I've taught in classes of 47 minutes, 1 hour 25 minutes and 1 hour 50
minutes. Currently (and for the past few years) I've done the 1 hour 25
minute period. (4 periods/day - 90 day terms).
I love the length of the period for both chem. and phys. I hate having
to cram everything into 90 days. I really don't like starting over again
in January - the energy I have in August just isn't at the same level
during the depths of winter.
Ok - I know those of you @ the college level do it all the time. I'm
just whining.
There's no perfect schedule. 47 to 55 minutes? For every activity,
there's set up and take down time. By the time you factor it in, there's
little time for actual activity, to say nothing about preparation and
closure.
1 hour and 50 minutes - (alternating days, with all 6 periods on
Monday). This lost all the positives of the block schedule. We all still
had 6 classes, most teachers taught for 45 minutes, then left the rest
of the time for study.
So...
I can deal with my current 85 minute period. It's not perfect. I can do
a lab/activity with preparation and closure. I have to drop some
material in both (chem. and phys) due to the 90 day term. I know my
students. I try not to waste time.