Resources about Finding Time

• Prisoners of Time, Report of the National Education Commission on Time and Learning (April 1994)
  
  A truly seminal study of the issues of time and learning, the seven-year old Prisoners of Time report remains, for many schools, up-to-date in its conclusion that "Time is learning's warden." (Complete report on-line with downloadable text file.)
  
  
• Prisoners of Time: Research, National Education Commission on Time and Learning (September 1994)
  
  In some ways, this research supplement to the Prisoners of Time report may be more useful to school leaders. It provides detailed information about the research upon which the report is based and includes sound recommendations for breaking the chains of "the clock and calendar" and reinventing schools "around learning, not time."
  
  
• "The Power of Innovative Scheduling,"
  Educational Leadership, November 1995
  
  Alternative schedules may or may not add hours to the school day, but they can vastly improve the quality of the time students spend at school, says scheduling expert Robert Lynn Canady in this much-discussed and cited article.
  
  
• "Finding Time To Learn,"
  Educational Leadership, November 1995
  
  Researcher John O'Neil describes how a number of high schools seeking better instruction and improved student outcomes are exploring alternatives to the traditional schedule. Another article from an important issue of Educational Leadership, "Productive Use of Time and Space."
  
  
• "It's About Time."
  Special issue of School Administrator (March 1999). American Association of School Administrators
  
  Includes articles on the effects of block scheduling and "12 findings about block use;" a three-semester high school schedule; a four-day school week; and a story about how some secondary schools are modifying their start times based on new research on adolescent sleep needs.
  
  
• "Using Time Well,"
  Special issue of Horace, the newsletter of the Coalition of Essential Schools. (Vol. 12, No. 2, November 1995)
  
  A useful overview article and a dozen sidebars describing many scheduling options, including the basic "4 by 4" semester block, and a plan for three 100-minute classes a day on alternating days year-long. Also: a trimester schedule with four long blocks daily, a six-period day on Monday and Friday, an 8-day rotational schedule alternating long-block days and short-block days, and more.
  
  
• "Block Scheduling: The Key To Quality Learning Time,"
  Principal Magazine, January 2001, National Association of Elementary School Principals.
  
  Research conducted by Robert Lynn Canady and Michael D. Rettig indicates that block schedules can help elementary school principals increase quality learning time and reduce class size, The article includes examples of an effective block schedule and a sidebar, "Six Ways to Improve an Elementary School Schedule." Part of a special issue on "Time and Learning."
  
  
• "Time," a special issue of the Journal of Staff Development (Spring 1999), National Staff Development Council.
  
  "Squeeze, carve, apply, target, use, and arrange Time for adult learning" reads the headline on this issue of JSD, devoted entirely to issues of time and professional development. The issue includes these articles:
  
  "Target Time Toward Teachers," by Linda Darling-Hammond
  
  "Time Use Flows from School Culture," by Kent D. Peterson
  
  "Apply Time with Wisdom," by Thomas R. Guskey
  
  "Making Time for Adult Learning," by Priscilla Pardini
  
  
• "Finding Time for Collaboration," Educational Leadership (Spetember 1993, Vol. 51, No.1)
  
  Maryann Raywid offers 15 "good examples" of how schools throughout the country are experimenting with creative ways to make or find time for shared teacher reflection. An often-cited article.
  
  
• "Time: It's made, not found,"
  Journal of Staff Development (Fall 1999), National Staff Development Council.
  
  Stephen G. Barkley of Performance Learning Systems quotes researcher Grant Wiggins in this practical article: "We need to lose time in order to gain it." Barkley shares several school-tested time-saving techniques and offers a strategy for creating a 15-hour block of time that a school faculty can use for planning or training.
  
  
• Time for Staff Development
  
  A selection of other resources from the Library of the National Staff Development Council:
  
  "Time for adult learning must connect to student learning."
  
  "World-class learning: Making the best even better."
  
  "How can schools make time for teacher learning?"
  
  "Finding Time for Faculties to Study Together ''
  
  "Investing the Time to Learn''
  
  "Smart Use of Time and Money Enhances Staff Development''
  
  NSDC Member Survey 2001
  
  
• "Synergy Yields Dividends for All...Schools That Find Time, Resources To Integrate Lesson Plans Are Creating Enthusiasm On Both Sides Of The Desk,"
  Washington Post (4/16/01)
  
  Part of a Post series called "The Secrets of School Success,"this article quotes experts that "establishing a professional, collegial community is difficult to achieve, but is a critical element to a successful school." It describes how some schools are creating more time for faculty "synergy."
  
  
• "Extended Learning: What Are the States Doing?,"
  Principal Magazine, January 2001
  
  As the need for additional learning time becomes critical, states are initiating and funding promising programs, with a particular emphasis on extended-day and extended-year options. A trends article by Cynthia G. Brown, director of the Resource Center on Educational Equity of the Council of Chief State School Officers.
  
  
• "Beyond Class Time,"
  Educational Leadership, April 2001.
  
  This theme issue of Educational Leadership includes more than a dozen articles about extending the school day by offering before- and after-school programs. Many of the articles are not available on the Internet but most school libraries have a subscription to this important magazine. You can read the overview article, "The Promise of After-School Programs," on-line.
  
  
• Time for Reform.
  Susanna Purnell and Paul Hill. 1992 (43 pp., $4.00, RAND R-4234-EMC)
  
  The National Staff Development Council recommends that schools with a serious interest in addressing the problem of "finding time for reform" use this brief but important study of the school-time issue in faculty study groups.

Return to Publications page