Teacher Scheduling Guidelines Approved

New guidelines for the amount of time teachers should spend on classroom activities, from the Pledge of Allegiance to phonics, were approved this week by the school board.

The Time Allotment Standards are broken down into the minimum number of minutes, weekly and daily, that each of the elementary schools should use for lessons in language, mathematics, arts, physical education, classroom business and other areas.

Standards, which replace outdated guidelines, differ between grades. Kindergarten teachers, for example, should spend a minimum of 40 minutes opening the day with sharing, the flag salute, roll call and class business; 110 minutes on reading, writing and language arts; and 30 minutes on physical education and recess.