1. What are you concerned about? Self-Contained Concerns Addressed Is my child going to be ready for middle school? The self-contained will not affect the rigor of our academic program. What do the other schools in our cluster do? Morningside-Full Departmentalization (4 th -5 th ) Springdale-Full Departmentalization (5 th ) Hope-Hill-Self-Contained Centennial Place—Departmentalized (5 th ) If the teacher doesn’t enjoy teaching the subject, is the quality of teaching going to drop? All of the teachers are certified and qualified to teach all elementary academic subjects.

2. What are you concerned about? Self-Contained Concerns Addressed Additional pressure on the teachers. Our K-3 rd grade teachers balance teaching all of the subjects well. We trust that the 4 th and 5 th grade teachers will do the same with our support. NCTM recommends departmentalized in 4 th and 5 th grades. The NCTM recommends Math Specialists and Math Coaches to support classroom teachers at the elementary level. Communication to share resources among the grade level may be difficult. Teachers will have common planning a minimum of three times per week. Teacher buy-in Most of the teachers support this decision. We believe in their ability to transition smoothly to this structure.

3. What are you concerned about? Self-Contained Concerns Addressed Teacher-student compatibility This would work the same as it does K-3. Achievement scores This will be our first year with self-contained structure in 4 th and 5 th grades. We will evaluate the data throughout the year. Math scores have dropped in 4 th and 5 th grade Yes, which was one of the catalysts for the move to self-contained. Stakeholder buy-in During the first year of being self-contained, there will be opportunities for feedback. Experience in trailers-confined space and noise. Students will still move to different areas for art, music and PE.

4. What are you concerned about? Self-Contained Concerns Addressed My student won’t have the experience of multiple teachers. Students will still move to different areas for art, music and PE. They will also receive Spanish instruction two times per week. No break from the actual space of the classroom. Students will still move to different areas for art, music and PE. They will also have recess. Long-term substitutes would teach all subjects This would work the same as it does K-3.