Maggie's Kinder Corner

If you are very blessed in this life… you may have the opportunity as a teacher to work with someone who helps to mold your own approach to teaching. This was the privilege I enjoyed for more than 30 years, both as a parent and as a co-worker. Yesterday, our community lost that precious light, […]

It has been a busy couple of months! I am the accompanist for our high school choirs and musicians in addition to my regular teaching position as a kinder teacher.  Blogging has not been a priority, but I will try to do better! Being busy also means it is important to build momentum as we wind […]

And…then there was the FLU! Whoa is me! This has been one for the books, hasn’t it?! When I realized I hadn’t blogged since December 1, I decided I had better get on the ball! I do hope you are on the sunny side of the flu as well! This year has been zooming by. […]

Ode to December Oh December, how can it be You are here already, oh dear me! It seems we just started Now the year is half through. Don’t get me wrong, I’m kind of, sort of, not really… Ready for you! Said every teacher, everywhere! by Maggie from Maggie’s Kinder Corner, 2017   How can […]

Things are moving along so quickly, and November is nearly half over! My littles are busying themselves with work on CVC words, beginning sounds, numbers to 20 and more! It finally feels like we are becoming independent in our work and our routines. Can I get a “Yeah?!!!” A major component of learning in our […]

Love, Love, LOVE Fall! This has been a strange fall so far with unusually warm temps. We should have tons of leaves on the ground, and plenty of colorful ones still in the trees.  Convincing students the season has arrived can be a little challenging. *It doesn’t feel like fall. Still hot outside. *It doesn’t […]

The challenge? Checking for understanding during whole group lessons! Over the years I have tried many methods of spot checking students’ knowledge of a skill. Many times we are choosing a sound or identifying a letter. I love Plickers, and use dry erase boards or Boogie boards frequently, but why not have a laminated letter […]

So, how is your letter identification plan working out? Each year, about half of my kinders learn letter names and sounds like clockwork, acquiring the entire alphabet by early November. The other half need additional support to make progress. What games, strategies or practices work? Each year it is important to remember: Immersion is your […]

Yes, it has been a while since I posted! School for my district began on August 7! Teachers trained, met with grade levels, planned…then on August 10th, we welcomed our students! There must have been a “something in the water” the year they were born, because our numbers continue to grow, both in our own district […]

There are always one or two…   Kids who have separation anxiety can have a stressful first day of school, so teachers need to do as much as possible to help the transition be a smooth one. What do I do? Here are five things I do every year: 1. Greet the student with a […]