Phoenix Christian uses the block schedule in grades 6-12. Block scheduling can take a variety of forms, but we use a modified block schedule which divides a student’s class schedule into two blocks which will be taught on alternating days. The alternating day arrangement will continue throughout the year. Since the class periods will be 85 minutes long, the students will still be taught the same amount of content as in a traditional schedule.

We realize that many people have questions about the feasibility of implementing such a schedule and are wondering exactly how their own children will be impacted. For that reason, we offer the following information and trust it will be helpful to you as you fill out your re-enrollment forms for next year. Obviously, we can’t answer specific questions that would only be relevant to a particular student, so we ask that you contact the counseling office as soon as possible and talk it over with Mrs. Walker at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   and Mrs. Blake at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The block schedule has a number of advantages:

• Block schedule reduces the number of classes students must attend and prepare for each day.
• Block schedule reduces the number of students that teachers must prepare for and interact with in a given day.
• Block schedule reduces the number of courses for which teachers must prepare each day.
• Block schedule reduces the fragmentation inherent in traditional scheduling. In other words, teachers can more easily continue a line of instruction without having to start over again the next day. This is especially important in classes requiring extensive practice and/or laboratory work.
• Block schedule provides teachers with larger segments of teaching time which will allow and encourage the use of more varied teaching strategies and greater student involvement.
• Block schedule reduces the number of class changes, thereby increasing efficiency. Fewer times between classes can also mean fewer behavior issues while students are out from under the teachers’ direct supervision.
• In English and literature, the block schedule supports periods of time that can be given over to classroom reading. 
• The block schedule will better support the various components of the writing process due to reduced fragmentation.
• The block schedule allows time for more discussion and in-depth analysis.
• Block schedule will enable our students to increase their math instructional time by 89% since math will meet every day.
• The modified block schedule will allow all subjects to be taught over the whole year. This speaks to the concerns that students could go an entire semester with out instruction in a particular discipline. It also means Advanced Placement students will have instruction every other day, right up their AP exams in May.
• The block schedule enables the school to use our teaching staff more efficiently, thereby significantly reducing expenses.
  

Following are some questions that have been asked by various people in the process of developing the block schedule:

Is it realistic to expect students to remain interested and engaged for 85 minutes?

Yes, absolutely. Your child’s teachers are enthusiastically committed to exploring all the possibilities of an extended class period. Longer periods will enable teachers to use multiple teaching strategies. It should be noted that the longer class periods do not mean just extra study time attached to the end of a normal class period, but it does mean additional instruction. Teachers will receive training to make optimum use of this opportunity. There will be a period of adjustment for both teachers and students, but we anticipate that period to be short.

Won’t the alternating day format be confusing to my student?

At first it might, but we know our students are resilient and before a week has elapsed we are confident they will settle into a routine just as they do with a traditional schedule. A calendar will be provided to all families and the alternating day schedule will be clearly posted on the web site and on campus.

Does block schedule mean that Phoenix Christian is eliminating electives?

Definitely not. Over the course of a student’s four years in high school, almost every course we have traditionally offered will be made available.

Will my student be able to take all the required courses that he or she needs to graduate, and will my student be able to take all the Advanced Placement and honors courses that they would like to take and have room for other electives as well?

Yes. Block schedule will not affect any student’s graduation status, and all AP courses and other electives will be available as well. Honors students will have the opportunity to take electives throughout their four years similar to our current schedule.

How will block schedule affect SAT scores?

We predict it will enhance SAT math scores for the reasons stated above.  It could benefit all scores since teachers will have more options to explore multiple teaching methods to address a wider array of learning styles.

What do teachers plan to do differently with the longer class periods?

Longer class periods will allow for cooperative learning activities. Teachers will more easily make use of electronic and web-based materials, and have more in-depth discussion of audio/video resources. Students will be able to take quizzes or tests immediately after instruction rather than the next day. Each teacher will be spending much time researching and planning in the coming months in order to redesign their curriculum around the advantages of longer class periods. We will be researching and planning for training for our teachers on using the block schedule as well.

Why have math every day?

One of the benefits of the high school block schedule is that math can be taught every day, as it is now. With the longer class periods it was not a hard decision to take advantage of that possibility. The additional instruction time over the course of the year can’t help but raise the level of mastery of our math students.

What about my junior high student? Will they be on a block schedule?

Yes, all 6th-8th students will be on the block schedule. We fully understand that with the younger students the block schedule will pose challenges at first, but again, we have some of the best teachers anywhere. We are very confident that our teachers will support and guide the students through the initial adjustment period. Phoenix Christian will not be unique in using the rotating block schedule. It has been used successfully in other middle schools.

What about the arts? Will my student still be able to take music and art?

Yes, instrumental and vocal music and art will continue to be offered all year long, every other day.

Are there any other changes I should know about?

Some courses will be taught every year, and some every other year. We will be modifying the course offerings by including freshman Career Education into Introduction to Computer, Freshman and Sophomore Bible*, Junior and Senior Bible, Junior and Senior English, U.S. History and Government, AP Language and AP Literature*, and AP U.S. History and AP Government* every other year.  Other modifications will be implemented as well to streamline our course offerings and increase overall efficiency.

*These courses do not have pre-requisites so alternating every other year will not negatively impact student success.  For example, a student taking Government as a junior (historically a senior level course) will take U.S. History as a senior (historically a junior level course).  This student will not have a deficiency by taking the social studies classes in this order.

The Teacher’s Aid/Office Aid option will be limited and will no longer receive course credit, but may earn community service hours.

There will no longer be Honors English for freshmen and sophomores; instead the bar will be raised for all freshman and sophomore English courses.

We will have one lunch period for all high school students, but it will be 15 minutes longer. Breaks between classes will be ten minutes instead of five.