Expanded Learning Time:
A Day In the Life of PENNINGTON Students
In her role as expanded learning time resource
teacher, O'Donnell created day-in-the-life
narratives to illustrate what a typical school day
1:30 pm
Math interventions or extensions. Ryan is
grouped according to his strengths and needs for
30 more minutes of math interventions or
extensions.
2:00 pm
Snack time. All students are given an afternoon
snack provided by the school.
8:10 am
Warm-up with literacy. Ryan’s teacher takes
him to his classroom for a short warm-up,
whole-group literacy activity.
2:05 pm
Science or social studies. Depending on the
day, this varies.
8:30 am
Breakfast. Many Pennington students come to
school hungry. For Ryan and his classmates,
starting the day with a healthy meal is
imperative. All students are provided breakfast.
2:50 pm
Academic specials block of art, music,
or physical education.
8:50 am
Core literacy. Focused on reading and writing.
10:45 am
Literacy interventions and extensions.
Ryan and all other intermediate students are
grouped according to strengths and areas of need
in literacy. Up to 10 additional staff members
support this block.
7:50 am
11:30 am
5
looks like for Pennington students. Here’s a look at
the schedule for Ryan, an intermediate student:
Start of the school day. When Ryan arrives at
school, he reports to the gym for his morning
assembly where he is inspired to start his day as
an active learner while staff take attendance and
lunch count. During these assemblies, staff and
students build community, covering topics such
as anti-bullying and testing attitudes. The
intermediate teachers have common planning
time during this morning meeting.
Academic extensions. Trained
paraprofessionals, a mental health team, and
licensed support staff — including a master
teacher, literacy coach, and interventionists
— provide academic extensions to Ryan and
his class while his teachers meet in their
professional learning communities.
12:20 pm
Recess & lunch.
1:00 pm
Core math. Ryan participates in core math
instruction at his competency level.
3:30 pm
4:20 pm
Enrichments. Ryan gets to choose
enrichments that quench his curiosity and
passions. Before each six-week enrichment
cycle, students are provided a written schedule
of all the enrichments available, which they can
review with their families and teachers and then
rank their selections. Craig and O’Donnell then
organize the enrichments based on these
rankings.
End of the school day.
Sixth-grade student Yahairi shares how expanded
learning time and enrichments have impacted her
experience at school.