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I just moved to Raleigh on Monday and finally got to interview with a school and have found that High Schools in Wake County are structured ENTIRELY differently than those in , which is where I am from. I don't understand the system here. I was told that they run block schedules, but they also have a different teacher the second semester than they do the first semester. Also, a whole year of material is crammed into one semester? I'm completely lost as I come from a state where High School is structured with 6 53 minute classes in a day and you have the same core classes (English, history, math, and science) all year long with the same teacher for an entire year.
I tried to find this info online and haven't had any luck. Can someone please explain this system to me in non-Raleigh native terms?
When i was in high school up in PA we went to a block schedule. Instead of 8 45 minute periods year round, we had 4 classes for half the year, 90 minutes each day (with a half hour lunch sometime during the 3rd block). I would guess that's what they meant by block schedule.
It stinks, wait until your kid has math first semester 9th grade then gets math 2nd semester 10th grade ONE FULL YEAR apart!!
It is used only for discipline and less movement.
It was used in the 1970s it did not work then. It will not work now, heck I have taught in the block heck give some pillows they are sleeping after 75 mins!!
Oh you cannot run away from the block the entire nation is going that way!
We were on a block schedule this year and they changed teachers for Science and history/social studies in the second semester. They get 1.5 hours of instruction for each course instead of 50 and can therefore do it in one semester.
This is yet another reason I've decided not to look in Wake Cty. I dont' like this schedule (as well as year round schools, overcrowding and redistricting...). Our HS in MA has block schedules 2 days a week but I like it because the rotate the periods through so that once/week, the kids get a double period (1.5 hours) so they can accomplish something. Other than that, except for some electives, all courses are year long, not semester.
I actually enjoyed being in the block scheduling. We could get more done in a day having longer classes. I was in all honors in AP courses, so maybe that has something to do with it. Just seemed like we were better able to grasp concepts of math and science if we had more time to discuss/experiment.
Kids get way more done in a day with block scheduling and they have more time to relax and concentrate on the subject being presented. IMO, the block scheduling was lower stress on the students. We love it even though I thought we'd hate it. They also have more opportunity to work with the teacher if they are having problems (like going over a frustrating math problem) and have less homework and are able to do more hands on, in class and group projects.
I'm actually fine with the block scheduling, we had that in CA. I don't understand how the semester system works with having one subject only half the year. I'm specifically wondering how this works with English. I interviewed for a position teaching English and they explained that I would be teaching English 1 first semester and English 3 second semester. I thought I understood what they were saying, but now I don't think I have a grasp on how this system works.
Can someone give me a summary of the whole different classes each semester thing? I just don't understand it. Thanks.
Also, does anyone know if middle schools are run the same way or if they have the same English teacher all year long? Do private schools run the same way as well?
Can you tell us what school it is They're not all run the same.
Knightdale High School
Do you know which high schools DO NOT run this way? I'm not really happy about spending one semester teaching my students information that they are highly likely to forget because they don't have English again until the following year. But, again, I don't know if I am understanding the system correctly. If anyone could help to explain it to me, I would greatly appreciate it.
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, which is where I am from. I don't understand the system here. I was told that they run block schedules, but they also have a different teacher the second semester than they do the first semester. Also, a whole year of material is crammed into one semester? I'm completely lost as I come from a state where High School is structured with 6 53 minute classes in a day and you have the same core classes (English, history, math, and science) all year long with the same teacher for an entire year. 
