Peterman's Update for September 29 - October 3

Dear Parents,

Well another week has passed and it has been a good week.The students are really adjusting to what I expect and have been doing a good job following the rules. Each student is learning to except consequences for their behavior. Whether these consequences be small or large they are starting to recognize how they can improve themselves.

     This past week we focused on behavior skills and learned how to accept our behaviors and recognize that I have learned from my mistakes. The students are excepting their time out of the pool and realize they have alot of chances to still be part of the pool bunch. At this point I don't have many students with over 10 minutes of missed swim time. this week is another week so we will see if they have learned.

During class time we have been studying about coins and money. Please continue to practice these skills with your son or daughter as we progress through the year. I simple technique is to empty your pocket change at the table and have your son or daughter recognize the different coins and name their value or better yet have them try and determine how much it is. Have them take the pop cans back and count them out and have them practice their skills of counting by tens. these are simple ways to help your son or daughter be exposed to simple money concepts we are practicing as well.

     Each week we also have been working on basic reading skills. to assist your son or daughter have them read to you the stories they come home with on Friday. these stories are either symbol written or have actual words. I have been trying to influence vocabulary and want the kids to speak in whole sentences where possible. If they have a story, practice with them and keep track of unfamiliar words and then review.

     During our domestics we will also try and do a simple recipe with the kids. the recipes can be repeated and are ones simple to read. this week we did Smores. the kids loved them and they were simple to make. the recipe we followed came home so give it a try as well.

     Just to remind you  that on Wednesday, October 1,2014 we will be swimming again. the kid had a good time last week and really enjoyed the time in the pool. Please be sure to label your son or daughters suit and towel if possible. this makes it alot easier for me to know whose suit or towel one belongs to if I find it on the floor. Once again feel free to come and watch. We swim from 11:00 to 12:00 at the Kent city pool. We would love to have you join us if you like to swim.

     This week I plan to incorporate manners into my lessons. Please help your son or daughter with this daily. We want to be sure we appreciate what others do for us and make them recognize this as well.

    I want to remind you as well. Please check your emails. I will send out a blast weekly to remind you of events or even give you a weekly update. 

Doug Peterman

Peterman’s Page

Update for Week of September 22- 29

Dear Parents,

Well we have made through another successful week. The kids seem to be in a routine and are getting used to the business of their school schedule. We have a very good routine and the kids seem to enjoy this. We have been doing a lot of reviewing and determining where the kids are at in their academics. This helps me place them in an appropriate group when we work on our academics. We have started on our field trips and we also have been working on our behavior. We all need a lot of reminders but I want the kids to realize we need to respect each other, follow the rules within our classroom and community. We also have worked on setting goals for our self that require changing our behaviors. I also ask the kids Who is responsible for their behavior and who can change it. I canguide it but I cannot change it for them.

Next week we begin our swimming at Kent City pool. Each student will be given the opportunity to swim but they need to earn their time. Earning time in the pool is a privilege and not a right. Students can earn their time by following the rules of the classroom and keeping their behavior in check. Some of the simple rules to follow are: 1. Having respect for others- Keeping hands to yourself, Not saying bad things to others, not talking back to the teacher or other adults. I want them to be polite, Be courteous. Be thoughtful and Be Mannerly. If students get caught breaking these guidelines they must accept the consequence. Students can earn up to 50 minutes to swim. They will be monitored by an individual chart each week that shows them time they have gained or lost. If they have 50 minutes at the end they swim the whole time. If they lost time they sit at the beginning until their time is up. This goes on for all the weeks we swim and starts over each week. The charts will run from Wednesday to Wednesday. The dates for swimming are as follows: September 24, October 1, 8, 15,22, and 29. Please send in a towel, swimsuits and a plastic bag for wet suits in the end. If the kids want to bring goggles they may do this as well. If you would like to join us please feel free any time. The more eyes in the pool the better. We will be at Kent city pools swimming from 11:00 to 12:00. If you have any questons please feel free to call or send me an email  at doug.peterman@spartaschools.org

Thankyou for all the supplies sent in. It is nice to have extras as the seasons change. If you sent in money to help with the cost of outings this is appreciated as well. I will continue to send updates via email so check them on a regular basis if possible. I am intending to send home communication notebooks or planners. My planners have not arrived but look for them soon. Thanks for all your support.

Sincerely,

Doug Peterman

Mr. Peterman’s Update for week of September 2-5

Dear Parents,

Well we have made it through the first week. The kids were a little tired at times but really did quite well. We are working to get ourselves into a routine so hope that helps. The kids seem to be happy to be back. I am overly happy as well to see their smiling faces once again. I have seen a lot of growing up in some of my students and look to them having a wonderful year.
This year we are happy to welcome Christian Everett comes to us from Appleview and Sandra DeVault comes to us from Byron Center. I also want to welcome back to our class my teacher assistants. My teacher assistants are as follows: Mrs. Dorwin and Mrs. Fuller (new to the class) these ladies are with me on Monday, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. New to the classroom and with me only on Tuesdays are Mr. Dorwin and Mrs. Wilde.

I want to thankyou for being efficient in returning the forms I handed out at open house or on the first day of school. If you haven’t returned them please do so. If you lost them I can get you another one. These forms help me when needing information in case of an emergency. If you are working on getting a Special Olympic physical just turn in the form when it is completed.

As we begin the year I look forward to working with each and every one of you . Your son or daughter is a very important part of my life and I want to be sure you feel the same. Your decision are very important to help me get to know your son or daughter better.  As I stated in my earlier letter the best way to get ahold of me is through email. I can be reached at doug.peterman@spartaschools.org  the phone does work and you can dial 616-887-8211 /ext 2319 and I will get your message as well. I will work as efficiently as I can to return your emails or phone calls. I am working on getting daily planners to be used for communication as well. These planners have been ordered and should arrive at yor doorsteps soon. These messages wil be short notes to help you communicate with your son or daughter as to how their day may have been.

Just a few updates on upcoming events:

Thursday, September 11, 2014 School Picture Day. I am sending you a form today so you can review and return if you desire to have school pictures of your son or daughter. Please be very specific and put the money in an envelope. I will be sure the photographer gets your packet.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014(tentatively scheduled) we are planning on going to the movies. We will be seeing the LEGO movie at Celebration cinema. The kids will have pop and popcorn for a simple cost of 3.00 if you can help subdue the cost.

Finally, if you could help out with some simple supplies it is greatly appreciated. We can always use Kleenex, sanitary wipes, markers, expo markers or even hand held sanitizers. Anything is appreciated.

As the months go by I will send out email blasts so you have the information provided. Most of this will be an attachment to email so I hope you get it. Thanks for your listening ear and support as always. I look forward to a great year.

Doug Peterman