Schedule

This schedule allows for students to rotate through our 3 staff members to receive all their core and supplemental instruction throughout the day.

Organization

We keep our students organized with "book boxes" labeled with each of their names. It makes it easy for them to grab at the start of the day and put by their desk, only grabbing the materials they need for a given rotation at a time.

Technology

We have a smart board, and utilize it with our core curriculum to display items such as leveled readers, videos, or use it like a whiteboard to model exemplary work in a group. Sometimes we use it for our brain breaks and display a Go Noodle video for the students to move and dance to.

Classroom Layout

While our classroom has had many different set ups, this picture you can see our classroom library filled with leveled books. We have learning stations that take place at kidney tables, one in the front and one in the back where students receive their instruction in front of a teacher. With our school combining so many grades, we also utilize a layout where we pair older students next to younger students for help during independent seat work times.

Art Prize

Our students were able to experience the importance of Art and the variety of ways of expressing yourself at the Grand Rapids, MI Art Prize.

Art Prize

In front of Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.

Art Prize

Many of the Art Prize pieces were set up at Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, making this trip a time to learn about History as well.

Art Prize

Our students overlooking an art piece in the river, enjoying the views in Grand Rapids.

Art Prize

Art Prize offers many "creation stations" for students to get creative and make their own art with a variety of materials.

Country Mill

Our Field trip to Country Mill Orchard in Charlotte, MI discussed the science behind apple trees, and the process of making cider, as well as the opportunity to pick our very own pumpkin!

Force and Motion

Almost all grades learned about Force and Motion in some way, so this activity had students building a ramp and testing it for speed with a marble. They quickly learned what affects speed and how you can modify a design.

Force and Motion

Force and Motion continued

Halloween Party

We have many classroom celebrations, allowing for fun afternoons with creative games and activities.

Halloween Party

Halloween Party continued

Halloween Party

Halloween Party continued.

Science Alive

We had a guest speaker from Science Alive in Detroit, MI bring some animal friends for us to enjoy! All our grades learned about animals at some point throughout the school year.

Science Alive

Science Alive continued, our students enjoying the snake.

Science Alive

Our friend the Sloth. He was a class favorite!

Junior Achievement

For 5 weeks, one hour each week, we had Junior Achievement representatives come to our school to teach different lessons about Social Studies-this year, they focused on economics, and our community.

Abraham Lincoln

When possible, we incorporate whole class activities with projects that all grade levels can complete. This one was a book they got to make that taught them facts about the importance of Abraham Lincoln. For fun, we made "Abraham Lincoln Hats" to go along with the project. Older students helped the younger students read and complete the book.

March

We include celebrations and opportunities to make learning fun. March is reading month was no exception. We had a Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) day every week, different themes each week, a reading log challenge, and a Magician help us celebrate the end of our festivities.

Green Eggs

To celebrate St. Patricks day, Dr. Seuss, and reading in general, we had a "Green Eggs and Ham" lunch for the students.

Green Eggs

Eating our green eggs and ham lunch while watching "Green Eggs and Ham" on the Smart Board.

Jeff the Magician

Jeff the magician was incorporated into our March is Reading Month celebration. He presented a "Reading is Magic" show. It had students, teachers, and parents alike in awe- not only of the magic, but of the importance of reading!

Jeff the Magician

One of our students volunteering. This magic show did an amazing job of involving the audience!

Give a Note

During March is Reading Month, we incorporated kindness into the month with this "Give a note, get a note" activity. Students were provided sticky notes to write "positive notes" to each other, making at least one note specific to each classmate. We then played up beat music, and they stuck the notes on students desks, cubbies, and backs. Students then were able to read and keep the nice notes their friends wrote about them. Many of them made little "collages" like this student.

Give a Note

Working hard writing their positive notes to their classmates.

Give a Note

Give a Note, Get a Note continued

Give a Note

Give a Note

The classroom was filled with kindness!

Give a Note

We loved Give a Note, Get a Note day!

Boulder Ridge

Students enjoyed a visit to Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park in Alto, MI. We enjoyed a guided safari ride and many more activities visiting the animals!

Boulder Ridge

We got a private show with baby animals, this one being a baby kangaroo!

Boulder Ridge

Boulder Ridge had an amazing giraffe exhibit, and sold food where you could feed giraffes, goats, birds, and many other animals.

Boulder Ridge

Having fun on the train ride!

Field Day

After a fun filled year getting to know each other, we ended the year with a half day field day with fun activities and events promoting teamwork.

Field Day

Field Day continued

Field Day

Field Day continued.

Field Day

We celebrated after field day with an awards ceremony. Each student received a certificate celebrating their accomplishments throughout the year.