This year, our 4th and 5th grade students are experiencing something new and exciting—something that feels a little more “grown up”: rotating classes each day for math, reading, and writing. Instead of staying with one teacher all day, for these three subjects, students rotate between teachers who bring unique expertise and passion for their content area.
Along with her elementary teaching license, Mrs. Kastner holds a mathematics teaching licensure as well. Mrs. Nerdahl is teaching reading and spelling as she has extensive knowledge of children's literature and reading comprehension strategies. And finally, Mrs. Shogren will be teaching grammar and writing as she has many years of teaching multiple genres of writing and excels at supporting all levels of writers.
This approach has already added a richness to our upper elementary program giving students the benefit of learning from multiple voices and teaching styles. By focusing on their areas of strength, teachers are able to dive deeper into lessons, offer greater support, and stretch students’ thinking in meaningful ways. The result has been engaging classes where students are not only building skills but also developing a deeper love for learning.
Even more importantly, this rotation is helping prepare students for the transition to middle school. By experiencing multiple teachers and classrooms now, our 4th and 5th graders are practicing skills like responsibility, organization, and adaptability—all in a supportive environment designed for their success. Dr. Morrison, Elementary Principal adds, “It’s been rewarding to watch the students figure out how to organize their work, prioritize their unfinished assignments/worksheets, communicate with each teacher and advocate for themselves as they try to learn new material.”
We’re excited to see how this model continues to benefit our upper elementary students. We love seeing their confidence grow as they take this next step in their learning journey!