Montclair Kimberley Academy

In September 2007, the Upper School moved to an eight-day rotation with four 75-minute class periods daily, with additional time built into the schedule for class meetings, club meetings, and a common work period.

Following four years of extensive research into the impact of schedules on learning and student/faculty stress, this schedule results in fewer classroom and subject matter transitions, fewer lost teaching minutes to athletic dismissals, increased time for in-depth discussion, lab work and collaborative projects and the opportunity for some students to take on additional classes in areas of particular interest such as the fine and performing arts or foreign languages.

This schedule, which allows for more creative teaching and engaged students and a less frenetic pace of daily life, has been met with enthusiastic support from faculty, parents and students alike.

Can you explain the purpose of the Common Work Period?
The Common Work Period is designed to provide students with the opportunity to do academic work independently, with their classmates, or with their teachers. While teachers of some AP courses may meet with their class during the Common Work Period, most teachers will use that time to meet with individual students who need help. Students will be able to choose among a variety of activities during the Common Work Period for most courses, including (but not limited to): conducting research in the library, collaborating with other students on class projects, reviewing with teachers for upcoming assessments, and getting extra help.

Will the new schedule change homework loads and expectations?
Teachers will continue to use homework assignments for the same three purposes for which they are currently assigned: to add to existing knowledge, to practice skills and to use or apply information. The length of homework assignments will change, but will not be doubled. Most importantly, students will be encouraged to start their homework the night it is assigned so they can use the following school day to get help with anything that might be unclear to them.

How will a student be able to make up a missed day?
With the new schedule, students will have more time available during the academic day to see their teachers for any work missed because of absence. The new schedule also provides teachers with set office hours designated specifically for working with students. The Common Work Periods, interspersed throughout the day, will also enable students to schedule help sessions at specific times when they and their teachers are available.

How will faculty be prepared to make best use of the extended class periods?
MKA has initiated a program of faculty development and training designed to help Upper School teachers maximize the full potential of longer teaching periods. Plans for visiting consultants, summer coursework and training, departmental pedagogical and methodological planning and visits to schools currently teaching in longer periods are all in place.

What will students do during unstructured time periods?
The unstructured time that students are allotted will depend on their schedule and how they choose to fill it. In most cases, 9th & 10th graders will be assigned to study halls and will have between two and four additional unstructured blocks per 8-day cycle. They may spend that time doing homework, research or special projects be it in the library, dining hall, or one of the many computer labs available for their use. Upperclassmen may have more unstructured time than they have been used to, depending on their individual schedules. For all students, teachers are available for extra help during these periods, and it is our hope that good use of unstructured periods will help realize our mission of developing “independent and autonomous learners.”

In what ways will the new schedule impact the end of the school day?
The new schedule provides benefits for both student athletes and faculty members who coach. Those athletes whose after-school time is taken with practice, games, and travel will now have the added flexibility to get some work done during the day. With scheduled academic instruction now ending at 2:25 p.m., there will be less lost academic time for athletes having to be dismissed early from class; a major concern of students, parents, and faculty in our current schedule. With Middle School teams still utilizing the Middle School athletic facilities from 3:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m., we anticipate that most Upper School practices and contests will begin no earlier than 3:45 p.m. Those teams that practice at the Upper School will have the ability to begin earlier; however, this will not overlap with supplemental help at the end of the academic day.

Are there other schools like MKA currently using the new schedule?
No school is using the exact same schedule that we will be using next year, because it was designed to meet the specific needs of MKA; however, there are many great schools that use a similar schedule with longer periods. The Oldfields School, MD, Queen of Peace High School NJ, Detroit Country Day, MI, Hargrave Military Academy, VA, Walnut Hill, MA, and Penn Charter, PA all teach in a similar schedule to ours. In addition, schools like Phillips Exeter, NH, Northfield Mount Herman, MA, and Morristown-Beard, NJ all teach in some modified form of a block schedule, and Roland Park Country School, The Gilman School, and Bryn Mawr Academy in Baltimore teach in longer blocks. It is important to note, however, that there is no perfect schedule out there, or everyone would be using it; but because this schedule was specifically designed with our students, faculty, and community in mind, we anticipate reaping maximum benefit from it.