Happy Thanksgiving!

 This month, we have welcomed a few more students and have been discussing and celebrating Fall. Children have talked about the leaves changing, picking pumpkins, and going on hayrides. During our Fall Sharing Celebration, children shared a picture they created with the class that represented Fall.

We hope everyone enjoys their Thanksgiving Break; we can't wait to see you all next week!

Thank you!

We would like to extend a BIG thank you to our new donors:

 Your generosity is making a huge impact on our school. Thank you!

AmazonSmile

As the holiday season quickly approaches we would like to ask that you consider using our AmazonSmile to browse and shop online.

It is SUPER easy to do!

Just click the AmazonSmile button below to be redirected to our AmazonSmile account or click the "Turn On in Mobile App" button to learn how to set up your Amazon account to automatically go through our AmazonSmile.

AmazonSmile donates 0.5% to Salado Montessori Inc when you shop at 

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Montessori Materials in the Classroom

The Continent Maps

The Continent Maps are a part of the Culture section of the Montessori Classroom. Culture materials help children "understand the world and their place in it." These large maps teach children about geography and can be used in a variety of activities.

Children begin by familiarizing themselves with each continent and taking each piece out then replacing them just like a puzzle. A unique aspect of these maps is that the colors of the different continents and countries remain the same throughout all of the cultural materials.

As the child progresses with the work they start to do more difficult activities. Sometimes they'll hide pieces throughout the room that they will need to go and retrieve, eventually they'll trace the map creating their own large scale continent, or at times they'll make a larger project that involves cutting or sewing.

For more information on the The Continent Maps check out the Montessori Daoshi article below!

Adapted from Montessori Daoshi Blog

How to Have a Montessori-Inspired Thanksgiving

by Our Montessori Preschool

At the core of a Montessori education is your child’s ability to participate in everyday life with confidence. Holidays provide families with valuable opportunities to put these concepts into practice. By creating a fun holiday routine that gives your children meaningful ways to participate, you will be able to learn and grow together as a family. Here are five simple ways to celebrate this Thanksgiving the Montessori way!

1. Plan Ahead for Success

Incorporating Montessori activities in your everyday life can take some serious planning. Schedule some time to sit down together as a family and make a practical plan that you can stick to. Talk with your children and find out the things they may be excited about and make sure your family plan reflects that. Remember, even though it’s a holiday, sticking to other daily routines is important too. When planning, it’s also important to be flexible to your child’s needs and be adaptable as your day progresses.

2. Inspire Cooking Confidence

Let’s be honest, for many parents, keeping children out of the kitchen when a meal is being prepared is the path of least resistance. However, Montessori-inspired meals are different. Including your child in the cooking process may be a challenge, but it’s worth it! To make the process go smoothly, try looking for child-friendly recipes, or look for parts of your family favorite dishes that can meet your child’s skill level. Whether it’s helping peel potatoes or adding marshmallows on top of grandma’s sweet potatoes, both you and your child will feel accomplished once the dinner is served.

3. Ready, Set, Table

Assigning your child table duty is a real cornucopia of learning opportunities. Whether it is counting the cutlery, folding napkins, or writing place cards, you can use setting the table as a chance for your child to practice the skills they are learning at their Montessori school. If you have not already involved your child in setting their own place at the table, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to start. Begin by placing the dishes at a level they can reach, and lay out an example place setting they can replicate.

4. Carve out Some Art Time

Every Montessori-inspired holiday should include a well thought out art project, and Thanksgiving is no different. Whether you want a kid-created centerpiece or just need to keep a child occupied until pie is served, there are endless possibilities when it comes to Thanksgiving-themed art. There is the classic hand-traced turkeys, friendship bracelets, or you can start early and let your kids decorate their own placemat. Your child’s art can also be a great chance to make a thoughtful gift for visiting family members.

5. Count Your Blessings

Gratitude is an important part of learning social graces in the Montessori classroom. Giving your child an opportunity to recognize what they are thankful for can have a lasting impact. Help them focus on things they appreciate about themselves, their family, and the world around them. Set the example and be open with your children about the things you are grateful for during this day of thanksgiving.

Adapted from Our Montessori Preschool - Nov 7, 2021

Fall Sharing Celebration

As we give thanks, we would like to give thanks to you. Thank you for being a part of our community. Without you, Salado Montessori would not exist.

Happy Thanksgiving!

- The Salado Montessori Team