Here is a sample elementary teacher’s schedule for the week. They are on a six day rotation:
Monday:
| 8:30-8:50 Morning Meeting |
| 8:50-9:30 Reader’s Workshop |
| 9:30-10:25 Writer’s Workshop |
| 10:25-10:45 MORNING RECESS (teacher’s aide does duty) |
| 10:45-11:40 Math |
| 11:35-12:20 PE (currently swimming) (2 PEs, 2 musics, 2 arts rotate through the six day rotation) |
| 12:20-1:00 LUNCH/RECESS (rotate duty with other teachers-one duty out of 6 days) |
| 1:05-1:50 Science |
| 1:55-2:40 French (2 grade levels of students are spread among 4 teachers by ability level-beginner through native French speaker) Simon’s class has 5, Maggie’s class has 7 students |
| 2:45-3:30 Social Studies (trade with partner teacher) 4 times during a 6 day rotation. Other days students have Media Studies (computer) and Library. |
Dismissal at 3:30
The teachers have two 45 minute prep periods a day-one during French and the other during the daily special. In addition, they get two additional preps during Media Class (computers) and Library. During a six day rotation, the teachers get 14 forty-five minute preps, in addition to lunch. At my former school teachers get 7 forty-five minute preps during the same type of six day rotation. Please message me if I am wrong.
In addition, there is also a gentleman here who makes the copies for you, as well as one teacher’s aide per classroom from PreK through 1st. There is one aide per two teachers 2nd grade through 5th grade. In addition, for the PreK-12th grade, there are two assistants in the library, 3 technology specialists (one per division-ES, MS, HS), 4 PE teachers, and some other aides as well.
There is time for a weekly vertical team meeting to talk about curriculum and do some professional learning with the principal, in addition to their weekly team meeting. The Kgn-2nd grade teachers meet weekly. The 3rd grade-5th grade teachers meet on a different day. The PreK teachers also have a team meeting
When talking with new(er) teacher, I asked them how their days compare to their former school. They replied that it was very nice to have the time they needed to do the planning and assessing that needs to be done, as well as having all the materials they need to run his classroom.
The time to set up beginning of the school year routines
The time to carefully plan lessons and reflect on how they went.
The materials to run your classroom according to what the research has shown are best practices.
The assessments done by the classroom teacher to help them form their instructional plans. Not an annual assessment where you get the results back the following year.
I wish every elementary teacher would get to experience this every day. The learning the students do as a result is really impressive.
All teachers and students benefit from this type of learning environment.