Hello all!
This year, for the first time, I am teaching on a block schedule with two hour and a half classes. I don't know about you, but even in college, in labs, we would at least have several ten minute breaks. I am a traditional sit in the seat and take notes learner, but even I get quite squirmy in a faculty meeting that pushes 45 minutes! I think expecting our stimulus trained, hands on students to actively learn for 90 minutes at a time is ridiculous. Even my most motivated students burn out after about an hour. Do you think it's fair to have students in one class for this length of time or does it suit the way you teach? I feel like I need to start tap dancing or break out the hand puppets after about an hour!
Kristen, I teach at the middle school and we have 75 minute classes which are about just perfect. By the time they get settled and we do warm up, that's enough time for new instruction and practice. Sometimes I find that I even run out of time when we do not have enough time for individual practice and/or review. Not sure about 90 minutes, but I can understand your concerns; loved your comments about tap dancing and puppet shows...you should try it one day and see how that goes over!!
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