the Unit Resource Books and provide a suggested daily schedule of homework activities that correspond to the

in Block Scheduling Lesson Plans

The Block Scheduling Lesson Plans contain varied instruction

Objectives, teaching tips, and activities help make the

change-of-pace activities for teachers to use in

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in

in the

The variety of change-of-pace activities that maintain

games, puzzles, extension activities, and

Time-Saving Lesson Plans

options for teachers in the block scheduling environment.

classroom easy to manage. Block Schedule boxes feature

the classroom.

Block Scheduling and Discovering French

Activities for All Learners Teaching to Multiple Intelligences

Teaching to Multiple Intelligences offers a diverse range of classroom activities that address the individual needs of different types of learners. Professional development essays and a student

questionnaire help teachers identify different types of learners.

Wide Variety of Activities Teacher-to-Teacher Copymasters

Teacher-to-Teacher Copymasters offer a

student interest during a block schedule. Entertaining practice makes learning structure

and vocabulary more fun. Classroom-proven

teaching tips are all integrated with the text.

in the

Scheduling Lesson Plans at the beginning of each Kapitel

in the

Kapitel of Auf Deutsch! Suggestions include Change-of-Pace activities that maintain

and

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in ClassZone

ClassZone engages students with a variety of online Auf Deutsch!

Time-Saving Lesson Plans Teacher’s Edition

The comprehensive Teacher’s Edition, resource materials, and classroom management suggestions provide the support teachers need to organize and streamline classroom instruction. Block

offer options for pacing and variety.

Change-of-Pace Activities Teacher’s Edition

Block Schedule Teaching Suggestions include a variety of strategies and activities correlated to each

student interest and reach multiple intelligences.

Block Scheduling Auf Deutsch!

Online Resources and Activities

activities correlated to Flipcards for vocabulary practice, self-scoring quizzes, links, and an Internet research tutorial support topics learned in the classroom. The “Teacher Center” includes professional articles and classroom ideas for teachers.

in the

Sample Block Scheduling Lesson Plans at the beginning of each Lección

in the

The includes change-

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communication.

in ClassZone

ClassZone and Both textbooks’

online.

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Time-Saving Lesson Plans Teacher’s Guide

offer options for pacing and help teachers streamline and vary instruction in the block scheduling environment.

Information Gap Activities Cuaderno de actividades comunicativas

Communicative Pair Activities Wookbook of-pace activities that allow students to express themselves

in real-life situations. These communicative activities are coordinated with the text’s and feature

information gap activities that provide a purpose for Nuestro mundo offers students leveled

readings, followed by comprehension questions.

Online Resources and Activities

offers students a variety of online activities and research options, correlated to Tu mundo Nuestro mundo.

sites feature research links, flipcards with audio prompts, self-scoring quizzes, and a writing center where students can post their writing

Nuestro mundo offers students leveled readings, followed by comprehension and critical thinking questions.

Block Scheduling and Tu mundo Nuestro mundo