In September 2016, the Secondary school of the Lycée Français de New York will put into place a new student schedule organized over a cycle of seven days, instead of a traditional five day weekly calendar. This important change, pioneering for a French school, is the result of three years of deep reflection and examination of our current practices. Nicolas L’Hotellier, Proviseur adjoint-Director of Secondary, talks about the change and what it will mean for our students.
LFNY: Why move from a five- to a seven-day schedule?
Nicolas L’Hotellier: The move to a cycle of seven days is the result of three years of research and reflection, starting with the importance of well-being for our students. Our current school schedules are packed, and space has been limited, which has created much stress for our students as well as our teachers. The stress is not good for learning, and it became clear that we needed to find a better equilibrium in the school day for all. We also had to take into consideration our curriculum, French school reforms, our American heritage and the direction of the school’s strategic plan.
To help us in our research, we worked with Independent School Management, a consulting firm, which undertook a deep review of the school in 2013. Their study advised that we consider lengthening the amount of time our students spend in each subject each day, to reduce the “stop and start” sense of each class and to better use the time each day. In particular, the study noted that the number of class changes each day resulted in a loss of precious class time from the beginning and end of each class.
Example of 7 day schedule for a 6 grade class (click on the image to enlarge it).
The study also noted that though 45-minute class periods have some merit, they make it much harder for teachers to implement different approaches to teaching in class. Their research also underlined the heavy homework load our students carry, which had much to do with the sheer number of classes the students had to prepare for each day. Having fewer classes to prepare will help them better organize and manage their time.
The implementation of block scheduling along with a 7-day cycle of classes will slow down the stressful rhythm of our students and enhance the quality of our teaching. The opening of the York Wing in September will help to mitigate the space constraints, reducing stress for students and teachers alike.
What is the major benefit of a 7-day class cycle?
NLH: Moving away from the rigidity of five-day schedule is essential here. That last class on a Friday afternoon is a great example…In a fixed schedule that’s the class that suffers, the one right before a weekend, when the fatigue at the end of the week is at its peak…With a seven-day cycle of classes that Friday afternoon class, will fall on a Tuesday the next time. In other words, the schedule will be more balanced for all.
Another big advantage has to do with school holidays. Holidays often fall on the same day of the week, such as Fridays and Mondays. In a five-day cycle of classes, classes on these days tend to be missed the most often. With a seven-day schedule, we will know a year in advance what day falls on a holiday and simply be able to move that to the next one. For example, let’s take Martin Luther King Day, which falls on a Monday. That Monday will no longer be part of a cycle. If the Friday before is “Day 2”, for example, then “Day 3” will fall on the Tuesday.
With fewer classes each day, it means longer class periods.
NLH: That’s right. We have increased the length of each class period from 45 to 55 minutes, and most classes now will consist of two periods, or 110 minutes. There will be exceptions, such as in the case of World Languages, where frequent, regular exposure to hearing, reading and speaking the language is important. With a school day that ends at 4pm at the latest each day, our students will no longer have six classes each day. On average, they will have about four classes a day. This reduction in the number of classes is essential, as research shows that the fragmentation of classes does not support the retention of knowledge.
With the 110-minute period, Lycée teachers will have time to use different teaching styles alternating from lectures, to group work, to class discussions, to games, simulations and project-based learning.
According to pediatric scholar Mel Levine, and as cited by Independent School Management in its report, “long term memory works best when there’s sufficient time for consolidation. This does not occur when you partake of social studies for forty minutes followed by algebra for forty minutes, then English for forty minutes, and, immediately thereafter, physical education. Switching from one subject to another pretty much prevents the consolidation of the one that preceded it.”
How will teachers be prepared to teach for 110 minutes?
NLH: Our teachers, especially our French ones, are used to teaching for double periods, which is not uncommon in France. However, we’re not talking about 110 minutes of lecturing. With the 110-minute period, Lycée teachers will have time to use different teaching styles alternating from lectures, to group work, to class discussions, to games, simulations and project-based learning. We are actively training our teachers in project-based learning, a key approach being introduced this fall and which would simply not be possible without longer class periods.
Is the new schedule compatible with after-school activities, which will stay on a five-day cycle?
NLH: Thanks to the new schedule, all students will end their classes by 4pm each day. As most after-school activities start at 4pm, classes will no longer be interrupted and vice versa. Athletics practices and home games will take place after 4pm, with the exception of away games (outside of the Lycée), where our students will still be excused from class earlier.
How will I know what “day” it is?
NLH: We are implementing a number of communication tools to let the students and you know what day of the week it is. Through Pronote, Secondary announcements, the weekly newsletter L’Essentiel, sent to the entire community… We’re also strategizing about additional means to make this information visible in the school to make it easier for everyone.
Read more: “Shorter Days, Stretched Classes” article from November 2015 on the LFNY Life Blog.