Since 4-day school weeks have been implemented all over the country, affected teachers have inquired how to use MTM’s All Access with fewer school days than what is typical.
While I didn’t teach a 4-day week (I would have loved it!), I did teach a block schedule where I needed to fit 5 days of lessons into 4 days of school, so I do have some thoughts on how to go about teaching math using this model.
General Understandings
Through my research, I have learned that while the total number of instructional days in a week has decreased from 5 days to 4 days, the total number of instructional minutes in a week remains the same OR that the school year is lengthened to make up for any lost time. Therefore, if you are moving from 5 days to 4 days, you most likely will be blessed with some longer class periods.
1. You are in the right career
Teachers are exceptional at pivoting at a moment’s notice. They are well-practiced in implementing new instructional practices, new curricula, new standards, new students and so much more. If there is anything consistent about being a teacher, it’s that it will always be changing. You, teacher, are well equipped in changing your pacing calendar to reflect a 4-day week.
In addition to being accustomed to change, teachers have a sense of urgency! Every minute is precious. This mindset will serve teachers well.
2. Do the Math
One of the first things that I did when researching 4-day weeks was to comb through our curricula to determine how many lessons each grade level has:
(Note: Assessments and study guides are included in the number below. I did not include the test prep unit for state testing.)
- 5th CCSS: 108 5th TEKS: 117
- 6th CCSS: 112 6th TEKS: 119
- 7th CCSS: 106 7th TEKS: 105
- 8th CCSS: 105 8th TEKS: 114
- Algebra 1 CCSS: 130 Algebra 1 TEKS: 106
Compare this number with your total number of school days to quell any panic. For comparison, a school year with 5-day weeks typically consists of 180 days; a school year with 4-day weeks may consist of around 150 days. Things might seem a little tight for Algebra 1 CCSS at this point, but the other curricula look good.
Next, determine how many of these instructional days fall before your state assessment. In 2024, Texas’s last day to administer the Math STAAR for Grades 3-8 and Algebra 1 was May 3, but the last day of school was May 23. That’s 14 instructional days after STAAR.
If I was a 5th grade Texas teacher, I would do this:
One hundred fifty total days – 117 lessons/assessments = 33 days. Subtract 14 instructional days after STAAR = 19 days left over for end of year test review/reteach lessons/additional activities
While these numbers are mostly speculative, (I am using dates from a school with 5-day weeks) I am trying to give a formula of how to approach your pacing calendar for your 4-day week school year.
You can read more about how to stay on track with your scope and sequence here and get a free pacing calendar here.
3. Take advantage of additional planning time
The 4-day school week is supposed to provide additional planning, grading, and prep time for teachers. And though cynically, I can see how it can get eaten up with professional development or other meetings. I have read firsthand accounts (thank you Teacher Reddit, Facebook, and Martina from the Hungry Teacher) about how overall, teachers do have more time to plan.
More planning time can mean more differentiation. More planning time can mean additional time to prepare lessons and activities that best serve students’ individual needs.
In addition, since you are making a big change from 5 to 4 days, you will need that planning time to possibly combine specific lessons. Remember, you aren’t changing every lesson! You are simply finding 1 or 2 places within your unit that can be condensed.
I would love to hear more if you teach 4-day weeks at your school. What do you do to plan and implement Maneuvering the Middle?
Heya.
In order to be more organised I use a colour coding system and a diary. The diary allows me to keep track of what I do each single week in the classroom at school. For example blue represents homework tasks too. Red denotes lots of missed class or homework while yellow is for pupil feedback in question here. Best wishes.
Green means that all is well. It also indicates that only one piece of homework or class work is missing from that pupil folder. We use cheap black folders a lot at my school to monitor pupil progress and as a easy means of organisation as well. All pupils have exercise books, pens and paper to use. I like to make it fun. Seriously. Sometimes we sing in class.
They also have access to the pencils, rulers and other free resources. Each single weekly math lesson commences with a five minute timed starter task. In my math classes, the children either use the class iPad, or their books to do work in. Once a week, all children have to complete a oral math activity with me. The activity involves a old school clock and is used to evaluate their math skills. Maths can be fun. It need not be dull.
This is about twenty minutes into a hour and a half long math lesson. It takes fifteen minutes of class time. I aim to invent new challenging tasks each week for them all to try out on their own. That is the best part. On one side of the classroom is a cabinet with loads of free resources I’ve bought over the past few years. I also only set homework once a week. I rarely use homework packets. Homework must be done.
On the other side is a clock and a limited set of games and textbooks. I also use free or cheap educational apps and videos to make things easier. For all of the homework tasks it depends. Homework exercises vary each week. One week I might ask the pupils to learn new things online. Another week I may request that they use exercise paper to do work on for me. All homework tasks are then marked and commented upon the following week at school in the lesson.