The approaching EOCs not only signal upcoming testing, but also a time when schedules will be temporarily changing. Due to EOC testing, the next three weeks of April will consist of block scheduling. Instead of sitting through seven 50-minute classes all week, students will attend four block periods Monday through Friday. Blocks one, two, and four will consist of 90-minute class periods with block three including a 35-minute lunch in addition to another 35-minute class. During senior graduation practice on May 3, the final Friday of block scheduling, the rest of the student body will be in homeroom.

During the 90-minute class periods, math teacher Ms. Tiffany MacMillan plans to first teach a concept, give students some time to get started on the assignment, teach another concept and then allow them to use the rest of the class time to work.

“Block scheduling can be great for classes that utilize laboratories (not math); however, it is a nice change of pace for the last quarter,” Ms. MacMillan said.

Even though students receive additional time to get their work done in class, Ms. MacMillan has noted that in the past, some students tend to become less motivated during block scheduling. For many students, the extended classes are a good time to get questions answered and assignments completed. For others, however, the extra time may not result in any productivity at all.

Senior Kaylee Lunsford, who is dually enrolled at Lindenwood, originally had mixed feelings about block scheduling. During her first couple years of high school, she viewed the extended periods as a nuisance because she did not have the patience to sit through multiple 90-minute classes all week. Now that she has experienced college classes, however, she has become better adjusted to longer classes and does not mind block scheduling at all.

“I like having enough time to get my work done in class,” said Lunsford. “I really enjoy having little to no homework every night.”

With 40 more minutes in each class than usual during EOC testing, students are able to spend a portion of each block getting started or even finished with the necessary assignments. By significantly reducing the amount of work they must complete outside of class, they are also able to alleviate some of the stress associated with school.

The schedule for the next three weeks can be found below: