One Warm Coat Drive  

Once again GLM will be participating in the One Warm Coat community service project to benefit mothers and children in need in our local community. The drive is scheduled to run November 30th- December 14th. So hold onto those outgrown coats, jackets, hats, scarves and mittens as you start your shopping this year, and help us spread warmth this holiday season!  

Dear Camellia family,
The toddlers have been very busy in the classroom. Every morning they butter the toast and cut the apples for the morning snack. The children are also helping to set up the classroom, put down chairs, make wash cloths, and fill water for the water jug. Just a friendly reminder: if you're going to be late or not able to come to school please let's us know. If you come after 9 am, please ask one of the teachers to help with your goodbye.     

As the Fall brings a chill, the children bring their  enthusiasm for helping.  Maria Montessori said, "We do not begin school by giving material to the child but by preparing a peaceful environment around him."  The children's sense of order is strong.  They make the activities on the shelves look beautiful and the floor spotless. We practice crumbing the table and sweeping the floor with intensity.  Repetition engrains the activities of our hands in our minds.     

The third years in our class often conduct small group lessons or give individual work presentations of things they have mastered over their time in Jacaranda. A favorite lesson to give is reading an "early reader" book. The younger children are very patient and listen carefully as the third years sound out the words. We are looking very forward to our Thanksgiving feast on Monday! Thank you for helping your children bring in a feast contribution.           

Grace and Courtesy lessons are given to each child in the environment and usually in a group.  It is the teacher's role to give the children the correct words, and the precise movements. The child then fully absorbs the how, the when, and the vocabulary used to make their environment  more pleasant. During this week we have worked on "How to carry materials and place them back" and "How to watch someone using materials without disturbing".         

The Live Oak children have been having a blast learning about magnets and magnetism this month. They start with an exploratory tray that has a variety of types and sizes of magnets. Then they're shown how to test and categorize objects into groups that are magnetic and not magnetic. Finally, to apply this knowledge, the children are shown how to create a compass using a needle, cork, and bowl of water. Science, yeah!

Magnolia children have continued to develop their interest in vertebrates. We are learning names of different species and the parts of their bodies. We have also started to discuss Thanksgiving and the
concept of gratitude. The children are gaining an awareness of what makes them happy.  It's been great fun to express our appreciation for everything in life from beach houses to frogs and, of course, our appreciation and love for family members.      

The toddlers are getting ready for their Thanksgiving feast. This week they are gathering leaves and making placemats for the table. The children will help make the whole feast. Our Menu is homemade lasagna, corn on the cob, rolls, homemade butter, sparkling cider and carrot cake. On Monday, the children will make butter by shaking whipping cream in jars. The children will arrange flowers in vases to decorate their tables. Conferences are Dec.6 and Dec. 7.