Chapter 15: The Implementation and Use of Common Planning Time: A Study of Four Middle Schools

The research presented in this chapter examined the relationships between teacher backgrounds and experiences, together with the amount of common planning time (CPT) provided, to determine what, if any, impact they have on the types of activities teachers engaged in during CPT. As part of the National Middle Grades Research Project on Common Planning Time, the data collected for this study used a quantitative online teacher survey. The content of the survey focused on interdisciplinary team teachers and their use of CPT. The findings from this study suggested that the frequency and length of CPT meetings does influence the types of activities teachers engage in during their meetings. In addition, some characteristics of teachers’ background and experience also influenced the types of activities engaged in during CPT meetings.