New to Montessori Homeschooling? - Montessori Nature Printables

When a family decides to take a route less traveled to homeschool their children the number of questions and choices you have to make is staggering and overwhelming. The list is never-ending – from what approach to take to how to manage household and expenses on one income, and of course, there is socialization.

In fact, it is getting harder and harder for children to deal with issues that arise due to the mental health crisis children are facing today.

The socialization aspect of modern-day conventional schooling is the very reason parents opt to homeschool. One of the definitions of socialization is “the process of learning to behave in a way that is acceptable to society“.

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Even though the responsibility of finding a community of like-minded people and teaching children values and communication skills lay heavily on the homeschooling parents, for many, it outweighs all the damage that is done to the children in schools because of intensified bullying, stressed-out teachers, and overly structured and overly regulated curriculum and testing system.

Homeschooling families do not need to have their choice validated by every family member, every teacher we come across, friend, stranger, or grocery shop lady. Real life is the ultimate test every single child will have to face.

Homeschooling is proven to be effective regardless of the parent’s level of education and greatly portrays stereotypical myths:

“In 2008, Dr. Brian Ray, an internationally recognized scholar, and president of the non-profit National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), collected academic data based on 25 years of homeschool achievement. Dr. Ray utilized 15 independent testing services, to obtain information from 11,739 homeschooled students from all 50 states who took three well-known tests—California Achievement Test, Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, and Stanford Achievement Test.
“Overall the study showed significant advances in homeschool academic achievement as well as revealing that issues such as student gender, parents’ education level, and family income had little bearing on the results of homeschooled students.” Source – via educationandbehavior.com

The best possible advice you can receive from anyone who has been homeschooling for an extended period is that you need to take a stress factor out of your decision-making process and build your planning based on your child’s interests. Burning out is way too real in the homeschooling world (Montessori or not). So if you are starting something so significant and life-changing, you may as well do it right from the beginning.

“The child, making use of all that he finds around him, shapes himself for the future.” Maria Montessori

Montessori homeschooling goes way beyond the three-period lessons and presentations. You are preparing your child for life. In our homeschool, we incorporate learning of doing weekly budgets and planning grocery shopping. Children learn to take an active part in daily life.

“Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment.” Maria Montessori

They will know how taxes work, what to do when a tire is busted, how to build emotional connections with people of all ages, and build bridges with people from different backgrounds. All simply because parents are heavily invested in educating the mind and soul of each child more than the most incredible teacher ever would. Children are not just observers; they actively participate in everything we do.

“There is in the child a special kind of sensitivity which leads him to absorb everything about him, and it is this work of observing and absorbing that alone enables him to adapt himself to life. He does it in virtue of an unconscious power that exists in childhood…” Maria Montessori

When homeschooling you have to think from the perspective of the end final point and plan way ahead. I keep track of my children’s interests and strengths from an early age. I already have in perspective the options homeschooled children have to enter the university and how to take advantage of the fact that they don’t have to wait until they finish grade 12 to enter one or start working towards this goal. I am here to encourage them to pursue their passion and give it all they’ve got.

As a homeschooling family, you have to think from a different angle altogether. Just like Montessori stated we realize that education must start at birth.

We chose to homeschool not because we were trying to run away from the evils of society or because we were convinced that schools were not good enough for our children. It was purely a lifestyle choice. This world is such a diverse place and when you homeschool you have an incredible abundance of options.

There is space for travel, doing ministry, pursuing interests and hobbies, venturing into starting a business and meeting people from all sorts of backgrounds and ages. By simply doing life we can teach and model how to live mindfully, deal with stress, plant and grow food, learn to prepare nutritious meals, and be discerning when it comes to choosing friends.

And most importantly there is plenty of time to be a child, adventurer, connect with the natural world and family, be together while it lasts.

Here are some tips and information about Montessori homeschooling for beginners:

Understand the Montessori Philosophy: Before beginning the homeschooling journey, parents should understand the Montessori philosophy. Montessori is not just about buying Montessori materials but involves a complete shift in the child’s educational experience. It is based on the principle that children learn best through exploration and self-discovery.

Familiarize yourself with the Montessori approach and philosophy. There are plenty of books, websites, and online courses available that explain the Montessori teaching method. Understanding the principles and goals of Montessori education will help you create a conducive learning environment for your child.

Create a Prepared Environment: Montessori emphasizes creating a prepared environment that encourages independence, concentration, and self-discipline. Parents should set up their homes in a way that allows children to explore and learn independently.

Find ways to incorporate Montessori principles into everyday life. Montessori education emphasizes practical life skills, sensorial awareness, and independence. You can encourage your child to do household chores, such as cooking, cleaning, and gardening, and provide opportunities to explore nature, touch different textures, and experiment with art materials.

Create a structured routine that allows for self-directed learning. Montessori education emphasizes individual progress and self-motivation. You can create a daily schedule that gives your child autonomy to choose tasks and activities at their own pace, while still providing structure and guidance.

Use low-cost or DIY versions of Montessori materials. You can find many Montessori materials for free or low-cost online, or make your own versions using household items. For example, you can use beans or rice for counting, cardboard shapes for matching and sorting, and wooden blocks for building.

Observe Your Child: In Montessori, the adult does not force the child to learn; instead, parents should observe the child’s interests and provide appropriate materials. Parents should have faith in their child’s natural ability to learn and grow.

Follow Your Child’s Lead: While homeschooling, parents should allow the child to lead and choose their learning activities. The goal is to follow the child’s interests and provide a variety of activities that encourage exploration and discovery.

Patience and Perseverance: Montessori homeschooling requires patience and constant effort from the parents. It may take time for the child to adjust and show interest in the Montessori materials. It requires a lot of perseverance and dedication on the part of parents.

Join a Montessori Support Group: For those new to Montessori homeschooling, joining a support group can be beneficial. It provides parents with guidance and support from experienced Montessori homeschooling parents.

Remember that every child is unique and has their own learning style. Montessori homeschooling provides a safe and nurturing environment that encourages children to learn and discover at their own pace.

Steps to Montessori Homeschooling:

Observe your child. Make a lot of notes!
Decide on your weekly plan incorporating all shopping, outings, and extracurricular activities.
Plan your daily routine.
Plan your learning goals together with the child.
Gather your materials.
Follow your child and enjoy the process!

here is a list of the Montessori homeschool resources I created through the years

Preschool Activity Planner

Recommendations on Montessori Parenting Books.

Free printables

Homeschool Planner

Homeschooling Preschoolers the Montessori Way

Our Montessori Preschool Homeschool Routine

I have a shortcut to offer you. Here is a list of Montessori homeschool blogs, resources, and websites to inspire and provide some sort of reference when working on your planning. I did this research for you hoping to save you some precious time and help you not to get lost in the sea of information in the internet sphere.

Montessori Materials – Presentations | montessoriinfo.com

Montessori Homeschooling – general information and resources | montessori.org

Free printable materials | montessorialbum.com

General information on Montessori | www.michaelolaf.net

Free Montessori Albums

Elementary albums | Montessori Teachers Collective

Scope & Sequence: 3-12 years

The Great Lessons, God Who Has No HandsThe Coming of Life, The Coming of Humans, The Story of Writing, The Story of Numerals, Timeline of Life, Timeline of Writing,

6-9 Elementary Albums: Math, History, Geometry, Biology, Language

Free Montessori Materials | Cultivating Dharma

Math, Geometry, Language, and History albums

Wikisori Albums | wikisori.org

Montessori Album | montessorialbum.com

Montessori Homeschool Curricula

HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY, READING, WRITING, GRAMMAR, MATH, RELIGION | The Well-Trained Mind

M3 Curriculum – a truly unique curriculum in its approach to Montessori homeschooling. It is Montessori aligned with a child-centered approach to learning, designed for homeschooling parents who choose to teach their child(ren) from home or in a pod and offers ongoing support from parents around the world. So, help is always just a click away. Visit Multisori via this link and get a 10% discount!

Art | Art 4 Montessori

Math and Language Arts | Shiller Math

Geography | Pin it Maps

3-6 Montessori Homeschool Program | North American Montessori Center

Christian Curriculum Resources | Master Books

Waseca Curriculum and Resources | Waseca Biomes

Montessori Printables for Elementary Students | Montessori Kiwi

Big Life Journal – helps children develop strong Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and growth mindset skills through inspiring stories, colorful illustrations, and engaging guided activities.

Online homeschool curriculum – Self-paced Homeschooling for Every Grade

SchoolhouseTeachers.com provides a highly interactive and engaging curriculum that covers a variety of subjects, from math and science to language arts and history. With over 400 courses available, there is something for every student’s unique learning style and interests. You can access the curriculum at any time, from anywhere with an internet connection, allowing you to tailor your child’s education to fit your family’s schedule and needs. Additionally, the platform offers resources for parents, including lesson plans, teacher guides, and grading tools, making it easy for you to stay organized and track your child’s progress.

Key Features:

School Boxes for PreK – 12th Grade containing:
In-Depth Curriculum Guides for Each Subject: These guides cover core subjects in detail, ensuring a thorough understanding of each area.
Engaging and Challenging Content: The curriculum is tailored to stimulate and challenge students, keeping them engaged and motivated.
Full Academic Year of Rich Educational Material: Every guide provides a complete year’s worth of learning, drawing from the diverse and extensive courses on SchoolhouseTeachers.com.

Access to 400+ self-paced homeschooling courses
Access to World Book plus 25,000+ streaming family videos

Learn more

Boxed kindergarten "full curriculum set" with polar bear and penguin imagery for educational material from schoolhouseteachers.com.

A promotional image featuring a testimonial about schoolhouseteachers.com set against a background of a starry space scene with various planets.

A grade 1 full curriculum set featuring a cartoon sloth hanging from a branch against a celestial background.

Montessori homeschool Blogs

Mc Homeschool

Montessori Theory and Lessons | Montessori Commons

A Tour of Elisabeth’s Homeschool Classroom | Montessori Kiwi

Montessori theory and practice | Carrots are Orange

Montessori Homeschool resources | Making Montessori Ours

Homeschooling with Special Needs | Every Star is Different

HOMESCHOOL eCourses

The Power of the Prepared Parent – A Montessori Crash Course | Chris O’Leary – Montessori Nature’s Online School

Montessori Langauge Online Course | Dina Ahmed – Montessori Tube Academy

Montessori Math Online Course | Dina Ahmed – Montessori Tube Academy

Montessori Sensorial Online Course | Dina Ahmed – Montessori Tube Academy

Montessori Cosmic Education Online Course | Dina Ahmed – Montessori Tube Academy

My Montessori Homeschool – A Comprehensive Online Training Course | Marnie – Carrots are Orange

Math Strategies in Montessori | Montessorikiwi

Montessori for Parents and Caregivers of 6-12-Year-Olds |Montessorikiwi

Online Communities

Second Plane Montessori: The Elementary Years

Tackle Box Montessori – Guided DIY Materials – Homeschooling & Parenting

Montessori 101

Montessori Presentations {Videos}:

Montessori Guide

Montessori Lessons | Youtube

I hope you will find this list helpful! Remember, just like Maria Montessori said: “Progress is not linear”. There will be ups and downs, frustrations, productive and happy days, and days when you feel exhausted and helpless.

Here is why having a planner, and a list of go-to resources will help you plan your week, month, and whole year. Keeping your daily routine and resources organized will put your mind at ease because you will be able to observe your progress and make adjustments as you go.

There is no such thing as a perfect homeschool or perfect circumstance. Every single family struggles at times. Your progression line may go up and down, twirl and swirl.

As soon as you know where you are heading, stay true to yourself, your values, your ideas, and your beliefs and never stop learning, you will enjoy the fruits of your labor and unconditional love.

Let’s face it, unconditional love for our children is the one thing that keeps us going day in and out.