March 28, 2024

Orient-Macksburg takes targeted approach to learning

O-M implements combined classrooms for 2015-16 school year

ORIENT — It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.

Amid statewide budget concerns and small class sizes, the Orient-Macksburg Bulldogs are taking a new approach to providing a quality education for their students with targeted instruction and combined classrooms.

“It is all about providing a quality experience for a quality price,” said O-M’s Superintendent Clark Wicks, who has been with the school district for three years. “Orient-Macksburg, as well as every other school, needs to run a system very efficiently to be sustainable.”

This fall, third- and fourth-grade students; fifth- and sixth-grade students; and seventh- and eighth-grade students will share classrooms. For reading and math, the students will break into small groups depending on their proficiency level to receive targeted instruction.

O-M principal Teresa Thompson said in previous years they allowed students to take an advanced math or science class depending on their assessments, so the students are already comfortable with the combined classroom.

“In any group, you have a wide range of abilities,” Thompson said. “This allows you to meet the needs of both groups.”

Specials like art, music and physical education will be experienced as a combined class. Social science classes — such as science and history — will be taught on a rotating curriculum to make sure all students are exposed to the same topics.

“We had to look at how we could be efficient and still offer good, differentiated instruction for our kids,” Wicks said. “Things haven’t really changed too drastically. We already had small groups for reading and math depending on their skill level and what they need.”

By combining classes, Wicks said they were able to reduce their total staff by five teachers without giving a dismissal notice.

“We know that it takes some preparation to teach this style,” Thompson said. “We are comfortable, the teachers are comfortable, and we have no concerns that this will be successful.”

Training

Wicks said a significant portion of their professional development for the past two years has been focused on differentiated instruction. By reviewing assessments, teachers are able to group students together to create the best learning environment.

“If you look at effective schools, it is not only what the teacher can give to the students, it is creating that class of cooperation, that class and culture of helping each other,” Wicks said.

Wendy Eslinger, an Orient-Macksburg board member and parent of an eighth- and fourth- grade student, said she believes the combined classrooms will help challenge students at all learning levels.

“It’s not all about the budget, it is about getting that positive learning experience,” Eslinger said. “It is a way to keep our test scores up and being able to create a positive atmosphere for the teachers. By getting more kids in the room, it will hopefully keep their creative minds going.”

Wicks said the largest combined class will have about 23 students. The new learning model does not change kindergarten, first grade or second grade. High school students have the opportunity to take classes in Creston and online through Southwestern Community College.

“When you combine classes at the lower level, that is a much more difficult situation,” Wicks said. “Even though they are at a lower level … there are so many very acute and emotional needs. They need to be nurtured a little bit differently.”

Thompson said working in groups helps challenge students and allows the older students to serve as a mentor for younger classmates.

“We can all work together to make this a jewel of a school,” Wicks said. “We want to make sure Orient-Macksburg continues to thrive as well as survive and be sustainable for a long period of time.”

Eslinger said it has been encouraging as a parent that the teachers involved in the transition have been on board with the idea from the beginning and share the belief it is the best option for the children’s learning environment.

Since class sizes fluctuate, Wicks said the classroom structure will be fluid to keep the teacher and student ratio manageable, while still accommodating students at all learning levels.

“I see a great value in small schools,” Wicks said. “Orient-Macksburg is able to offer so many things in a small setting like the teamwork and mentoring; kids that know each other very readily, yet have a taste of a larger school when they get to high school working with Creston. It is truly the best of both worlds.”