The Raymond L. Young Elementary Upper Grade Academy Program utilizes a four-way subject rotation where students experience four different teachers for reading, math, science, and social studies. This allows teachers to specialize in specific subjects and spend more time preparing content-focused lessons. Students benefit from interacting with multiple instructors and adapting to different teaching styles. Students and teachers report enjoying the variety of the rotation model and that it helps students transition to middle school where they will change classes.

1. Raymond L. Young Elementary
Upper Grade Academy Program

2. A good place to learn and grow…

3. Organization of the Program
• Students rotate four times during the day
• Reading is taught in the homeroom
• Core subjects taught among 4 teachers

4. Academics…Why this works!
• Teachers can spend more time preparing for a core
subject for all 5th and 6th graders
• Students experience the expertise of 4 educators
during the day
• Narrowing the teaching focus to dig deeper into
content
• Teachers compare notes when a learning or
discipline issue arises

5. Life Skills
• Using planners and organizing for 4 classes
• Time management
• Interacting with four different
instructors
• Adapting to four different
teaching styles
• Interacting with other grade level
and serving as role models

6. What do the students say…
The UGA is awesome. We switch 4 times, all the teachers are
all nice. I love that we do 4 different subjects with for
different teachers. Payton McDonald, fifth grade
I love all of my classes. The teachers are so sweet. But my favorite
subject in the UGA is science. Yesterday we looked into microscopes
to look at germs and all sorts of things. Next in Mrs. French’s class I
learned that D.C. stands for District of Columbia. Then we went to
math with Mrs. Harris. My whole table did good. So the UGA is fun!
Chloe Dates, fifth grade

7. What do the students say…
My first few days were awesome. I learned lots of new things.
I think that Science is the best subject. Social Studies with Mrs.
French was very fun. We learned what symbols on the map
mean. Math with Mrs. Harris is energetic. She doesn’t teach
you boring math. She puts math into life stories. She really
does put math into stories so you can learn much better. As
you can see, the UGA is Awesome.
LaQuez Weed, fifth grade

8. What do the students say…
We still get to go to our old teachers.
Todd Peters, 6th grade
I like the four way swap because it lets you exercise a lot. I feel
so much like a grown up. Nolan Atchison, fifth grade

9. Teacher thoughts
“I like the four way swap. I enjoy working with different
teachers daily. Sharing input with four teachers is beneficial in
helping students succeed.”
Mrs. Valerie Harris
“Sharing four different teachers makes the day run smoother
for both teachers and students.” Mrs. Reva French

10. Teacher thoughts
“I enjoy being a part of the upper grade academy. We do a four way
swap that I think is very beneficial to the students as well as the
teachers. The students enjoy having 4 different teachers during the
day and they get a variety of teaching styles. It also helps them with
the transition of swapping classes at the middle school.
When the 6th grade students return from the summer, a rapport has
already been established. It makes it easier when you know their
abilities. It also helps the parents when problems come up because
they are able to get the feedback from four teachers as opposed to
one.”
Mrs. Selena Nelson

11. “It’s a great way to bridge the gap between
upper elementary and middle school.”
Mrs. Roxanne Lamberth