Mrs. Coates in Kindergarten	Mrs. Coates now (still in Kindergarten)

Welcome:                                                                                                          
My name is Mary Coates and I will be your child's teacher this year.  I look forward to working with your child and getting to know them better throughout the school year.  Below is some information about me so you and your child can get to know me better as well.

Personal:
Born in New York and have lived in Michigan, Iowa, Oklahoma and now South Dakota
Am the 7th of 10 children and learned all I know about children from my wonderful mother
Am married to another Douglas teacher and we have 3 sons that attend Douglas Schools
Interests include my Faith, Family, Genealogy, Reading, Teaching, Flowers, Travel, the Irish, and learning new things

Education and Experience:
Elementary Education Degree from Cameron University, Lawton, Oklahoma
Masters in Educational Administration from South Dakota State University, Brookings South Dakota
45 additional credits in coursework including Science, Math, Reading, Social Studies,Technology, Learning Theory, and Early Childhood 
Kindergarten teacher in the Douglas School District since 1987- half-day program, full day-every other day program,
and full day everyday Kindergarten program.

Educational Belief Statements:
I Believe That:
*All children can learn and deserve to have teachers who respect and care about them and encourage them to grow in all areas.
* A child's physical and emotional needs must be met before they can move forward with new learning in school.
* It is my responsibility to provide children with a safe, comfortable place in which they can take chances and learn.
* Students need to know what is expected of them and have some structure to their day while allowing flexibility to
   explore new opportunities as they arise.
* Learning can and should be fun and enjoyable and that children need to laugh some everyday.
*Kindergarten is a time of social growth and the social aspect of our program is every bit as important as the academic aspect.
*Children all bring special personalities and talents to my classroom and need to be appreciated for those gifts.
*Children have various ways to learn and I need to provide for their auditory (hearing), visual (looking), and
 kinesthetic (touching), learning style through a variety of lessons that will involve them completely.
*Parents and teachers want what is best for their children and must work together to help children succeed in
  school.
*I am a guide for students, who can show them how to find answers as they become proficient problem solvers.
*Children have a natural curiosity for learning about the world around them and it is my job to foster a love of  
  lifetime learning in the children I serve.

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For a teacher to live forever in the heart and memory of even a single child is the best tribute of all.  AFI Notable Quote