We don't start until 8:45AM and most teachers dislike it. Starting times were supposed to rotate amongst the schools, but never did. Now there is no bussing, so there isn't a reason that we can't start earlier. Our P brought it to PTA (about 20 parents) and the SSC (practically the same people) and they were against it. From the teachers' perspective, the kids do better in the morning and by the afternoon, they are tired. Several people mentioned that kids are up at 7:30AM.
Anyone able to quote a study that states younger kids learn better earlier?
We start at 8:30 and next year it will probably be 8:15. 8:15 seems to early to me!!!
I wouldn't want to start any earlier than that and I dont know any schools here in Canada that do. (Well maybe 8:00)...It seems to be a US thing starting super early. I always thought it was to avoid the extreme temps in the afternoon.
Elementary school. Personally, as a non-morning person, I love it! However, the drawback is by time we get out there's no chance of getting a doctor's appt. or making it to the bank in time!
We have around 75 schools in our district. All high schools start at 7:25, all elementary at 7:54 and all middle schools at 9:05! Here we have buses at every school (or very close to it) so if individual schools changed times it would be a transportation nightmare!
As far as younger kids doing better in the morning, our principal is a firm believer in that so intermediate grades have special area classes in the morning and primary, in the afternoon.
I know there are studies out there talking about morning being the best learning time for younger students, and high school should start later. I don't have any of them. Google probably would have some info...?
I work with several different elementary schools- here are their start times: 7:30, 7:55, 8:05, 8:10, 8:30, 9:00.
My tiny school (private) goes from 8 till 3. On other threads it looks like schools in the south start earlier than those in the north, generally.
I don't have studies to prove young students do better in the morning, but personal experience says it's true. We used to tear out pages first thing in the morning, but then changed to afternoon (mornings were rushed) and now that we're doing it in the afternoon, somebody almost always makes a mistake...wrong page, forgot a page, etc. We didn't have those problems when we did it in the morning.
I tried to do a search and the big thing that kept coming up was how high school kids should start later (I know that thank you, I want Elementary!).
I personally have mixed feelings. When I started I hated getting out so late. I was used to starting early and being done early. I will say I like being able to sleep a bit later! I like starting later because I tend to be last minute and get easily distracted in the afternoon, thus needing to get stuff done in the morning I generally get to school between 7:15-7:30. I rarely leave school before 4:30. I doubt my hours will change, but it would be nice to be able to make a Dr.'s appointment after school and not stress about rushing out the door.
If anyone finds anything concrete, I would love to hear it.
Thanks!
Kids can start coming in the building at 7:00 to eat breakfast. When they're done they have to wait in the gym until 7:20, when they're allowed to go to classrooms. I don't know about the kids, but it's way too early for me, especially since I have a 35 minute drive to get to school. We get out at 2:30. I taught at a school a few years ago that started at 8:45, and I liked that start time. We got out at 3:45.
Kids can enter the building at 7:15. Class starts at 7:50 and school dismisses at 3:05. We usually have kids in the building until 6:00 for the after-school program.
Yes, this is elementary, and it makes for a LONG day!
The morning bell rings at 7:45 and the end of the day is 2:45. Our junior high and high school start later. My first graders definitely do better academically in the morning hours than afternoon. I try to get the heaviest academics ( L. Arts and Math) done before lunch. Our planning period/student specials time is in the afternoon for the primary grades for that reason. (Some of my kids are sleepy when they come to school. After morning announcements, I usually start the day with my class running a few laps outside. That really wakes them up and gets the blood pumping!)
Most of you who start earlier then we do, get out either the same time or later than we do. I feel our day is very short-8:45-2:45 (1st-3rd-2:30), with a 15 minute recess and 40 min lunch (1st-3rd-45 min.).
I just find it hard because contractually we have to be there until 3:00, and do to the area we are in it takes about 30 minutes to get to a Dr.'s office (traffic and geographical location), so the earliest appointment we can get is 3:30, which of course are just so easy to come by. We also have two teachers who need to go to another city after school-which normally takes 30 minutes to get to, but at 3:00 it can take up to an hour as there is a lot of people who commute from there to our area. I know I hate going to my sister's (normally 1 hr. 15 min. from school) as it can take up 2 hrs-especially a Friday night. Want to go skiing for the weekend? Be prepared for a 4 hour commute vs. a 2 hour.
I think (if the kids can handle it) the longer day and going only 4 days!!!
Elementary 9:05-3:35 pm. A committee is looking for the research that supports earlier start and end time as well. If anyone has any... please pass along!
Most of the county elementary schools go 7:15-2:15. (Way too early- for kids to get enough rest, need to be in bed by 7:30 which means no life for anyone in the family)
Our city schools are basically 8-3, some 5 or 10 minutes earlier or later due to buses. One high school goes 8-3, another 8:30-3:30.
Our little rural school, begins at 7:30 and children begin loading buses at 3:30. It's a very long day for our little ones and teachers too. It all comes down to money really. Our district is so spread out - 400 sq. miles I believe. We have 4 schools - hs, intermediate, jr. high and elementary. Because of the amount of buses we can afford and gas, all ages ride the same buses - so in order to get everyone picked up and and dropped off, we have to start early. )-: I teach 1st and some of my students are picked up in the morning around 5:30 am. they are sleepy and have a hard time staying awake in the afternoon.
I teach in NC but I'm originally from MI. When I was little I went to school from 8-3:30. Down here we start at 7:30. The kids come into the building to eat breakfast or go to class. They are considered late if they show up at 8. We dismiss at 2:40. We have to stay until 3. The middle schools and high school all have different times depending on where you live and the bus situation. I don't mind starting early.
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05-11-2012, 05:18 PM
I like starting later because I tend to be last minute and get easily distracted in the afternoon, thus needing to get stuff done in the morning
I generally get to school between 7:15-7:30. I rarely leave school before 4:30. I doubt my hours will change, but it would be nice to be able to make a Dr.'s appointment after school and not stress about rushing out the door.
We also have two teachers who need to go to another city after school-which normally takes 30 minutes to get to, but at 3:00 it can take up to an hour as there is a lot of people who commute from there to our area. I know I hate going to my sister's (normally 1 hr. 15 min. from school) as it can take up 2 hrs-especially a Friday night. Want to go skiing for the weekend? Be prepared for a 4 hour commute vs. a 2 hour.
