How can administrators enable teachers to maximize Language Arts time?
The role of the administrator is crucial. When administration schedules timetables, the language arts block must be the first priority. Teachers need at least a two hour uninterrupted block of time to make the most of language arts teaching and learning. “Creating the two-and-a half hour uninterrupted blocks begins by setting that as a firm organizational guideline. Classroom teachers need time to teach. They need uninterrupted time to teach. Kids need time to learn. To read. To write. Uninterrupted learning time.” (Allington, 2001, p.39) “Sometimes well-intentioned principals create interruptions during the instructional blocks. During a recent morning observation in an elementary classroom we listened to nine intercom interruptions… Each announcement was made separately, and although each took less than a minute, each announcement effectively stopped all classroom work while everyone stared up at the box on the wall.” (Allington, 1996, p.
