BCPSS officials and Dr. Thornton, have removed the half-day, make-up schedule that high schools have used for years during mid-term/final exam marking period.
This half-day exam schedule allows:
* Students time to study and give full focus to their exams
* Teachers to properly grade exams and complete semester one grades
* Schools to prepare schedules and make any other necessary changes needed in preparation for the second semester.
Without the half-day schedule:
* Teachers will be expected to grade anywhere from 30-200+ exams after school and on weekends.
* Teachers will have zero time to prepare for second semester courses.
* Students will have attend classes with little meaning because they're expected to attend AFTER they've taken an exam.
* The school atmosphere will not have the quiet and seriousness needed to ensure high achievement on many City-wide created exams - the current schedule is only adding stress, tension, and disruption to teachers, staffers, administrators, and students.
Dr. Thornton needs to reinstate the the half-day, Friday make-up date schedule for all schools and for all mid-term/final exam days.
Updates
January 11, 2016
THE FEEDBACK FROM TEACHERS AND FAMILIES HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY ELECTRIC!! I AM CURRENTLY COMPILING ALL OF YOUR HEARTFELT STORIES TO PRESENT DIRECTLY TO THE OFFICIALS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT IGNORE THIS GROUND SWELL OF FRUSTRATION!! STAY TUNED AS WE PUSH HARDER TO BRING BACK THE HALF DAYS WE ALL DESERVE!!
January 11, 2016
THE MOMENTUM IS ABSOLUTELY EXPLODING RIGHT NOW!! IT IS CLEAR THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS FED UP WITH THIS NEW SCHEDULE AND DEMANDS REAL CHANGE!!
Reached 100 supporters
January 11, 2016
42 Comments
I really need the time to study for the exams and to work on my extra created work to keep my grades above average. I want a 4.0 GPA
I agree with everything stated and then some. Any school wide testing effort for schools with 1500+ students is challenging to make plans for, much less deliver, grade, and report on a nearly impossible timeline. There is a concern for safety as well with a mix of high test burnout (due to 4 consecutive district and state mandated tests: PARC PBA, iReady, PARCC EOY, and HSA) and aggravation due to being in a class that is technically over.
This is especially important for special education students who may need to use a make up slot to take advantage of the extended time allowed them in their IEP.
I have to create a brand new classroom for ESL students. I cant put my classroom together until the other class takes their finals and moves out. I want to create a safe and welcoming environment for my students - esp high-need ESL students - but it doesn't happen magically. I need time to grade, put a new classroom together, get ready for the new semester, and can't do this without half days. For our students, for your teachers, please give us half days.
After teaching in the district for over a decade, I can not believe they would take this away. One can not properly grade or prepare for the next semester without having time to do so. Personally I get ALL new students for semester 2 and I have a family with little ones in it. I can not simply work all weekend when I have other responsibilities because the district has decided to take away valuable grading and prep time.
Time for student study and teacher grading provides more educational value than the brief time for extra instruction.
Don't abandon REASON.
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BCPSS officials and Dr. Thornton, have removed the half-day, make-up schedule that high schools have used for years during mid-term/final exam marking period.
This half-day exam schedule allows:
* Students time to study and give full focus to their exams
* Teachers to properly grade exams and complete semester one grades
* Schools to prepare schedules and make any other necessary changes needed in preparation for the second semester.
Without the half-day schedule:
* Teachers will be expected to grade anywhere from 30-200+ exams after school and on weekends.
* Teachers will have zero time to prepare for second semester courses.
* Students will have attend classes with little meaning because they're expected to attend AFTER they've taken an exam.
* The school atmosphere will not have the quiet and seriousness needed to ensure high achievement on many City-wide created exams - the current schedule is only adding stress, tension, and disruption to teachers, staffers, administrators, and students.
Dr. Thornton needs to reinstate the the half-day, Friday make-up date schedule for all schools and for all mid-term/final exam days.
Updates
January 11, 2016
THE FEEDBACK FROM TEACHERS AND FAMILIES HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY ELECTRIC!! I AM CURRENTLY COMPILING ALL OF YOUR HEARTFELT STORIES TO PRESENT DIRECTLY TO THE OFFICIALS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT IGNORE THIS GROUND SWELL OF FRUSTRATION!! STAY TUNED AS WE PUSH HARDER TO BRING BACK THE HALF DAYS WE ALL DESERVE!!
January 11, 2016
THE MOMENTUM IS ABSOLUTELY EXPLODING RIGHT NOW!! IT IS CLEAR THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS FED UP WITH THIS NEW SCHEDULE AND DEMANDS REAL CHANGE!!
Reached 100 supporters
January 11, 2016
42 Comments
Please take into consideration the whole child and the whole teacher. Much can be gained from rest. We know from research and best practices that the mind is able to work at maximum capacity only after certain needs are met. If we stretch both adults and students to their limit, it is not only harmful to learning outcomes, but it is emotionally straining. Think larger than just a few hours. Allow our students and teachers to rest. The outcomes will be greater.
I really need the time to study for the exams and to work on my extra created work to keep my grades above average. I want a 4.0 GPA
I agree with everything stated and then some. Any school wide testing effort for schools with 1500+ students is challenging to make plans for, much less deliver, grade, and report on a nearly impossible timeline. There is a concern for safety as well with a mix of high test burnout (due to 4 consecutive district and state mandated tests: PARC PBA, iReady, PARCC EOY, and HSA) and aggravation due to being in a class that is technically over.
This is especially important for special education students who may need to use a make up slot to take advantage of the extended time allowed them in their IEP.
I have to create a brand new classroom for ESL students. I cant put my classroom together until the other class takes their finals and moves out. I want to create a safe and welcoming environment for my students - esp high-need ESL students - but it doesn't happen magically. I need time to grade, put a new classroom together, get ready for the new semester, and can't do this without half days. For our students, for your teachers, please give us half days.
After teaching in the district for over a decade, I can not believe they would take this away. One can not properly grade or prepare for the next semester without having time to do so. Personally I get ALL new students for semester 2 and I have a family with little ones in it. I can not simply work all weekend when I have other responsibilities because the district has decided to take away valuable grading and prep time.
Time for student study and teacher grading provides more educational value than the brief time for extra instruction.
Don't abandon REASON.
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Please take into consideration the whole child and the whole teacher. Much can be gained from rest. We know from research and best practices that the mind is able to work at maximum capacity only after certain needs are met. If we stretch both adults and students to their limit, it is not only harmful to learning outcomes, but it is emotionally straining. Think larger than just a few hours. Allow our students and teachers to rest. The outcomes will be greater.