Whittier Flex and Overtime Roundtables by Sarah Potts

I have time to make up tests.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 01:19:26 UTC

Give us professional development about how to manage small groups (stations).

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 01:20:13 UTC

Kids have time now to do some really cool extension activities.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 01:20:54 UTC

2024-03-01 15:12:05 UTC

Used well to get kids caught up - it still hurts when students are pulled out

2024-03-01 15:13:52 UTC

Created "Spy" Enrichment Lesson - that some enjoyed - other students said "Why are we doing work?" - this is flex

Overtime Model - there is a homebase - there is movement within that time frame - 30 minutes M/W - pull kids into other classes if they don't then stay in OT T - Club/Rehearsal day, Th - Activity Day, F - Second Step Day

2024-03-01 15:31:37 UTC

Students and teachers had a clearer idea of what to expect

2024-03-01 15:32:25 UTC

OT at the end of the day - study hall model, still have the schedule w/ Second Step, Activity Day, Makeup, etc.

2024-03-01 15:33:37 UTC

End of the day = stronger relationship building because there is less stress when teachers have their full schedules waiting on them/prepping for the day

2024-03-01 15:34:32 UTC

Allowed real focus on re-teaching and intervention, not just make-up work.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:02:42 UTC

No more "make-up days" where a large chunk of students don't have anything to make up or just being a free day (lost teaching and learning time).

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:03:48 UTC

This allows time specifically for some social/emotional learning.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:05:46 UTC

Too many students in the room.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:06:50 UTC

Allows us to have PLTs without giving up our plan.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:07:34 UTC

Use it for all the things I don't have time for in class. (make up, enrichment, remediation)

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:25:12 UTC

I enjoy getting to see some of my afternoon classes in the morning later in the week.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:25:57 UTC

My EL or Co-taught classes get to have more time that they need for completing assignments.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:26:28 UTC

I have time to include some of my favorite activities that don't quite fit into my curriculum map any longer (like fun labs).

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:28:47 UTC

Students might not do the work if it isn't graded.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:29:33 UTC

More time to practice skills.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:30:17 UTC

We have days off in our calendar, so I don't get to have Flex with those kids for a while.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:31:16 UTC

I feel like I know I have covered what I needed to for my unit (versus feeling like I don't have time to fit it all in).

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:32:04 UTC

I loved having time for students to look at their own data and make sense of what it means for my class and learning.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:36:16 UTC

Students who don't want to do work in my regular class period still don't want to do work during Flex.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:37:28 UTC

Need the ability to have a small group for intervention and a place for the others to go.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:38:08 UTC

In order to share kids, you must have teachers on your team who commit to being on the same page.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:38:57 UTC

If I'm able to share students with my team, each of us get to focus on one area (reteaching, remediation, make-ups). Some students will benefit from having another teacher explain a concept.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:40:44 UTC

You could have Second Step and other social/emotional lessons as part of Flex time.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:41:34 UTC

Seen as an additional prep

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:42:52 UTC

Hard to differentiate for all of those kids.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:43:15 UTC

Each kid is able to get what they need.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:43:31 UTC

Some students might always be in a remediation group and might feel like they are always in the "dumb" group.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:46:47 UTC

I feel like we can still do PLTs on planning period if we don't have it during OT every other week (to make the class size smaller).

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:52:04 UTC

We aren't able to accomplish some things like door decorations, Dodgeball, canned food drives because we see them every other week.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:52:45 UTC

I don't get to know my students because I see them one time every other week.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:53:31 UTC

I would love to have the same bell schedule every day instead of different schedule on Wednesdays.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:55:40 UTC

We need more time to make improvements/tweaks to Flex since this is the first year of implementation.

pottss5 — 2024-03-01 17:58:31 UTC

Need more accountability and structure for explo. Needs to be equitable between core and explo

pottss5 — 2024-03-08 16:32:47 UTC

Contention about explo getting "extra plan"

pottss5 — 2024-03-08 16:33:35 UTC

Do a cross- curricular thing with explo and core so that the "extra Plan" is used to help others.

pottss5 — 2024-03-08 16:34:25 UTC

Create a homeroom model to do second step and other stuff.

pottss5 — 2024-03-08 16:37:23 UTC

Expand to clubs

pottss5 — 2024-03-08 16:38:01 UTC

Explo teachers push in and partner with core as enrichment.

pottss5 — 2024-03-08 16:38:35 UTC

Special Education Teacher

2024-03-11 13:26:05 UTC

I like Flex because it gives me extra IEP meeting time availability for parents, students, teachers, administrators, computer technicians, and service providers. In person conversations are vital.

Flex time with students is used to reinforce lesson topics and bring up grades.

I also use this time for planning, grading, testing, Special Services paperwork, and classroom organization. I also get a chance to consult/observe/collaborate with other teachers.