How long are your classes? Do you see your students 2,3, 4 maybe 5 times a week? We all have different schedules in our schools and learn to adapt to the time that we have. Block schedules, extended class periods that meet fewer times in a given week, are becoming more common in many schools and districts. In this episode, we are talking about teaching in this format. Marilyn Pichardo, a Spanish teacher in New Jersey, joins me to talk about teaching in a block schedule for over 2 decades. Lots to learn about planning and class pacing whether you have 20, 40, 60 or even 85 minute classes.
Topics in this Episode:
- opportunities that block schedules open up for world language teachers that might be harder to achieve in a traditional schedule
- sustaining student focus in language classes with longer blocks.
- strategies or lesson structures that keep students engaged and actively using the target language for the full period
- balancing pace, repetition, and variety so that students continue to build proficiency in a block schedule without feeling overwhelmed or burnt out
Connect with Marilyn Pichardo:
- Instagram:@perfectspanishplansbyMarilyn
- TikTok: @perfectspanishplansbyMarilyn
Chat Mat Membership
A Few Ways We Can Work Together:
- Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual Teachers
- On-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language Departments
- Self-Paced Program for For Language Departments
Connect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:
- Website: wlclassrom.com
- Instagram: @wlclassroom
- Facebook Group: World Language Classroom
- Facebook: /wlclassroom
- LinkedIn: Joshua Cabral
- Bluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.socia
- X (Twitter): @wlclassroom
- Threads: @wlclassroom
Follow wherever you listen to podcasts.
