Story posted Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Dist. 64 Changes Two Curriculum Schedules
By DWIGHT ESAU Journal & Topics Reporter
For nearly two years now, educators in Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 have been studying possible changes in core subject, foreign language, and health class schedules for 6th graders.
Last week, the board of education approved two significant schedule changes that will be effective with the 2010-11 school year at Emerson and Lincoln middle schools.
* One change moves the current time allocation for math, science, social studies, and language arts classes from 45 minutes daily plus two 30-minute daily classes for reading, to four daily 60-minute core classes, eliminating the separate two 30-minute reading classes, and incorporating instruction of reading/writing/learning strategies into all four core curriculum areas.
"Research indicates that middle and high school students require more direct instruction in how to read and write in each of the content (core) areas," said Diane Betts, assistant superintendent for student learning. "We believe we can address these skills more authentically if time is provided for this instruction during the core area instruction."
She also said teachers say the separate 30-minute blocks often result in lost time spent on transitioning into and out of one classroom to another.
* The other change would shift the 6th grade foreign language, health, and technology class schedules from the current alternating A/B day schedule to one in which students receive instruction every day each week - totaling 18 weeks of foreign language, 9 weeks of health, and 9 weeks of technology.
They may take foreign language for 18 weeks in the first semester, and then 9 weeks of health and 9 weeks of technology in the second semester, or vice versa.
"The majority of students who elect to take foreign language at the 7th and 8th grade level are strong students overall," Betts said, addressing a concern that students might lose language acquisition if assigned to foreign language in the first semester and then not have any instruction for six months prior to 7th grade. "These students typically grasp new skills with average amounts of practice and do not require a lot of extra practice or support," she said.
She also said the elementary and 6th grade foreign language program helps prepare students for 7th and 8th grade study very well, and the 7th grade books offer opportunities for review and practice in their early chapters.
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