A new middle school schedule introduced this fall finds staff still adjusting to the changes, but students appear to like it and are adjusting well.

What’s new about it? In each trimester, students now have two time slots for specials classes instead of just one. Also new is a change from a five-day to a six-day schedule that shifts forward each academic subject one time slot per day.

“In the new schedule, the last period is always a long block period, but which class falls in that period changes in each of the six days,” explained middle school Principal Mandy Ryan. “In each six day period, students now have 12 time slots for specials classes.”

Middle school music teacher Tom Conti served on the committee that developed the new schedule over last year and he’s pleased with the results he’s seen so far.

“The new schedule offers the possibility of more variety in specials offerings. It’s more like a high school’s [schedule] because of its flexibility,” said Conti.

Seventh grade student Gabe Kaar said of the change, “The new schedule is more balanced. It’s cool because it’s something different and something to look forward to, with new classes in the specials. Dropping one class every day is nice.”

One class drops out each day in the new six-day schedule as subjects rotate forward from time slot (i.e., period) to time slot. One day out of each six days, each subject rotates out.

Kaar appeared excited about the new specials classes he’s taking: video production, an independent studies period where he takes online classes, and personal fitness.

A number of the new classes in the new specials slots introduce STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) topics to students while others help students blow off steam (like personal fitness and Project Adventure). This fall trimester’s new specials options include CAD (computer-aided design), collaborative problem solving, digital media, manufacturing, online learning video production, Project Adventure (a ropes course class), and personal fitness.

Eighth-grader Zach Northrup said he likes the new schedule and the opportunities it has given him to explore new subjects. Asked what he likes about his new specials, his face lit up and he was clearly excited with what he’s learning.

“I like manufacturing because we’re working with a carving machine. And I like CAD and building 3D pictures. It’s really cool—and you can extrude things,” said Northrup. “I like the new schedule and it benefits the students. Everything switches each day.”

One new specials class he would love to see added? “I really want to learn how to cook,” Northrup said.

This fall is the first year of a two-year phase-in of the new schedule and specials offerings. In the second year, Ryan said that there will be time periods of equal length for academic subjects and some classes will be co-taught; in one example, literacy would be applied to the sciences.

A key piece that facilitated the new schedule was the decision to try to tap high school and other district staff to teach the new middle school specials. This approach helps introduce middle school students to study topics and teachers they will have at the high school, but it also means a difficult scheduling challenge as administrators try to match the middle school specials slots with the potential specials’ teachers’ open time slots.

In addition to the second specials period, the new schedule also introduces a new, longer homeroom period for advisory activities. In the new model, each homeroom teacher would have no more than 12 students. The goal would be to help students and staff to build a strong relationship so that the teacher member can help monitor and advise students as they reflect on their learning.

Within the new homeroom period, students will be introduced to advisory topics like building organization and study skills, setting goals, and monitoring their goals.

“The key to creating an environment that is safe and supportive of kids is [to have] an adult with whom students have a strong relationship, who is monitoring and helping them to reflect on their learning,” said Ryan.

The new schedule was developed during a year-long research and collaboration effort between middle school staff and administrators.

The committee’s goal was to develop a new schedule that would address key priorities: It needed to include more time slots overall; it needed more extended-time slots for each academic subject to use; it needed to offer the flexibility to add more specials classes for all students; it needed to include a longer homeroom period in which to conduct student-teacher advisory activities; and it needed to have a common period during which each grade level’s staff could conduct planning activities.

Ryan said that so far, parents are calling with positive comments about the new schedule.

“It’s new. We’re designing it to meet the needs of all of our students. And it will evolve with feedback received from all stakeholders,” said Ryan.