Should Schools Have 4 Day Weeks?

 Via LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/should-schools-have-4-day-weeks-6214994

Some districts have gone to four day weeks out of financial necessity going back decades.   In reading some of the replies, some respondents cite the use of the fifth day as grading or planning days.  

As a proponent of Professional Learning Communities since assisting with the implementation of that model at Carmel High School several years ago, I see great value in making time for teachers to collaborate on the Big 4 Questions for PLCs:

• What do we want students to know and be able to do?
• How will we know our students have learned what we intended?
• How will we respond when students have not learned what we intended?
• How will we respond when students have already learned what we intended?

The thought that teacher teams could meet so frequently and for so much time is incredibly intriguing.  Teachers would have time for quality and in-depth discussions about the learning standards.  They would have time to review data to inform instruction.  They would have time to formulate common formative assessments and plan responsive interventions when students struggle to meet the learning target.  

That said, instructional time is gold.  Time is of too great value to be so easily dispensed.  

Gold Standard PBL: Essential Project Design Elements

 From PBL Works:

https://www.pblworks.org/blog/gold-standard-pbl-essential-project-design-elements?utm_content=buffer9d786&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Designing instruction for 21st century learning means designing instruction that encourages children to collaborate, communicate, think critically and creatively and to problem -solve. 

Too often, we rely on direct instruction and lecture.  Students must be active learners and not passive vessels.  They must be engaged and not simply on task.  

Project Based Learning provides students and teachers with the opportunity to learn in a manner in keeping with the 21st century.  

The Case for Instructional Coaching

 Via Edutopia

https://www.edutopia.org/article/instructional-coaching-as-professional-development

This article, by Miriam Plotinsky, suggests that coaching teachers should no longer be considered a tool for supporting struggling teachers but rather a tool to support all teachers.  

During the fall, I had the opportunity to learn about an instructional coaching model utilized by the Maine Township school district outside of Chicago.  There, veteran teachers and district administrators discussed the value of peer coaching.  Ongoing and sustained professional learning is essential to our mission.