Welcome to Montessori Nature! I am dedicated to supporting educators and parents to raise compassionate, independent, and inquisitive children who love learning and cherish the natural world. My goal is to provide practical and effective tools, resources, and strategies to help educators and parents:
- Encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Develop a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom
- Foster empathy, compassion, and kindness towards all living beings
- Cultivate a sense of wonder and curiosity about the natural world
- Support independence, self-confidence, and self-directed learning
- Nurture a sense of responsibility towards the environment and its well-being
Through this blog, community and printables store, I aim to inspire and support educators and parents in their journey to raise children who are not only knowledgeable but also kind-hearted, curious, and environmentally conscious. My resources are designed to be adaptable to various educational settings and age groups from 3-9 years old, making it easy for you to implement them in your daily teaching or parenting routine. At Montessori Nature, I believe that every child has the potential to become a force for positive change in the world.
Hello, I’m Anastasia, the founder of Montessori Nature. I am deeply passionate about my Christian faith and my Russian cultural heritage. Additionally, I have a strong passion for the principles of Montessori education and the wonders of the natural world. I believe in the importance of authenticity, diversity, connection, and hands-on exploration in fostering a love for learning.
I am an early childhood educator with a decade of experience in a Montessori classroom. Currently, I am a homeschooling mother of three. My goal is to support fellow educators and parents in nurturing a love of learning and fostering independence in their young students and children. Through collaboration and shared resources, I aim to create an enriching educational environment for all.
I am well-acquainted with the challenges that parents encounter when they first embark on their homeschooling journey. From the very beginning, I embraced Montessori principles as the foundation of my parenting. At the age of 17, I entered a Montessori classroom for the first time and never looked back.
As a second-generation teacher, I grew up in a so-called “experimental” school in Siberia, Russia, that was anything but traditional. Nestled in a forest near a serene lake and surrounded by acres of untamed wilderness, our school offered a unique playground for learning. With innovative teachers, engaging international summer camps, and an impressive low student-to-teacher ratio of eleven students per classroom, my educational experience was vibrant and diverse.
At the age of twenty, armed with a university degree, I embarked on my journey of intentional travel, which fueled my passion for education and cultural exchange. I pursued further studies in Europe and volunteered to work with underprivileged children in Russia. This experience reinforced my dedication to child development and motivated me to obtain an official teaching degree.
I completed postgraduate studies in Early Childhood Education in Australia and had the privilege of teaching in an American Montessori preschool in Russia, as well as at a Montessori Children’s House in Australia. Additionally, I cherished my time volunteering at a childcare center in the United States and spent an unforgettable summer as a counselor at a summer camp in the breathtaking woods of Montana. Each of these experiences has enriched my journey and deepened my commitment to nurturing young minds.
As a teacher, I often found it challenging to carve out the time to create educational printables for my students. However, whenever I did manage to create these materials, they proved to be incredibly beneficial. After transitioning to life as a stay-at-home mom, I decided to share my passion, experience, and insights into the Montessori method and parenting moments. Drawing from a decade of experience in a Montessori environment, I began crafting printables designed to support both educators and parents.