In schools across the country, different types of class periods shape how students learn, engage, and succeed. From traditional scheduling to specialized intervention periods, each type serves a unique purpose in supporting academic growth and student well-being. Depending on your jurisdiction, these support periods may count as academic minutes while also serving as valuable opportunities for student engagement, intervention, and enrichment, allowing schools to integrate them into structured instructional time. This guide will explore the different types of school periods, their benefits, and how schools can optimize them to enhance student outcomes.
Understanding the Different Types of School Periods
Intervention & Support Periods
These periods provide targeted academic or behavioral support to students who need extra help or enrichment.
1. RTI (Response to Intervention) Periods
- Structured intervention for struggling students
- Uses data-driven decisions to provide tiered levels of support
- Focused on academic or behavioral improvement
2. EI (Extended Intervention) Periods
- Similar to RTI but may involve extended time for deeper intervention
- Provides additional tutoring or focused instructional support
Student Choice & Enrichment Periods
These periods give students flexibility in how they use their time, allowing for enrichment, remediation, or extracurricular activities.
3. Flex Periods
- Provides students with choice in their daily schedule
- Can be used for clubs, office hours, tutoring, or extracurriculars
- Enhances student autonomy and engagement
4. WIN (What I Need) Periods
- Flexible intervention or enrichment time
- Helps students receive targeted support in weak areas or pursue advanced learning
- Often student-driven with teacher recommendations
Mentorship & Advisory Periods
These periods focus on academic planning, personal growth, and social-emotional learning.
5. Advisory Periods
- Provides mentorship, social-emotional learning, and academic check-ins
- Encourages relationship-building between students and staff
- Can be used for goal setting, college planning, and community-building activities
6. Pride Periods
- A variation of advisory time with a focus on school culture and community
- May include team-building activities, leadership development, or SEL initiatives
- Can also serve as a check-in period for academic progress
Homeroom & Administrative Periods
These periods handle attendance, announcements, and student organization.
7. Homeroom
- Short period at the start of the day for administrative tasks
- Includes attendance, announcements, and general student check-ins
- Some schools integrate advisory-like elements
How Schools Can Optimize Their Periods
Choosing the right period structure depends on a school’s goals, student needs, and scheduling flexibility. Schools that offer targeted support through RTI, WIN, or flex periods often see improved academic performance and engagement. The key is to implement a scheduling solution that makes managing these periods seamless for administrators and teachers.
How ElasticClass Can Help
ElasticClass is an innovative RTI scheduling tool designed to simplify the logistics of intervention and enrichment periods. Schools using ElasticClass can:
- Easily schedule RTI, WIN, and flex periods without administrative headaches.
- Ensure students get the right support at the right time with built-in student tracking.
- Improve staff coordination by centralizing scheduling and communication.
Learn More About Each Period Type
- Explore WIN Periods
- Discover RTI Scheduling
- See the benefits of Flex Periods
By structuring school periods effectively, schools can maximize learning opportunities and help students thrive. Explore how ElasticClass can transform your scheduling process and empower your students today!
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