Block scheduling has tremendous benefits, should be kept through in-person learning

CHANGING ROUTINES: Due to online learning, Costa has implemented a new block schedule. There are many benefits to this new schedule that will promote a better learning environment for all students and teachers on campus. It should be implemented when students return to in-person learning on campus instead of deferring to the traditional bell schedule. Photo Courtesy of miracostahigh.org

By Ella Mahan

Opinion Editor

COVID-19 has impacted every school across the nation, forcing schools to shut down and make the switch to online learning.

With this change came a change to the Costa class schedule. Now, instead of students meeting with each teacher every day, students meet with their 1st, 3rd and 5th period teachers on Monday and Thursday and their 2nd, 4th and 6th period teachers on Tuesday and Friday.

Wednesdays are reserved for Social Emotional Learning (SEL), where students meet with designated teachers to learn about mental health, upcoming school news and more. According to Edutopia, SEL helps students develop self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationships and responsible decision making.

The benefits of block schedule for students and teachers are tremendous, according to Brown University. Students are able to reflect more on what they are learning after each day since they are only going to three classes per day, according to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).

In addition, block scheduling promotes unified learning. With block scheduling, group lessons can occur more frequently, which increases the amount of collaborative learning taking place, ultimately boosting student learning, according to the University of the People.

Teachers will also become more personally connected with students through block scheduling, especially during in-person learning, because they will see their students for longer periods of time, according to University of the People. This is important because if teachers understand a student’s learning abilities and needs, they will be able to aid students on their learning path, according to NBPTS. Block scheduling benefits both the student and the teacher and should replace the traditional bell schedule.

However, there will be a loss of continuity if block scheduling continues throughout in-person learning, according to University of the People. Revisiting the material the students had learned two days earlier may be difficult for students, but the benefits block scheduling has on student learning and mental health outweigh the cons of continuing block schedule throughout in-person learning.

The new block schedule allows students to focus on each of their separate classes more, while also giving them more time to complete all of their homework. If and when students return to campus, block scheduling should be kept in place of the traditional bell schedule.