Montessori Blog
How to Plan a Homeschool Welcome Fall Party
Fall evokes cozy feelings of warmth and light as we gather around traditions and comfort. The days grow cooler and shorter. We welcome the change with cozy blankets, flickering scented candles, flavors of spiced apple and pumpkin, and an appreciation for the...
The Montessori Multiplication Checkerboard
The Montessori Multiplication Checkerboard math material is one of my Top Ten math materials for elementary. It is a 9x4 grid on a board or cloth mat consisting of 36 squares; nine horizontally across the bottom and 4 vertically up the side. The squares repeat a...
The Montessori Bead Frames for Lower Elementary
The Montessori Bead Frames are used to do addition, subtraction, and multiplication; but not division. The Small Bead Frame allows operations into the units of thousands, while The Large Bead Frame allows operations into the units of millions. Place value is...
First Week Homeschool Activities
The first week back to homeschool sets the tone for the rest of the school year. Fortunately, enthusiasm and excitement naturally accompany the first days of school! We only have to capitalize on that excitement with first-week homeschool activities! I wrote a...
Homeschool Room Ideas
Setting up your homeschool classroom can be the most fun...and the most intimidating part of homeschooling! Whether you have a dedicated homeschool room or no homeschool room, basic elements run throughout the setup process. New and interesting homeschool room ideas...
First Day Homeschool Activities
The first day of school is so much fun! The fresh feeling of unlimited possibilities. It can also be uncertain for students and teachers not knowing what to expect, and how it will go. This is true in traditional, Montessori, and homeschool classrooms. Plan first-day...
Back to Homeschool Planning
Planning for a new homeschool year and preparing for the first day sets off tingles of anticipation! At times it also evokes intimidation and overwhelm. Let’s plan your homeschool year together!Identify Your Goals. Set Your Intention.In the stillness of ebbing summer,...
The Montessori Elementary Curriculum
The Montessori elementary curriculum is vast, the width and breadth of which I have not fully explored in 20+ years of teaching. Each year I find myself overwhelmed looking at the behemoth of the science and cultural curriculum integrated with math, language, reading,...
The Best Sources for Montessori Materials
Do you ever wonder where to find the best sources for Montessori materials? Amazon is a great source to find anything, including Montessori materials! In fact, I am an Amazon affiliate and often recommend Montessori materials and educational products that I use...
The Best Montessori Books for Parents and Teachers
Anyone interested in Montessori inevitably posits many questions, struggles to apply the method authentically, wonders about the materials, feels overwhelmed by the vast curriculum, and flounders with learning or remembering how to give the lessons. I recommend the...