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Topic:
Using the Student's Friend :
Scheduling and time usage (T9)

9/11/01 Keith, teacher, North Carolina
I've been having this weird feeling. My colleagues are already through the first three chapters of the text. I just started unit 2 of the Students Friend . I feel that I'm falling behind, even though the Students Friend's first two units are pretty much the same as the first three textbook chapters...I don't want to fall behind.

9/11/01 studentsfriend.com reply
Let me see if I can help.
Are you on the block schedule with 90 minute classes for only one semester, or are you on the full-year plan with 50 minute classes for two semesters? Are you trying to cover Parts 1 and 2? Or, are you trying to cover only Part 1? Answers to these questions will help me to understand your situation.

I am on the block system with 90-minute classes for one semester; this is equivalent to a full year course with traditional 45-50 minute classes. I will cover only Part 1 during this semester with my ninth grade students. I am just finishing Unit 1, with the Unit 1 test scheduled for tomorrow. I am on schedule to complete Part 1 of the Student's Friend by the end of the semester on January 11th. I will do Part 2 next year with my 10th grade students.

During the early units I will use only key points to cover the material. I will not go to study questions of notes/quizzes until later in the semester when I am confident that students understand how to find the essential information. (See: Using the Student's Friend.) Probably on pages 9 and 10, I will begin using notes/quiz. Then on pages 11 and 12 I will begin using study questions. During the remainder of the semester I will alternate between the three approaches, using one approach for two pages, then switching to another approach for the next two pages, and so on.

This approach leaves us time to engage in supplemental activities. My students have started their research paper. We have spent a good portion of four class meetings in the media center doing research. We won't be using any more class time for research. Students will complete the rest of the research paper activities on their own time outside of class. Our next in-class activity will probably be the Illustrated Timeline Project described in the Teacher's Aids section of the website.

Throughout the semester we will cover the essential body of knowledge using the Student's Friend, and we will simultaneously be engaged in other reinforcement activities such as the research paper or the Illustrated Timeline Project. I also use video materials to reinforce the body of content knowledge.