In my previous article, I discussed the teaching method that I encountered during my eighth grade years. I refer to this method as semi-departmentalized. In this article, I will discuss the method that I consider to be complete departmentalized.
Most high school and middle school teachers teach using a departmentalized method. In a departmentalized grade, all subjects are taught by a different teacher during a different block of time. For example, one teacher will teach math while different teachers teach English, history, science, and reading.
In some cases, reading, spelling, writing, and language arts are all combined into the same block of time with the same teacher. These subjects are grouped together because of how closely they all relate to one another.
This method is commonly used in seventh and eighth grades and high schools due to the No Child Left Behind Act that requires the teachers to be highly qualified in the particular subject that they teach.
However, some grades lower than seventh also participate in a departmentalized setting. I have heard of schools with grades as low as fourth and fifth grade using departmentalized teaching.
One advantage of departmentalized teaching is having fewer lessons to prepare. Teachers can use more time to focus on one particular area without having to worry about other subject material. However, it works nicely when teachers can incorporate skills from other subjects into their lessons.
A disadvantage of departmentalized teaching is seeing large numbers of students on a daily basis. During departmentalized teaching, a teacher may have five or six different groups of students each day. If each group has thirty students, that is a possible 180 children. It also means that you have that many more tests to grade and papers to check.
Like semi-departmentalized teaching, departmentalized teachers should share a common plan time when activities and lessons can be discussed and related to one another.
What Your Eighth Grader Needs to Learn