Mrs. Niederstadt's Parent Letter

May 27, 2008

May 27, 2008

Dear Parents, 

Last Friday the elementary had a meeting to discuss our set-up for next year.  Here are the results:

  • Kindergarten – Mr. Kudlack
  • K/1 – Mrs. Lyman
  • First – Mrs. N
  • Second – Mr. Mauntler
  • 2/3 – Mrs. Eichberger
  • Third – Mrs. Catanese
  • Fourth – Mrs. Bennett
  • Fifth – Mrs. Brown
  • Fifth – Mr. Neph

Kindergarten, K/1 and First will rotate students/subjects.  Also Second, 2/3, and Third will rotate students/subjects.  Students will have a homeroom teacher, but they will see all teachers throughout the day.  Each teacher will be responsible for teaching a core subject area: language arts, math, and science/social studies.  Students will learn reading, writing and spelling from their homeroom teacher.  In the past this has been done with second –fifth grade.  This is a new concept for DK-first grade. 

This concept is called “platooning.”  Platooning helps the split classroom teacher (K/1 and 2/3) with lesson planning.  At the beginning of the year I was responsible for prepping for the eight core subject areas: language art (1st), language arts (2nd), math (1st), math (2nd), science (1st), science (2nd), social studies (1st), and social studies (2nd).  A straight classroom teacher has four.  Luckily Mrs. Bromley was available to take second grade math and then Mrs. Eichberger was able to take second grade science and social studies.  It’s difficult to cover all the core subject material for one grade; it is almost impossible to complete two grade levels in one room with one teacher. 

Of course we would like to make it easier on the students as well.  It’s difficult to learn listening to two different lessons going on at one time.

Michigan economy is weak.  The budget is limited.  We are working hard to be creative on our limited resources.  Our focus has always been teaching our students to the best of our abilities.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. 

Thanks,

Shantel sniederstadt@manistee.org

Mrs. N.'s Main Page for 2007-2008

http://www.onekama.k12.mi.us