We have district mandates for how much time our kids spend reading, writing, studying mathematics, doing word work and social studies or science. I have NEVER been able to figure out how to fit in all that they ask us to do in a given day. I always presumed that it was possible, since it was being asked of us, and that I was simply too green or naive to figure it out. So here it was, the perfect schedule. When I looked at it I had some immediate concerns. There was only an hour for reading, and I knew I could not fit all of my guided reading groups in to an hour. There was no time allotted for transitions. I insisted that the social studies/ science block would really be a half hour, where they had put down 45 minutes, once you allowed time for preparing to leave school and transitioning from the homeroom teacher. Then there are the usual, unavoidable interruptions that just happen in an elementary school. Fire drills, assemblies, presentations, announcements, PD days, half days, holidays, snow days, etc. Most of these are small, even just a matter of minutes, but they add up. A colleague had calculated that we would have 29 days for each social studies or science unit. I pointed out that these subjects are usually the first to go in triage when the interruptions occur, so we should count on more like 25. As usual, my concerns were dismissed. Really, this schedule would work. Everything could fit. It had to.
Well, we are about to start our fourth week of school and it's clear that it's not going to fit. I cannot figure out how to meet with all of my neediest readers every day AND confer with indepenent readers AND have a mini-lesson. I cannot figure out how to work on decoding/encoding AND teach science AND allow time for classroom community building every day. I can't even figure out how to get through an entire math lesson (the infamous Everyday Math curriculum) as it is written in the manual. Granted, I feel closer this year than I ever have to being able to fit it all in, but it still just ain't fitting. To be specific:
Reading = 90 minutes
Math = 80 minutes
Writing = 60 minutes
Word Work = 20 minutes
Social Studies = 45 minutes
Morning Meeting = 20 minutes
Lunch/ Recess = 45 minutes
Special = 45 minutes
Transitions = 20 minutes
Grand Total = 435 minutes, or 7.25 hours
We are in school for 6.75 hours. Where am I supposed to get the extra half hour? It has to come from somewhere. Though I couldn't get anyone in that room to admit it.
The only solution is to integrate. Combine word work and reading. Combine social studies and writing. Touch on multiple subjects in each academic block of the day. The ability to do this effectifvely comes with experience, I believe.
Before the start of school I was told that our school day ended at 2:35. On day one I started having my kids pack up at 2:30, figuring 5 minutes should be enough on the first day. At 2:30 the reading specialist exploded into my room yelling, "Car pick ups? I need your car pick ups!" Then the secretary starting dismissing classrooms over the loud speaker. Needless to say it was a chaotic end to our first day. That afternoon I had several heated discussions with a range of administrators and teachers about the end of the school day and dismissal, and could not get anyone to admit that the school day does not end at 2:35 if you start dismissing at 2:30. I wouldn't make a big deal about it, but I need those five minutes.
With a car the size of ours, you need every inch of space (aka minute) you can get. Otherwise the clowns, despite all smoke, mirrors and appearances, just aren't going to fit.
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