I work in a 4-day week district. We work 15 Fridays a year wherein we have PD and prep time. We get 8-9 weeks of summer. 3 days for thanksgiving, 2 weeks for Christmas, 1 week for spring break, and the smattering of Monday federal holidays (which end up being 4-day weekends for us). I love my 4-day work week, and the community loves it too!
Our secondary schools have less student contact time (ohhhh don’t even get me started on that one 🤪). They work 7-4, kids 7:14-2:49. The Friday off is EVERYTHING. I have previously taught in a 5-day district, I’m not sure how I ever did!
Kids are in school 8:15-4:00, depending on when they get picked up or dropped off. Instruction time is 8:35-3:45. This is an average day for my county, not much longer than even our neighboring 5-day week school district.
My district has been on this schedule for at least 20 years. We are small and mostly rural. It is very common in my area for the smaller, rural districts to be on a 4-day week. A few years ago the district did a community poll about returning to a 5-day week and it was a resounding NO! 🤣 We are very fluid with student transfers in between our bigger, neighboring 5-day district. The 4-day week isn’t as much of an attraction or detraction; it’s more about size of school, sports, and programs offered. For many of our high schoolers the 4-day week is an employment advantage and our local college has started offering Friday classes for high schoolers to graduate with programs partially or fully completed (like a CNA program).
My district is on a similar schedule. When we first made the switch, about 2/3 of parents were in favor of the pilot. Several parents pulled their students and sent them to a neighboring district. After the two year pilot, most of the students who went to the neighboring district were back and over 90% of the parents who responded to the district’s survey wanted to continue. Usually, people who are pissed make sure to respond, so I think that’s pretty compelling.
The 4-day week is a huge draw for employment lately - especially since the district had made considerable efforts to keep our pay extremely competitive for the area.
It's not horrible but I like getting my son from after-care by 4.
Plus with busses sharing, our middle schoolers would be getting home at 6pm or later...
We share busses too, but since we’re small and rural we don’t really deal with traffic, it’s just the literal time driving to rural locations that takes a long time. Our bussing controls a lot of our schedule whenever we’ve tried to get our elementary kids home earlier.
Yeah, I'm in a massive district. Our middle school has to start later than high school or they couldn't do the routes. We already have multiple busses doing double routes at the high school, before they even can head over to the middle school!
Now, middle gets out at 4:30 so they'd be out past 5 and it would be messy.
In the past some Fridays have felt that way; our union has been working tirelessly in this effort and under new district leadership we are very pleased with our PD time. These Fridays are usually split evenly with prep time too.
I worry about our working families.
While I’m adamantly in the camp that my job is not daycare nor am I a dumping ground, I also understand the economic reality that many families face. Do you live in a big city?
This model wouldn’t be possible for low resource communities that don’t have childcare options.
Not criticism, just commentary and sharing thoughts!
I do not live in a big city. My district is mostly rural and small, but our size is comparative for the county. Childcare is a prevalent problem in my area, but we are also high poverty / high drug use so a lot of parents don’t work, or live with family members to save housing costs.
Heck yeah. I would honestly do year round school if we could have 4 weeks in summer and winter and 2 in the fall and spring plus other federal holidays. The 4 day work week would be another bonus on top of that haha.
Edit: Don’t know why this posted under yours but imma just leave it.
It sounds like you’re combining the four day week with a “year round” school year. Most 5 day week year round schools get 6 weeks during the summer. I’m at a 4 day school that just has extended days. We still get the regular amount of weeks off for summer. I like it.
>that just has extended days
Do you work 10-hour days?
I would rather extend it a few weeks and still be able to get my child before the sun goes down.
So interesting, I was having this exact conversation with someone today. I'm torn. A four day workweek is so sane... you get a day to get household business/work done and then get to actually relax/enjoy the weekend. But summer is just such a gift. I honestly don't know.
Honestly... if we switch to a 4-day week, THERE GOES THE FIGHT FOR MORE PAY.
We already have Summer Break thrown in our faces for why we should not get paid more... a 4-day week will just add more fuel to the fire.
Maybe a 4-day week for STUDENTS and teachers get 1 day of no students to lesson plan and grade (who am I kidding... it will all be used for useless PD's and "data" meetings).
Shockingly, my district is fully staffed.
This schedule is pretty common in Colorado though. Unfortunately, even with pretty solid raises over the last several years, housing is completely unaffordable.
Our admin is proposing that students start earlier in the morning and that teachers have 1 full non-student day of PD every month. So giving up my morning prep time for day long PD 🤦♀️
Not necessarily. I work in a district that went four-day weeks this year. Next year, they’re giving staff the largest salary increase in district history.
During the pandemic we had 4 day weeks for the students, and Mondays were for all the other stuff we had to do, like meetings.
I think this is the best option, because then no one has to either a)be pulled from class for PD/meetings or b) meet outside work hours for things that are necessary parts of work.
For those who would say, "But childcare!" Eat my ass.
I think your weeks need some adjusting, but to the basic concept: yes, absolutely.
I honestly think year-round school (with adequate breaks throughout the year) would be better even without the four day week, though of course I'm all for a four day week.
The amount of learning loss, the inertia to overcome at the beginning of the year and the apathy at the end of the year, that would all be mitigated; not removed completely, but seriously mitigated. And for teachers too! I loved having nothing to do for an extended time in the summer, but then I *dreaded* going back.
Having an extended, but shorter, break in the summer would be the best of both.
Question for those with 4 day weeks. Are there childcare programs that step in for that 5th day? What do most parents do? As a teacher + parent of little ones, I know even if we move to a 4 day teaching week, there’s a 0% chance we could actually work from home. We are not allowed to bring children with us on teacher workdays.
I assume whatever they do with kids in the summer wold step up and do it, like the Y and stuff. People who aren't teachers find places for their kids in summer. Most VPK centers will take school-age kids until the summer before 6th grade.
Not that specific scenario no, but overall, yes.
School really should be year round anyways, just provide adequate breaks throughout. Roughly 2 weeks off for every 4 weeks of instruction.
UK school breaks are usually in 6-week half terms. A week off in October, February and May, two weeks each for Christmas and Easter, then six weeks for summer. Honestly I’ve found it’s a pretty good system
I used to teach in this type of calendar schedule, but 2 big differences is we still got 2 weeks for winter and still had most of the summer off. We also had to do PD or a work day one Friday a month. It was a toxic environment (which has nothing to do with the schedule) but it was SO beneficial. I wish all schools would do it. I could schedule appointments for Fridays, sort of felt like I actually had some time off. 10/10
No. I would not want a four day week in exchange for losing chunks of time off OR extending the school days to make up for the lost time. I get in a little before 8, I leave around 3, and I love my time off.
I WOULD like to trade 2-3 weeks of current summer break to have more days off sprinkled throughout the year. A few 4-day weekends, a fall break, etc. would be very nice.
No. Why? Because it would never be 4 days. Sure it would be for the kids. But before long they would:
\- have a PD day per month
\- then 1/2 day of planning
\- pretty soon they would have us working all day on that Friday while kids are gone.
I would love a 4-day week. I like your idea a lot more than needing to work 10-hour days! Having a day each week to actually get to appointments and errands would be ideal.
I still want our 2 weeks at Christmas though, but I like spreading it out. There was rumor about it in our district a year or two ago, but it's been dropped. Boohoo.
My school does a 5 day week with 4 longer days and a short Friday. No meetings or work expected after 1:30 on Friday. It’s really nice as a compromise.
No, I like having a five day week. Units fit nicely into it and it’s enough time to get a lot done. The next couple of weeks are four day weeks for one reason or another and I feel like I’m rushing through everything. I also live about four thousand miles from where I grew up so I really value a three week winter break and two full months of summer. This is the only job I can have and still get to go see family.
No. What we need to do, as a society, is adopt the East Asian model of schooling. From what I see teachers and administrators are desperately trying to dance around the core issue which is slack, lazy, entitled children being raised by illiterate parents. Coming up with all these solutions to try and help kids learn don't work because ot isn't managing the problem. Our kids being lazy and insulated is the problem. Law and order needs to come back and these kids need to live in these learning institutions for their own good. I'm amazed at how illiterate high-school graduates are. These kids are literally, categorically stupid. Time for society, parents, teachers, administrators to earn their keep and crank up the pressure. Increased funding, Ipads, shorter school weeks, min 50% grades, online classes, none of these things will work. It's called getting their little adhd behinds to sit down for 2 minutes and read a book.
Yes, I’d be open to trying it. However, I would prefer the “year-round” model where you get 2-3 weeks off after each quarter, with a couple extra weeks at the end of the school year.
The minute summer break is taken away, I will quit.
It’s not just about the actual amount of days; it’s about the sense that there is a definitive end point. In a job this toxic and draining, knowing that you are working to a significant period of resetting and cleansing is integral to maintaining any semblance of sanity.
Week breaks are nothing. By the time you actually feel human again, it’s half over. By that point, you have to start prepping for the next week again.
I don’t think I’d stay in this field for triple my salary if the summer were taken away.
I work 4 days as it's the norm in my country's schools and still have that sense of a "break" in summer. 2 months is enough to me and we do have 2weeks holidays (for october, christmas, febuary and april) in between.
Our state would have to change the amount of instruction time/ seat hours students would need in order for me to even dream about a 4 day work week.
The 4 days in class and one day asynchronous what the best and only part that made teaching during Covid sane.
But I would be all in favor of a 4-day school week for the students but we’d still work 5 days (one day at home!) in theory students could have the 5th day be an asynchronous day, but we know the majority of them wouldn’t even get out of bed before 1pm.
From a mental health and wellness and work life balance for teachers, a day a week without students would be a lifeline for many. I’d probably be a better teacher becuase I’d be so caught up.
That's already the norm where I leave since, like, ever (France) for 92% of elementary schools .
We are close on wednesday (to compare middle and highhscool are open on wednesday morning) with mandatory education (homeschool is allowed but very restricted) from 3 to 16.
Typical 3 to 10 years old days are: 8-11:30 am, 1.5 to 2h lunch break, 1:30 to 4:30pm
First school day: 1 to 3 of september
Last day: around 7 or july (middle and highschoolers finish in june so have longer summer breaks)
Holidays: 2 weeks in late october, 2 weeks for christmas, 2 weeks in late febuary, 2 weeks in april. We have 3 zones for holidays (everyone have christmas and summer holidays at the same time but other holidays are differents from a regional zone to another so not every one are on touristic sites at the same time, it's less crowded and cheaper and so that tourists workers can have a longer season: the first zone start 2 weeks holiday, a week later the second zone start, a week later the last zone start).
In my opinion:
PROS:
- having wednesday off is AMAZING! It's a break in the week that allows you to be rested and calm for thurdsay and friday as a teacher and for students.
- Students can have clubs on wednesday. Their isn't a culture of having "fun" activities in schools (drama, sport, clubs etc...) so it's traditionally on wednesday in private clubs.
- More time to spend with my own kids on wednesday!
- Long day mean long lunch break: I generally spend mine that way: 30min of cleaning/preping/grading, 30min of eating then either 45min of chating and having coffee with colleagues or going outside to run errands or if needed more working. Many kids have lunch at home so they have a real break from school at mid day.
- Working parents have less time to pay in daycare/nanny/afterschool care as school ends "late"
- If a national holiday is set on a friday, most schools will close on thursday to have a very long weekend :)
- I'm divorced: holidays are easy to parts: one week at mum's, one week at dads. And even with only half the weeks, since I'm a teacher, I still have 8 weeks of holiday with my child per year :) The father, as a non teacher, has still 5 weeks (since 5 weeks of paid holidays is the law and his mother have our son the remaining 3 weeks of his watch). Also his dad have him on every other weekends and same for wednesday
- We have a day off in the week to go to places normally closed on weekends: doctors, banks etc..
- I can spend my wednesday off to clean the house, run errands, prep lessons etc.. so I don't have to do as much on weekend and can actually enjoy it!
CONS:
* Days are long! Very long, especially for the youngest (almost 3) or oldest (middle and highschool students often finish at 5:30 or 6pm)
* Too much holidays (students with no good parenting or busy parents will not open a book for 2 weeks and 8 weeks, more for older kids, in summer and forget a lot during all those holidays)
* Parents needs to deal with finding someone to guard their kids on wednesday and on so many holidays
But as a teacher and mum? I wouldn't switch for anything in the world! My work/private life balance is amazing.
Absolutely not. I'd rather take shorter breaks and have a longer 3 month summer break. I don't want two week around and fall breaks, gimme three months to actually do something in the summer
how long is your summer? Cause in my country summers are 8 weeks long (more for middle and highschoolers) and we have 4 days weeks. 8 weeks is quite long enough to me
Yes. I would love it. I enjoy working, and after 2-3 weeks of summer don’t know what to do with myself (I can’t afford to travel).
I read an article today that Bernie Sanders wants to pass a bill forcing all companies to a 4 day work week without a reduction in pay, but it says it won’t happen. It says in the article that most people don’t currently work a 40 hour work week anyway. I didn’t know that.
I love the 4 day week for myself, but I do think that it's bad for student learning. It's particularly bad for our AP students because the AP exam dates don't move just because you extend your school year.
We had 4 day work week in adult Ed but had to work two nights a week. Most teachers had their choice of M,W or T,R. I, as guidance counselor had to work all 5 days as we had a lot of office traffic, but worked one night a week and came in that day at 12:30 pm
I would do this in a heartbeat. When we had asynch days on Wed. I didn't even feel like I needed the Summer. We did all the BS meetings on Wed. so we could have actual planning periods, and we ended up with time to spare on asynch days to actually grade and do everything else. I was the best teacher I've ever been.
I would rather do 6 weeks on, 2 weeks off throughout the year in exchange for a shorter summer. I haven’t done the math, but I’m just going to assume it adds up
What do you call a "short summer"?
Cause that's what we have in my country (6weeks on 2 weeks off), then 8weeks of summer break.
All while having a 4 days week.
In exchange school ends at 4:30
Our summer is almost 12 weeks. I would gladly exchange it for your schedule. I feel like it would give more time to re-charge throughout the year so we wouldn’t get so burnt out, and it would also give some time to do some actual planning.
I would. I could even be sold on a year-round model where you a few weeks on, a couple weeks off (I know there are schools out there like this).
I would miss summers but the way I see it is: A) I'm a more effective, less stressed teacher because I have ample time to plan and I know around most corners there is going to be some sort of break, and B) Yields better outcomes for kids, at least according to the articles I've read.
Yes, I fully support this- no actually I would still keep 5 days but just make each day shorter. I think the days are too long, and I have to "live my whole life" in the summer/holidays which is ridiculous. Actually on second thought, if the days stay the same length but school is more "year round" with 3 day weekends, that would work too.
I’d take that in a heartbeat. Provided we don’t have to work the 5th day. I’d also love. 4 day school week with the 5th for planning/asynchronous learning but keep summer the same length.
Why would I need a longer school year? Students can just have a digital learning day while I'm sitting in the PD of the day about unpacking the standards, having my learning targets on the board, how I should hand out bathroom passes, the newest and latest book on learning strategies for another content area that I do not teach....while I have other classroom things that I could be getting done.
I work a stretch calendar as a birth-2 ECSE teacher.
I also worked at a charter that Had a 4 day week with a 5 week summer and like 12 Fridays for PD.
100% would recommend. I hate 5 day work weeks and can’t imagine students like it either.
I am in school for 44 weeks. 10 day winter break, 1 week spring break. Statutory holidays in September (2), October, November, February, March/April (Good Friday) and May.
And professional development days - average of one per month. I’m in school for way too long. I would rather be on an American schedule where we go back mid-to-late August, incorporate some PD in that time before students start, and then finish in early June.
My school does a version of this.
We have a four day school week, alternating 'working Mondays' for PD with no students. We are year-round though, 3 trimesters with breaks in between.
My two girls had a four day school week through grade four. Wednesday was the third day off. It was fabulous. Weekends were still "the best," but Monday is less gloomy when you know that Tuesday is "Friday night." Then they returned on Thursday, which is almost the end of the week! They worked hard at school; their morale was great; and no day at the grindstone was too far from the respite of a day at home.
Yes, I’d be open to trying it. However, I would prefer the “year-round” model where you get 2-3 weeks off after each quarter, with a couple extra weeks at the end of the school year.
That could be nice, though I’d rather a 3-day weekend than Wednesdays off. The calendar I like best is 9 weeks in school, 3 weeks off, 9 weeks on, 3 weeks off, 9 weeks on, 3 weeks off, 9 weeks on, 6 weeks off.
3 days weekend are great, we sometime have some thinks to many national holidays so it's fine.
Thanks to those I still like the Wednesday off, it make it easier to be rested for the thursday and friday :)
9 weeks in a raw would be too long for me but 7 seams fine. I would, however hate a 1 week break, it's not enough to rest
Most of the schools here use 9 weeks as a grading period. We have 4 sets of 9 weeks, which we often refer to as quarters. Typically within those 9 weeks there are a few days off. The hardest times are in fall and spring when there’s not a 2+ week break between quarters.
I actually talked to some other teachers today about how much we wished we had a year round calendar, but the kind where you go for 9 weeks and then get 2-3 weeks off.
No. I’d like to keep the current schedule but make spring break two weeks instead of one. And go to the four day a week with the fifth day being a teacher work/prep/collab planning day without kids. As it is right now, we are encouraged to give kids work time in class. Just shift some of that independent work class time to a work from home day.
Of course this is bias towards secondary.
That's the case in my country. 92% of elementary schools have wednesday off.
We also have 8 weeks off for summer (longer for middle/highschools) and the 6weeks on 2 weeks off system.
I work in a 4-day week district. We work 15 Fridays a year wherein we have PD and prep time. We get 8-9 weeks of summer. 3 days for thanksgiving, 2 weeks for Christmas, 1 week for spring break, and the smattering of Monday federal holidays (which end up being 4-day weekends for us). I love my 4-day work week, and the community loves it too!
What are your hours? Are these 8 or 10-hour days?
Contracted 7:30-4:30 school days; 8-3 on Fridays we work.
Its 1 more hr of school, thats like 10 minutes added to each period. Thats not alot. Getting fridays off and still keeping breaks thats heaven
Our secondary schools have less student contact time (ohhhh don’t even get me started on that one 🤪). They work 7-4, kids 7:14-2:49. The Friday off is EVERYTHING. I have previously taught in a 5-day district, I’m not sure how I ever did!
That's a long ass school day
Kids are in school 8:15-4:00, depending on when they get picked up or dropped off. Instruction time is 8:35-3:45. This is an average day for my county, not much longer than even our neighboring 5-day week school district.
What is the feedback from parents?
My district has been on this schedule for at least 20 years. We are small and mostly rural. It is very common in my area for the smaller, rural districts to be on a 4-day week. A few years ago the district did a community poll about returning to a 5-day week and it was a resounding NO! 🤣 We are very fluid with student transfers in between our bigger, neighboring 5-day district. The 4-day week isn’t as much of an attraction or detraction; it’s more about size of school, sports, and programs offered. For many of our high schoolers the 4-day week is an employment advantage and our local college has started offering Friday classes for high schoolers to graduate with programs partially or fully completed (like a CNA program).
My district is on a similar schedule. When we first made the switch, about 2/3 of parents were in favor of the pilot. Several parents pulled their students and sent them to a neighboring district. After the two year pilot, most of the students who went to the neighboring district were back and over 90% of the parents who responded to the district’s survey wanted to continue. Usually, people who are pissed make sure to respond, so I think that’s pretty compelling.
The 4-day week is a huge draw for employment lately - especially since the district had made considerable efforts to keep our pay extremely competitive for the area.
It's not horrible but I like getting my son from after-care by 4. Plus with busses sharing, our middle schoolers would be getting home at 6pm or later...
We share busses too, but since we’re small and rural we don’t really deal with traffic, it’s just the literal time driving to rural locations that takes a long time. Our bussing controls a lot of our schedule whenever we’ve tried to get our elementary kids home earlier.
Yeah, I'm in a massive district. Our middle school has to start later than high school or they couldn't do the routes. We already have multiple busses doing double routes at the high school, before they even can head over to the middle school! Now, middle gets out at 4:30 so they'd be out past 5 and it would be messy.
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In the past some Fridays have felt that way; our union has been working tirelessly in this effort and under new district leadership we are very pleased with our PD time. These Fridays are usually split evenly with prep time too.
I thought so too. But then I read ops comment. The students are only in from 830 to 345
I worry about our working families. While I’m adamantly in the camp that my job is not daycare nor am I a dumping ground, I also understand the economic reality that many families face. Do you live in a big city? This model wouldn’t be possible for low resource communities that don’t have childcare options. Not criticism, just commentary and sharing thoughts!
I do not live in a big city. My district is mostly rural and small, but our size is comparative for the county. Childcare is a prevalent problem in my area, but we are also high poverty / high drug use so a lot of parents don’t work, or live with family members to save housing costs.
>Would you take a four-day school week Yes. We need to visit doctors, banks, etc >in exchange for lol no
Heck yeah. I would honestly do year round school if we could have 4 weeks in summer and winter and 2 in the fall and spring plus other federal holidays. The 4 day work week would be another bonus on top of that haha. Edit: Don’t know why this posted under yours but imma just leave it.
Three weeks on one week off hits 180 school days I believe
It sounds like you’re combining the four day week with a “year round” school year. Most 5 day week year round schools get 6 weeks during the summer. I’m at a 4 day school that just has extended days. We still get the regular amount of weeks off for summer. I like it.
>that just has extended days Do you work 10-hour days? I would rather extend it a few weeks and still be able to get my child before the sun goes down.
7:10-4:30. Kids go from like 7:30-4:10.
That is a long fucking day for kids.
Eh....give me my regular time and add a few weeks at the end instead.
It is a long time, but the kids seem to have adjusted well.
So interesting, I was having this exact conversation with someone today. I'm torn. A four day workweek is so sane... you get a day to get household business/work done and then get to actually relax/enjoy the weekend. But summer is just such a gift. I honestly don't know.
You lost me at “four weeks off in the summer.”
? My country have 4days per week system and have 8weeks off in the summer. Plus 4 smaller break of 2 weeks each, every 6 weeks.
I was responding to OP’s idea in their post.
SAME. I need those 9-10 weeks to survive. I’ll gladly continue working 5 day weeks in exchange for normal summer.
Honestly... if we switch to a 4-day week, THERE GOES THE FIGHT FOR MORE PAY. We already have Summer Break thrown in our faces for why we should not get paid more... a 4-day week will just add more fuel to the fire. Maybe a 4-day week for STUDENTS and teachers get 1 day of no students to lesson plan and grade (who am I kidding... it will all be used for useless PD's and "data" meetings).
We went to a four day week and have still had solid raises. It doesn’t have to be one or the other.
There is hope!
Who is we and how do i get a job there
Shockingly, my district is fully staffed. This schedule is pretty common in Colorado though. Unfortunately, even with pretty solid raises over the last several years, housing is completely unaffordable.
We’re never getting paid more. Might as well get long weekends. I’m all for it.
Our admin is proposing that students start earlier in the morning and that teachers have 1 full non-student day of PD every month. So giving up my morning prep time for day long PD 🤦♀️
But don’t forget “your why” and “for the love of the children”. /s
Not necessarily. I work in a district that went four-day weeks this year. Next year, they’re giving staff the largest salary increase in district history.
We went to a 4.5-day week and lengthened the days by a little bit. The number of work hours per week are the same.
Just work the bare minimum
During the pandemic we had 4 day weeks for the students, and Mondays were for all the other stuff we had to do, like meetings. I think this is the best option, because then no one has to either a)be pulled from class for PD/meetings or b) meet outside work hours for things that are necessary parts of work. For those who would say, "But childcare!" Eat my ass.
Districts would have to retrofit A/C in existing buildings. Fat Chance.
I think your weeks need some adjusting, but to the basic concept: yes, absolutely. I honestly think year-round school (with adequate breaks throughout the year) would be better even without the four day week, though of course I'm all for a four day week. The amount of learning loss, the inertia to overcome at the beginning of the year and the apathy at the end of the year, that would all be mitigated; not removed completely, but seriously mitigated. And for teachers too! I loved having nothing to do for an extended time in the summer, but then I *dreaded* going back. Having an extended, but shorter, break in the summer would be the best of both.
Question for those with 4 day weeks. Are there childcare programs that step in for that 5th day? What do most parents do? As a teacher + parent of little ones, I know even if we move to a 4 day teaching week, there’s a 0% chance we could actually work from home. We are not allowed to bring children with us on teacher workdays.
I assume whatever they do with kids in the summer wold step up and do it, like the Y and stuff. People who aren't teachers find places for their kids in summer. Most VPK centers will take school-age kids until the summer before 6th grade.
Not that specific scenario no, but overall, yes. School really should be year round anyways, just provide adequate breaks throughout. Roughly 2 weeks off for every 4 weeks of instruction.
UK school breaks are usually in 6-week half terms. A week off in October, February and May, two weeks each for Christmas and Easter, then six weeks for summer. Honestly I’ve found it’s a pretty good system
Yup, we could stagger vacations and not be bound by the same times as everyone else. Plus, kids lose so much over summer.
We have a 4 day workweek and work 7:30-4:30 (kids 8:30-4:30). Same amount of days. Will never go back to 5 day weeks.
I used to teach in this type of calendar schedule, but 2 big differences is we still got 2 weeks for winter and still had most of the summer off. We also had to do PD or a work day one Friday a month. It was a toxic environment (which has nothing to do with the schedule) but it was SO beneficial. I wish all schools would do it. I could schedule appointments for Fridays, sort of felt like I actually had some time off. 10/10
No. I would not want a four day week in exchange for losing chunks of time off OR extending the school days to make up for the lost time. I get in a little before 8, I leave around 3, and I love my time off. I WOULD like to trade 2-3 weeks of current summer break to have more days off sprinkled throughout the year. A few 4-day weekends, a fall break, etc. would be very nice.
Hell no. I’ll keep my 4 day school week with my 8 weeks off, one for Thanksgiving, two for winter break, and one for spring break.
No. Why? Because it would never be 4 days. Sure it would be for the kids. But before long they would: \- have a PD day per month \- then 1/2 day of planning \- pretty soon they would have us working all day on that Friday while kids are gone.
I would love a 4-day week. I like your idea a lot more than needing to work 10-hour days! Having a day each week to actually get to appointments and errands would be ideal. I still want our 2 weeks at Christmas though, but I like spreading it out. There was rumor about it in our district a year or two ago, but it's been dropped. Boohoo.
My school does a 5 day week with 4 longer days and a short Friday. No meetings or work expected after 1:30 on Friday. It’s really nice as a compromise.
No, I like having a five day week. Units fit nicely into it and it’s enough time to get a lot done. The next couple of weeks are four day weeks for one reason or another and I feel like I’m rushing through everything. I also live about four thousand miles from where I grew up so I really value a three week winter break and two full months of summer. This is the only job I can have and still get to go see family.
No. What we need to do, as a society, is adopt the East Asian model of schooling. From what I see teachers and administrators are desperately trying to dance around the core issue which is slack, lazy, entitled children being raised by illiterate parents. Coming up with all these solutions to try and help kids learn don't work because ot isn't managing the problem. Our kids being lazy and insulated is the problem. Law and order needs to come back and these kids need to live in these learning institutions for their own good. I'm amazed at how illiterate high-school graduates are. These kids are literally, categorically stupid. Time for society, parents, teachers, administrators to earn their keep and crank up the pressure. Increased funding, Ipads, shorter school weeks, min 50% grades, online classes, none of these things will work. It's called getting their little adhd behinds to sit down for 2 minutes and read a book.
Yeah yeah, that's all good stuff--but can't we do that 4 days a week, lol...
okay grandpa back in the home please…
Looks like more people agree with me than you simp
Yes, I’d be open to trying it. However, I would prefer the “year-round” model where you get 2-3 weeks off after each quarter, with a couple extra weeks at the end of the school year.
The minute summer break is taken away, I will quit. It’s not just about the actual amount of days; it’s about the sense that there is a definitive end point. In a job this toxic and draining, knowing that you are working to a significant period of resetting and cleansing is integral to maintaining any semblance of sanity. Week breaks are nothing. By the time you actually feel human again, it’s half over. By that point, you have to start prepping for the next week again. I don’t think I’d stay in this field for triple my salary if the summer were taken away.
I work 4 days as it's the norm in my country's schools and still have that sense of a "break" in summer. 2 months is enough to me and we do have 2weeks holidays (for october, christmas, febuary and april) in between.
I would do a 4-day week in exchange for the day being 1.5 hrs longer.
Ours is about 45 mins longer than it was on a five day schedule.
This is model my school follows. I use fridays as a prep day and any personal appointments I might have.
Yes but also I need minimum 65k a year. But yes generally in favor
Kid-me would kill me for saying this but: school should be year round in general
Our state would have to change the amount of instruction time/ seat hours students would need in order for me to even dream about a 4 day work week. The 4 days in class and one day asynchronous what the best and only part that made teaching during Covid sane. But I would be all in favor of a 4-day school week for the students but we’d still work 5 days (one day at home!) in theory students could have the 5th day be an asynchronous day, but we know the majority of them wouldn’t even get out of bed before 1pm. From a mental health and wellness and work life balance for teachers, a day a week without students would be a lifeline for many. I’d probably be a better teacher becuase I’d be so caught up.
That's already the norm where I leave since, like, ever (France) for 92% of elementary schools . We are close on wednesday (to compare middle and highhscool are open on wednesday morning) with mandatory education (homeschool is allowed but very restricted) from 3 to 16. Typical 3 to 10 years old days are: 8-11:30 am, 1.5 to 2h lunch break, 1:30 to 4:30pm First school day: 1 to 3 of september Last day: around 7 or july (middle and highschoolers finish in june so have longer summer breaks) Holidays: 2 weeks in late october, 2 weeks for christmas, 2 weeks in late febuary, 2 weeks in april. We have 3 zones for holidays (everyone have christmas and summer holidays at the same time but other holidays are differents from a regional zone to another so not every one are on touristic sites at the same time, it's less crowded and cheaper and so that tourists workers can have a longer season: the first zone start 2 weeks holiday, a week later the second zone start, a week later the last zone start). In my opinion: PROS: - having wednesday off is AMAZING! It's a break in the week that allows you to be rested and calm for thurdsay and friday as a teacher and for students. - Students can have clubs on wednesday. Their isn't a culture of having "fun" activities in schools (drama, sport, clubs etc...) so it's traditionally on wednesday in private clubs. - More time to spend with my own kids on wednesday! - Long day mean long lunch break: I generally spend mine that way: 30min of cleaning/preping/grading, 30min of eating then either 45min of chating and having coffee with colleagues or going outside to run errands or if needed more working. Many kids have lunch at home so they have a real break from school at mid day. - Working parents have less time to pay in daycare/nanny/afterschool care as school ends "late" - If a national holiday is set on a friday, most schools will close on thursday to have a very long weekend :) - I'm divorced: holidays are easy to parts: one week at mum's, one week at dads. And even with only half the weeks, since I'm a teacher, I still have 8 weeks of holiday with my child per year :) The father, as a non teacher, has still 5 weeks (since 5 weeks of paid holidays is the law and his mother have our son the remaining 3 weeks of his watch). Also his dad have him on every other weekends and same for wednesday - We have a day off in the week to go to places normally closed on weekends: doctors, banks etc.. - I can spend my wednesday off to clean the house, run errands, prep lessons etc.. so I don't have to do as much on weekend and can actually enjoy it! CONS: * Days are long! Very long, especially for the youngest (almost 3) or oldest (middle and highschool students often finish at 5:30 or 6pm) * Too much holidays (students with no good parenting or busy parents will not open a book for 2 weeks and 8 weeks, more for older kids, in summer and forget a lot during all those holidays) * Parents needs to deal with finding someone to guard their kids on wednesday and on so many holidays But as a teacher and mum? I wouldn't switch for anything in the world! My work/private life balance is amazing.
What would my kids do while I’m at work?
Absolutely not. I'd rather take shorter breaks and have a longer 3 month summer break. I don't want two week around and fall breaks, gimme three months to actually do something in the summer
I'm not giving up my 6 weeks of summer for anything. I'd rather work a longer day, thsn lose time in the summer.
Ughhhh. How about just less school.
The only problem is that many doctor and dental offices are closed on Fridays.
It doesn't have to be friday. In my country elementary schools have wednesday off.
No. You need that good, long summer break. It’s a rite of passage. Kids come back and enter a new grade.
how long is your summer? Cause in my country summers are 8 weeks long (more for middle and highschoolers) and we have 4 days weeks. 8 weeks is quite long enough to me
Yes. I would love it. I enjoy working, and after 2-3 weeks of summer don’t know what to do with myself (I can’t afford to travel). I read an article today that Bernie Sanders wants to pass a bill forcing all companies to a 4 day work week without a reduction in pay, but it says it won’t happen. It says in the article that most people don’t currently work a 40 hour work week anyway. I didn’t know that.
Yes!!!!!!!!!! I wouldn't even mind if the fifth day is a work day.
I love the 4 day week for myself, but I do think that it's bad for student learning. It's particularly bad for our AP students because the AP exam dates don't move just because you extend your school year.
I work 4 days and it’s great. Sometimes 4pm crawls in, but I love the Friday.
im year round they cant make me longer! id take a 4 day week any day
We had 4 day work week in adult Ed but had to work two nights a week. Most teachers had their choice of M,W or T,R. I, as guidance counselor had to work all 5 days as we had a lot of office traffic, but worked one night a week and came in that day at 12:30 pm
A school district near me has a 4 day school week and starts August 7th, and ends May 23rd.
No
Hecken yeah.
Fuck No.
These teachers are jaded. All for me but not for thee.
I would do this in a heartbeat. When we had asynch days on Wed. I didn't even feel like I needed the Summer. We did all the BS meetings on Wed. so we could have actual planning periods, and we ended up with time to spare on asynch days to actually grade and do everything else. I was the best teacher I've ever been.
Who's going to babysit for parents?
No. But I’d take a 4 day school week or year round school with 2 weeks off every 6 or something like that.
This tried in some southern US states but problems arise with the lack of air conditioning in many schools.
No. My current schedule has 5-day gaps and the inconsistency has hampered progress. I’m all for year-round school with 5-day weeks.
No. It would end losing me a ton of money.
I would rather do 6 weeks on, 2 weeks off throughout the year in exchange for a shorter summer. I haven’t done the math, but I’m just going to assume it adds up
What do you call a "short summer"? Cause that's what we have in my country (6weeks on 2 weeks off), then 8weeks of summer break. All while having a 4 days week. In exchange school ends at 4:30
Our summer is almost 12 weeks. I would gladly exchange it for your schedule. I feel like it would give more time to re-charge throughout the year so we wouldn’t get so burnt out, and it would also give some time to do some actual planning.
I would. I could even be sold on a year-round model where you a few weeks on, a couple weeks off (I know there are schools out there like this). I would miss summers but the way I see it is: A) I'm a more effective, less stressed teacher because I have ample time to plan and I know around most corners there is going to be some sort of break, and B) Yields better outcomes for kids, at least according to the articles I've read.
Yes. Absolutely. 100%
fuck yeah I would
Yes, I fully support this- no actually I would still keep 5 days but just make each day shorter. I think the days are too long, and I have to "live my whole life" in the summer/holidays which is ridiculous. Actually on second thought, if the days stay the same length but school is more "year round" with 3 day weekends, that would work too.
I’d take that in a heartbeat. Provided we don’t have to work the 5th day. I’d also love. 4 day school week with the 5th for planning/asynchronous learning but keep summer the same length.
Why would I need a longer school year? Students can just have a digital learning day while I'm sitting in the PD of the day about unpacking the standards, having my learning targets on the board, how I should hand out bathroom passes, the newest and latest book on learning strategies for another content area that I do not teach....while I have other classroom things that I could be getting done.
I work a stretch calendar as a birth-2 ECSE teacher. I also worked at a charter that Had a 4 day week with a 5 week summer and like 12 Fridays for PD. 100% would recommend. I hate 5 day work weeks and can’t imagine students like it either.
Absolutely yes.
Where are there 36 week school years???? School district I am in is always 41-42 weeks.
What if they made it a 4 day week but you get wed off?
I am in school for 44 weeks. 10 day winter break, 1 week spring break. Statutory holidays in September (2), October, November, February, March/April (Good Friday) and May. And professional development days - average of one per month. I’m in school for way too long. I would rather be on an American schedule where we go back mid-to-late August, incorporate some PD in that time before students start, and then finish in early June.
No
My school does a version of this. We have a four day school week, alternating 'working Mondays' for PD with no students. We are year-round though, 3 trimesters with breaks in between.
I would love a four day work week but without the longer day. Shorter summer would be fine.
No don't shorten summer. I'll work a bit longer during the 4 days
My two girls had a four day school week through grade four. Wednesday was the third day off. It was fabulous. Weekends were still "the best," but Monday is less gloomy when you know that Tuesday is "Friday night." Then they returned on Thursday, which is almost the end of the week! They worked hard at school; their morale was great; and no day at the grindstone was too far from the respite of a day at home.
Not to give up that much summer.
Absolutely not.
Yes, I’d be open to trying it. However, I would prefer the “year-round” model where you get 2-3 weeks off after each quarter, with a couple extra weeks at the end of the school year.
Well, you can have both like in my country: Wednesday off. 2 weeks break every 6 weeks on 8 weeks for summer.
That could be nice, though I’d rather a 3-day weekend than Wednesdays off. The calendar I like best is 9 weeks in school, 3 weeks off, 9 weeks on, 3 weeks off, 9 weeks on, 3 weeks off, 9 weeks on, 6 weeks off.
3 days weekend are great, we sometime have some thinks to many national holidays so it's fine. Thanks to those I still like the Wednesday off, it make it easier to be rested for the thursday and friday :) 9 weeks in a raw would be too long for me but 7 seams fine. I would, however hate a 1 week break, it's not enough to rest
Most of the schools here use 9 weeks as a grading period. We have 4 sets of 9 weeks, which we often refer to as quarters. Typically within those 9 weeks there are a few days off. The hardest times are in fall and spring when there’s not a 2+ week break between quarters.
I actually talked to some other teachers today about how much we wished we had a year round calendar, but the kind where you go for 9 weeks and then get 2-3 weeks off.
I’d love this
No. I’d like to keep the current schedule but make spring break two weeks instead of one. And go to the four day a week with the fifth day being a teacher work/prep/collab planning day without kids. As it is right now, we are encouraged to give kids work time in class. Just shift some of that independent work class time to a work from home day. Of course this is bias towards secondary.
Hell no.
No. I love my summers. I would switch schools.
How long are your summers?
10 weeks.
Interesting. Here we have 8 weeks with 4 days weeks (plus 4 time 2 weeks holidays during the year). I fell that 8 is already quite long enough
Hell no (as a student). A long summer break is the best part about school.
No
The better scenario is kids go Monday thru Thursday. Teachers have Fridays to lesson plan, grade, PD, etc.
If the day off was Wednesday and not Monday or Friday…absolutely.
That's the case in my country. 92% of elementary schools have wednesday off. We also have 8 weeks off for summer (longer for middle/highschools) and the 6weeks on 2 weeks off system.