Grade Span
Our school services students in the fifth and sixth grade.
Teaming
Teachers are grouped into teams of four with one teacher representing each discipline area-- language arts, science, math, and social studies. Within each team, both fifth and sixth grade will be represented. Inclusion teachers will be placed throughout the groups.
Adapted from NMSA Research Summary (2004). Interdisciplinary Teaming. http://www.nmsa.org/Research/ResearchSummaries/Summary21/tabid/250/Default.aspx.
Grouping
Our students will be placed into heterogeneous, grade-specific classrooms (i.e. Fifth grade: no ability grouping). We are educating our students to be functioning members of society and within that society they will be forced to work with people of differing gender and ability level.
Schedule
Our school day lasts from 8:00 a.m. until 3:05 p.m. We follow an 8 period, 45 minute schedule. One of these periods is designated as advisor/advisee meeting time. Below is a sample schedule:
5th Grade| Time | Period | Instruction Time |
| 8:00-8:45 | 1st Period | 45 Minutes |
| 8:50-9:35 | 2nd Period | 45 Minutes |
| 9:40-10:25 | 3rd Period | 45 Minutes |
| 10:30-11:15 | 4th Period | 45 Minutes |
| 11:15-11:45 | Lunch | 30 Minutes |
| 11:50-12:35 | Advisory | 45 Minutes |
| 12:40-1:25 | 6th Period | 45 Minutes |
| 1:30-2:15 | 7th Period | 45 Minutes |
| 2:20-3:05 | 8th Period | 45 Minutes |
| Time | Period | Instruction Time |
| 8:00-8:45 | 1st Period | 45 Minutes |
| 8:50-9:35 | 2nd Period | 45 Minutes |
| 9:40-10:25 | 3rd Period | 45 Minutes |
| 10:30-11:15 | 4th Period | 45 Minutes |
| 11:20-12:05 | ADVISORY | 45 Minutes |
| 12:05-12:35 | Lunch | 30 Minutes |
| 12:40-1:25 | 6th Period | 45 Minutes |
| 1:30-2:15 | 7th Period | 45 Minutes |
| 2:20-3:05 | 8th Period | 45 Minutes |
Advisory Programs
The purpose of these programs is to:
- Promote opportunities for social development.
- Assist students with academic problems.
- Facilitate positive involvement between and among teachers and administrators and students.
- Provide an adult advocate for each student in the school.
- Promote a positive school climate.
Advisory programs consist of a small group of students (usually 20 or fewer) assigned to a teacher, administrator, coach, or other staff member for a regularly scheduled meeting to discuss topics of concern to students. The staff member will be an advisor and the students, advisees. Fifth grade students will meet with their advisor in a designated place (most often the teacher's classroom) before the lunch period. Sixth grade students will meet following their lunch period. This time will be used for studying, help with personal problems, advice, conflict resolution, and to foster positive relationships between teacher and student. During the advisory period on TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS activities will be completed during this time (Ex. school spirit, team building, trust, character education).
Length: 45 minutes
Frequency: Daily
(NMSA, http://www.nmsa.org/research/researchsummaries/advisoryprograms/tabid/812/default.aspx)
Physical Location
Odyssey Middle School is located in the rural town of Flight, Arkansas. Every member in our school community seeks to meet the needs of students raised in this setting.