Classroom structure and engagement can be classified as high, medium and low functioning. In high functioning classrooms, the teacher has developed a highly organized and structured learning environment where students are engaged in a sequence of learning opportunities during the class period. At the opposite extreme of low functioning, classroom management and instruction are minimal and students may experience academic and behavioral gaps in learning experiences and academic content areas.
By scheduling class periods, minute by minute like the one below, both teachers and students become the beneficiaries of a powerful learning experience in the classroom. A structured classroom schedule will give students little room for disruption.
Class Period Schedule - 9th Grade Language Arts Class
- 8:45am Reflective Journaling - Beginning of Class - Post a Prompt on the board or overhead (3 minutes)
- 8:48am Teacher reviews agenda written on the board (2 mins)
- 8:50am Teacher introduces the learning objective for the day and connects the learning to previous instruction (5 mins)
- 8:55am Teacher begins the new instruction using technology and direct instruction to present visuals and concept mapping of the new concepts (6 mins)
- 9:01am Students begin guided practice on the learning objectives in cooperative groupings, pair-share or individually (20 mins.)
- 9:21am Students show learning outcome in presentations, assignment completions or show work to be completed to teacher (10 mins.)
- 9:31am Teacher provides reflections on completed work and redirects students if needed for final assignment completion (5 mins.).
- 9:36am Teacher does assessments if indicated and updates gradebook records with collected data (3 mins).
- 9:39am Teacher directs students to clean-up and get ready for the bell to ring for the next period. (1 mins.)
- 9:40 am Bell rings and teacher dismisses the class.
Whether a teacher is teaching a 9th grade Language Arts class or a self-contained EBD (Emotionally Behaviorally Different) class, all students can benefit from working in a structured learning environment with minimal classroom disruptions.