Each student takes between six and eight classes at one time, but goes to only three or four classes per day. The 4/4 schedule, in which students take four courses every day for an extended class period, but they do not alternate courses.
This schedule also provides flexibility for students to take more classes (especially electives), receive additional support, and have off-campus options for internships, community college courses, etc. Variations: Block and Standard Hybrid: Block periods and Standard (aka “skinny”) periods on the same days. For example, single semester Block period classes occur daily in the …
Under our 4x4 schedule, Advanced Placement classes are two-credit, yearlong courses. The extra time and intensive study has yielded positive results. In our first year with the schedule, students set a school record by earning 3 s or higher on 85 percent of their AP exams.
Mar 28, 2006 · I was wondering what your kid's experiences have been with AP classes that were taken on a semester basis? Let me explain a little more..My S's high sch. has always operated on an A day/B day schedule, taking the same 8 classes all year. It has been announced that next school year it will change to a 4x4 schedule, 4 classes everyday for one semester then 4 …
Nov 25, 2003 · In the 4X4 schedule, it is especially difficult to cover the necessary material for Advanced Placement courses in the time allotted. To compensate, many schools have to extend United States history so that it is a two-part course and lasts the entire year in order for the teacher to cover all of the required material.
AP Course | AP Spanish (depending on course) |
---|---|
AP Exam Minimum Score | 3-5 |
Minimum Number of Credits Earned | 8 |
Maximum Credits Available per Course | 16 |
The 4x4 has many advantages over the traditional high school schedule. For teachers, the 4x4 provides a more manageable schedule. Teachers in schools using 180-day courses with either a traditional or block schedule teach five or six classes of 25–30 students at a time.
In developing our school program, Orange County High wanted to upgrade the quality and level of education available to our students. Our goal was to have every student accepted into a postsecondary program or employed in an entry-level position.
As Orange County High educators were looking for ways to help students take advantage of these new opportunities for postsecondary study, we made an interesting discovery: The cost of postsecondary study, in many instances, is no more than the cost of staffing a high school class.
What about students who don't plan on continuing to higher education? The 4x4 schedule is also a useful tool for addressing their needs. Orange County High School teamed up with local employers to publish career entry profiles (like college admission criteria).
Students are completing more courses. Like other 4x4 schools, Orange County eliminated study halls, because it would be unwise for 25 percent of a student's day (one out of four 90-minute periods) to be devoted to study hall.
Educators at Orange County High School and other schools using the 4x4 believe that the simplicity and flexibility of this schedule promote greater learning while students are in school and better chances for them as they move into higher education and employment.
To compensate, many schools have to extend United States history so that it is a two-part course and lasts the entire year in order for the teacher to cover all of the required material.
Another type of block schedule that many schools use is called the 4X4 schedule, where students take four classes instead of six each quarter. Each yearlong class only meets for one semester. Each semester class only meets for a quarter. There are pros and cons to block schedules compared to traditional school scheduling.
Other strategies for block schedule teaching include: 1 Engaging Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences and tapping into varying the learning modalities, such as kinesthetic, visual, or auditory. This can help a teacher keep up the interest and attention of students. 2 Having two or three mini-lessons on hand to fill any extra time in case the lesson plan doesn't take the full block schedule period. 3 Taking full advantage of the time allotted to institute projects that can be difficult to complete in shorter class periods. 4 Doing a review of material from previous lessons. This is especially important in block schedule formats where students don't see the teacher every day.
Each yearlong class only meets for one semester. Each semester class only meets for a quarter. There are pros and cons to block schedules compared to traditional school scheduling.
In block scheduling, a teacher sees fewer students during the day, thereby giving him or her the ability to spend more time with each one. Because of the increased span of teaching time, longer cooperative learning activities can be completed in one class period. There is more time for labs in science classes. Students also have less information to deal with during each school day, but over the course of a semester or quarter, they can delve more deeply into the curriculum of four classes, instead of six.
If a student misses a day under the block schedule, he is actually missing the equivalent of nearly two days compared to the traditional 50-minute-class schedule. No matter how well planned, on many days, the teacher can end up with 10 to 15 minutes of extra time, where students often begin their homework.
Instead, teachers should vary their instruction in a block schedule, using teaching techniques such as debates, whole group discussions, role-plays, simulations, and other cooperative learning activities. Other strategies for block schedule teaching include:
If you're homeschooled or want to take an AP test for a class your school doesn't offer, contact your local school's AP coordinator. AP tests cost $94 each. Some schools offer subsidies, and the College Board has financial aid in the form of a $32 fee reduction.
An AP class on your transcript signals stronger academic training, especially with high passing scores of 4 and 5 on the test. In particular, getting a 5 on an AP test shows that you are more advanced in a subject than 80%-90% of advanced students —which looks very impressive to colleges!
Advanced Placement is a program run by the College Board (the makers of the SAT) that allows you to take special high school courses that can earn you college credit and/or qualify you for more advanced classes when you begin college. So what are AP courses? They are designed to give you the experience of an intro-level college class ...
Plus, you can get college credit for the class if you pass the AP exam. AP classes were created in the mid-1950s as a response to the widening gap between secondary school (high school) and college.
AP classes were created in the mid-1950s as a response to the widening gap between secondary school (high school) and college. A pilot program in 1952 had 11 subjects, but AP didn't officially launch until the 1956 school year, when the College Board took over and named it the College Board Advanced Placement Program.
An AP exam is basically a test of all that you learn in an AP class. You will typically earn college credit if you pass the exam given at the end of the year in May. ( AP tests are scored between 1 and 5, with anything above 3 considered passing.)
Similarly, other schools might let you earn college credit but have limits on which AP exams they'll accept. As an example, Stanford University accepts AP credit from many science, language, and math AP courses but not any from history or English courses.
Each student takes between six and eight classes at one time, but goes to only three or four classes per day. The 4/4 schedule, in which students take four courses every day ...
Block Scheduling. A block school schedule has three or four longer class periods per day, as opposed to the traditional seven or eight period day. Two of the most common forms of block schedules are:
AP Seminar is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives.
The AP Seminar framework included in the course and exam description outlines distinct skills, called transferable skills and proficiencies, that students should practice throughout the year. Skill. Proficiencies. Analyze Sources and Evidence. Understand and Analyze Argument.
The AP Seminar curriculum is made up of five big ideas. Big Idea 1: Question and Explore. Big Idea 2: Understand and Analyze. Big Idea 3: Evaluate Multiple Perspectives.
Traditional Schedule. A traditional schedule is typically set up such that students have 50 minutes of class time per subject, per day. With about 180 days of each class, it results in 9,000 minutes of total class time.
Block schedules may be harder on students because of the pace and lack of continuity. For teachers, it means developing longer lesson plans that should be compressed in a shorter amount of days. Photo by ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash.
Block scheduling is a way of designing classroom schedules for students. It means that students will have fewer classes per day, but the subjects will be on a rotation. Block rotation is typically practiced more so in middle and high schools than in elementary school.
If schools elect an A/B block schedule, then a student’s schedule is changing on the daily. This could cause a loss in continuity for their learning as they will only revisit the same subject after a day’s delay.
When students are out sick for a day, they may miss more in a block schedule than a traditional schedule. This is because classes are longer, so the day’s lesson may actually be like missing two lessons rather than one.
When class sessions are longer, it can give the teachers the time needed to work closer with each student and address their needs.
Pros of Block Scheduling. There are numerous benefits of block scheduling. Some of the most notable are: 1. Promotes Cooperative Learning. Block scheduling means that teachers can take advantage of smaller group lessons more frequently. With smaller groups, collaborative learning can take place more easily.
The easiest AP classes to self-study are: Computer Science Principles, Psychology and Environmental Science. These are also rated as the easiest and least time-consuming AP classes overall, so you should be OK.
The hardest AP classes to self-study: are Chemistry, and Physics C – Electricity and Magnetism . These are also rated among the hardest and most time-consuming AP exams, so taking these on as self-study is not to be taken lightly – good luck! Whatever you’re studying, wishing you every success in your AP exams!
Some reviewers found Physics was relatively less time-consuming than other courses . From my experience, harder physics courses such as the AP exams tend to split classes into two halves: those that “get it” relatively quickly, and those that have to persevere and sweat a bit to figure out what’s going on.