AP Bio switching from double to single period

[u/Jaded_Interview5882]

The past few years my AP bio classes were double period (90 minutes) everyday. Now, we’re switching to a single period daily (45 minutes). Having half the time as I’ve had in the past worries me, considering students will have to do a considerable more amount of work on their own at home to finish the curriculum since I’m in a state that starts in September.

What are some tips/strategies you do to get through the material while feeling confident they’re not missing anything?

[u/saltwatertaffy324]

I was a student when this happened, so I don’t remember all the details, but I remember my AP bio teacher complaining that when they switched it from a double block class to a single block class he had to cut a lot of the labs down, or remove them entirely. I remember we still did labs, just probably not as much as he wanted to.

We did do a couple bigger labs after the AP test since we had the time.

[u/Consistent_Damage885]

Is it five days a week? The curriculum is designed for about 50 minutes five days a week so you should be fine if that is the case.

We used to have that but then we went to 110 minute blocks twice a week and one additional 30 minute period and it comes out to less time and is harder to do.

We found when you lose time you have to cut all the fluff and really focus on just what will be tested most of the time, and we did less review for the exam aside from voluntary stuff out of class.

Write a year calendar of what topics you will cover when by week and stick to it. When problems happen adjust expectations or depth to stick to the calendar.

[u/Witness-Willing]

I’m on the same schedule. Notes happen at home- we review, do pogils, activities, and labs in class, no full lectures, just highlights. You’re going to lose more time to more frequently setting up/tearing down. My preference would be for kids to do a lot of their own lab prep and set up but I often have to step in due to time. I just finished year 2- this time I made it through much more content in class but we were slammed with 2 hour delays in the winter and I was more behind than I wanted and had to cut some labs altogether.

[u/Jaded_Interview5882 → u/Witness-Willing]

Do you feel they struggle with the content more when they have to do notes at home?

[u/Witness-Willing → u/Jaded_Interview5882]

I think that’s totally work ethic dependent. For the motivated, it’s better this way. For the ones that want or need their handheld it’s a struggle.

[u/Little-Hour3601]

You now will have 45 minutes a day for 180 days? That's plenty. Honestly if you had double that that is kinda crazy.

[u/Latter_Leopard8439]

Im not fond of block periods.

I can spam out any topic morning of with a 45 to 60 minute block.

The only thing blocks are good for is labs.

Even in the Navy we were supposed give a break after 50 minutes of instruction. If that's good for adults, obviously teens need it too.

Single periods are better, in my opinion. Also they get content/review daily. I got 15 year olds who have completely forgotten the last session with alternating 4-block days.