TrimesterTrimesterSchedulingScheduling

For Rowan County Senior High SchoolFor Rowan County Senior High School

December 15, 2009December 15, 2009

Board PresentationBoard Presentation

What is a trimester schedule?What is a trimester schedule?

A trimester schedule divides the year into A trimester schedule divides the year into three 12 – week trimesters.three 12 – week trimesters.

Each day is divided into 5 periods of 70 Each day is divided into 5 periods of 70 minutes each.minutes each.

Students can earn ½ credit for each Students can earn ½ credit for each course taken during a trimester, for a course taken during a trimester, for a total of total of 7 ½ credits possible per year7 ½ credits possible per year. .

New Graduation RequirementsNew Graduation Requirements SBDM is currently considering a proposal SBDM is currently considering a proposal

for graduation requirements.for graduation requirements. Currently RCSHS requires 24 credits Currently RCSHS requires 24 credits

from the 28 credits possible.from the 28 credits possible. With Trimester opportunities of 30 With Trimester opportunities of 30

credits, the following credit change is credits, the following credit change is proposed:proposed:

Standard Diploma – 27 creditsStandard Diploma – 27 credits Honors Diploma – 29 creditsHonors Diploma – 29 credits

How are trimesters How are trimesters different from a different from a 7 – period schedule?7 – period schedule?

It is possible that students will have different It is possible that students will have different teachers for A and B sections of a course.teachers for A and B sections of a course.

Students may have a Students may have a trimester break trimester break between between parts A and B of a class.parts A and B of a class.

Students have greater opportunity to enroll in Students have greater opportunity to enroll in electives that interest them since they can electives that interest them since they can finish a course in 24 weeks (each course is 12 finish a course in 24 weeks (each course is 12 weeks in length for ½ credit).weeks in length for ½ credit).

Students have fewer classes to manage at any Students have fewer classes to manage at any one time one time (5 instead of 7).(5 instead of 7).

Why Make a Change?Why Make a Change?

Built-in RTI and credit recoveryBuilt-in RTI and credit recovery Opportunities for enrichmentOpportunities for enrichment Lowering dropout rateLowering dropout rate Increase graduation rateIncrease graduation rate HAPPIER STUDENTS!!!HAPPIER STUDENTS!!!

Trimester ConsiderationsTrimester Considerations

Most required classes that currently run for the Most required classes that currently run for the entire school year will be entire school year will be condensed into two condensed into two trimesters.trimesters.

AP courses and a few performance courses AP courses and a few performance courses will run the will run the entire yearentire year..

Students may switch teachers between Students may switch teachers between trimesters, so trimesters, so aligning content will be essential. aligning content will be essential.

Content will have to be reviewed in order to Content will have to be reviewed in order to appropriately fit into 12-weeks trimesters. appropriately fit into 12-weeks trimesters.

How could trimesters How could trimesters benefit struggling benefit struggling students?students?

Students take only 5 classes per trimester, Students take only 5 classes per trimester, reducing their homework/course load during reducing their homework/course load during any one grading period. any one grading period.

70-minute periods provide more time for 70-minute periods provide more time for hands-on activities.hands-on activities.

Students who fail a class in the first or Students who fail a class in the first or second trimesters can immediately re-take second trimesters can immediately re-take the coursethe course. .

Our InstructionOur Instruction

CLASSROOM INSTRUCTIONAL FRAMEWORKTrimester 70 minutes period

Independent Work establishing engagement with “The Sponge” (10 minutes)

Guiding Purpose fostering engagement –focus on the learning objective (10 minutes)

Interactive Instruction and Authentic Engagement deepening understanding --the HEART ---- (40 minutes)

Closure & Consolidation making meaning, clarify (10 minutes)

How could trimesters How could trimesters benefit accelerated benefit accelerated students? students?

AP courses could meet for 3 consecutive AP courses could meet for 3 consecutive trimesters, significantly increasing the time trimesters, significantly increasing the time available for instruction and earning 1.5 credits.available for instruction and earning 1.5 credits.

Taking only 5 classes gives accelerated Taking only 5 classes gives accelerated students more time to focus on each class.students more time to focus on each class.

Students get to choose 15 courses per year, Students get to choose 15 courses per year, not just 7. not just 7.

How will trimesters How will trimesters affect performance affect performance courses? courses?

Performance courses such as speech, Performance courses such as speech, band, and chorus could be scheduled for band, and chorus could be scheduled for the entire year, giving students 1.5 credits. the entire year, giving students 1.5 credits.

With the greater possibility for electives, With the greater possibility for electives, enrollment in performance courses should enrollment in performance courses should increase. increase.

What does it What does it look like?look like?

BELL SCHEDULEBELL SCHEDULE

11stst 8:05—9:208:05—9:20 22ndnd 9:30—10:409:30—10:40 33rdrd 10:45—12:2510:45—12:25 [30 minute lunch][30 minute lunch] 44thth 12:30—1:4012:30—1:40 55thth 1:50—3:051:50—3:05

A Look at the Trimester ScheduleA Look at the Trimester Schedule

STUDENTS STUDENTS WILL SIGN UP WILL SIGN UP FOR FOR 15 15 COURSES COURSES PER YEAR, PER YEAR,

NOT JUST 7.NOT JUST 7.

1st TermAug—Nov

2nd TermNov—Feb

3rd TermFeb—May

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

Course Name ChangesCourse Name Changes

~AP courses~AP courses

MUST be MUST be

Taken all 3Taken all 3

TrimestersTrimesters

Most AP Most AP courses will be courses will be schedule for 3 schedule for 3 termsterms

Course Name Course Name ChangesChanges

Non-sequentialNon-sequential

coursecourse

English II Literature½ Credit

Advanced PlacementAdvanced PlacementCourse OfferingsCourse Offerings

10th Grade10th Grade AP European History (in AP European History (in

place of World Civilization)place of World Civilization) AP Studio ArtAP Studio Art

1111thth Grade Grade AP English LanguageAP English Language AP US HistoryAP US History AP SpanishAP Spanish AP BiologyAP Biology AP Studio ArtAP Studio Art

1212thth Grade Grade AP English Lit.AP English Lit. AP CalculusAP Calculus AP SpanishAP Spanish AP Studio ArtAP Studio Art AP BiologyAP Biology AP Political ScienceAP Political Science

College Board ApprovedCollege Board Approved

College credit awarded if student College credit awarded if student scores a 3 or higher on exam.scores a 3 or higher on exam.

Science ElectivesScience Electives

GeologyGeologyGoing GREENGoing GREENAstronomy & Space Astronomy & Space

ScienceScienceDisease DetectivesDisease DetectivesChemistry in the Chemistry in the

CommunityCommunityReal World PhysicsReal World Physics

ForensicsForensics Int. Environmental Int. Environmental

ScienceScienceNewtonian PhysicsNewtonian PhysicsModern PhysicsModern Physics

Agriculture Agriculture (Vocational)(Vocational)

Winter Wildlife ResourcesWinter Wildlife ResourcesSpring Wildlife ResourcesSpring Wildlife ResourcesFall Floral DesignFall Floral DesignSpring Floral DesignSpring Floral DesignPrinciples of GreenhousePrinciples of GreenhouseGreenhouse ManagementGreenhouse ManagementSmall Animal TechnologySmall Animal TechnologySmall Animal ApplicationsSmall Animal Applications

Intro. to Veterinary Intro. to Veterinary ScienceScience

Principles of Principles of Veterinary ScienceVeterinary Science

Arts/Humanities ElectivesArts/Humanities Electives

East Ky. Music East Ky. Music TraditionTradition

3-D Sculpture3-D SculptureDrama & DanceDrama & DanceVisual Art & MusicVisual Art & MusicHistory of Rock-n-RollHistory of Rock-n-Roll

Graduation Graduation Requirement: Requirement:

1 full credit1 full credit

Social Studies ElectivesSocial Studies ElectivesKentucky StudiesKentucky StudiesLaw & JusticeLaw & JusticeAP European History A, AP European History A,

B & LABB & LABAP Comparative Politics AP Comparative Politics

A & B ONLYA & B ONLY

(SENIOR only)(SENIOR only)

Scheduling TimelineScheduling Timeline

December 11December 11thth: : Introduction of new Introduction of new electives to studentselectives to students

December 15December 15thth: Trimester : Trimester information for parents information for parents and board of educationand board of education

January 15January 15thth: Students : Students receive scheduling receive scheduling selection sheet & course selection sheet & course description guidedescription guide

January 19January 19thth: : JUNIORSJUNIORS enter enter requests in ICrequests in IC

January 20January 20thth: : SOPHOMORES SOPHOMORES enter requests in ICenter requests in IC

January 21January 21stst: : FRESHMEN FRESHMEN enter enter requests in ICrequests in IC