If you feel overwhelmed, underqualified to teach Montessori even at home, and/or afraid to get started, then this post is for you. I have a post on how to start using montessori at home. I hope you read and follow the ideas. Still, you may feel hesitant to get started, afraid you’ll present materials incorrectly, or just feel overwhelmed by parenting and/or life in general right now.
Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links (at no cost to you).
Here are 4 tips to hopefully reassure you that it’s alright to start where you are:
1. You really don’t need Montessori training to use Montessori at home.
While my Montessori certification gave me confidence in using Montessori with my children, it wasn’t essential. I first began using Montessori education in 1975 at the day care center where I taught. I had the guidance of an Association Montessori International (AMI) trained teacher and her albums and read a lot of Maria Montessori’s books, but I had never even seen a Montessori school before I converted my classroom into a Montessori-oriented classroom. My first post here, How Montessori Can Be a Life Journey, tells a bit more about my Montessori journey.
I basically had no budget, although I had nice wooden shelves and traditional day care toys. I moved all the toys except the educational toys to another classroom; found a grocery store that would donate Styrofoam meat trays to use for my trays (imagine that!); created activity trays using the educational materials I had; and made Montessori materials using Elizabeth Hainstock’s book Teaching Montessori in the Home: The Pre-School Years
. (How I wish I had photos from that classroom!)
The amazing thing is that it worked! The children were calm, happy, and learned a lot. I loved that many of the discipline problems day care teachers face disappeared. The busy but calm atmosphere in my classroom made me happy – and led me to a Montessori career and life.
But the important point is that Montessori education worked before I had adequate resources OR Montessori training.
2. Certified Montessori teachers can vary tremendously in how they present materials, so you don’t have to worry about whether or not you’re presenting materials “correctly.”
One year, I observed numerous Montessori schools throughout Arizona. I’ve worked with a number of teachers who had American Montessori Society (AMS) training. I have Montessori albums from my training program, an AMI teacher, and three different AMS teachers. I don’t think that any of the presentations are exactly the same. There are a lot of similarities, but I’ve been truly amazed at the variations there are among certified Montessori teachers’ presentations.
When I give directions for presenting materials, I often use a link to a site like Montessori Primary Guide because the AMI orientation will be close to Maria Montessori’s original ideas. And I typically use traditional presentations and layouts of materials in blog posts to try to avoid confusion. But those aren’t essential!
Jennifer at Montessori Print Shop, who is a certified AMI teacher, also encourages parents to to feel comfortable using Montessori at home in her article about a Montessori home. And we both recommend John Bowman’s Montessori at Home e-book as a great way to get started.
Here are a few posts about presenting lessons:
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- How to Help Your Preschooler Help Himself
- Why is Analysis of Movement Important in Montessori Education?
- How to Teach Concepts and Vocabulary to Your Preschooler Using the Three-Period Lesson
- How to Teach Your Preschooler Manners Using Montessori Principles
- How to Teach Toddlers and Preschoolers to Take Care of Books
- Teach Letter Sounds to Your Child Using Montessori Principles
You could start with an activity and presentation like my first Activity of the Week: Activity of the Week – Spooning Grains.
Halloween Spooning Work (Photo from Chasing Cheerios)
If you want to make the activity seasonal and fun, use acorns or Halloween “ghosts” like the Halloween Spooning Work from Chasing Cheerios. To make preparation simple, your child could even help you make the Halloween ghosts, also giving your child an extra interest in the work.
When your tray is prepared, put it on a low shelf; show your child how to get it from the shelf and use it with a presentation similar to the video; and show your child how to return the tray to the shelf. Then just leave the tray with the activity on the shelf for your child to choose when he or she wishes.
If you’re still worried about doing the presentation the “right” way, check out Dr. Montessori’s words:
Sometimes both parents and educators think of the Montessori method as more structured than Maria Montessori probably intended. I think it’s important to remember this quote from Maria Montessori Her Life and Work by E.M. Standing (p. 307): “I give very few lessons on how to give lessons, lest my suggestions – becoming stereotyped and parodied – should turn into obstacles instead of help. The directress is dealing with different personalities; and it therefore becomes more a question of how she should orient herself in what is for her a new world, rather than of any rigid or absolute rules.” Maria Montessori
“I Give Very Few Lessons on How to Give Lesson” Montessori Word Art Freebie
3. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, your children can still do wonderfully even if you don’t change your materials as often as you’d like.
A lot of Montessori schools keep many of the same materials on the shelves always. Of course, you’ll find LOTS of amazing ideas of Montessori activities online that can be changed each week or each month, and some Montessori moms like to do that. It’s great if you and your child are comfortable with that.
But sometimes children stay interested in a material for a long time and actually prefer it left out. At other times, you just might not have the time or energy to change materials. That’s alright. Your child can use the materials you have available. I doubt Maria Montessori was rotating materials all the time for her classrooms either. And look at the results she had!
Remember that Maria Montessori based her method of education on observing the child. You’ll help your child tremendously if you simply watch what your child is interested in and responds to.
4. If you’re having a problem, just ask.
If you ask a question at the Living Montessori Now Facebook page, I’ll try to help and often other parents and/or teachers will help out as well. And you’ll be helping other parents who have the same questions. I like to think of us as a worldwide community, spreading love and encouragement in the most-important task of raising children.
Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!
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I agree with you 100%. Montessori feels overwhelming to people, but really the concepts are simple and direct. Follow the child, nurture in a caring environment and providing an environment that encourages independence. I love using Montessori in my home and I’m grateful for resources like yours that supports all of us Montessori homeschooling moms. Thanks, Deb!
Thanks so much for your kind comment, Lori! You do a fabulous job at using Montessori at home! I love that we can all support one another. 🙂
I had not hear of this Montessori before. I will happily read up on it, especially if they do grading and recording.
Thanks for your comment, Kay! Actually, Montessori schools don’t use grades, believing that true motivation comes from within the child. Montessori teachers do keep records of each child’s progress, however.
I homeschooled my kids through high school and didn’t use grades or tests (except for the standardized tests required by law every other year in our state). Oh, and I had to assign grades for my kids’ high school transcripts, but that was only done for the college applications.
It was wonderful! My kids loved homeschooling and then received straight A’s in college. So grades and tests weren’t essential at all. My kids thoroughly enjoyed college, and I think the absence of grades and tests during their homeschooling helped them avoid burnout and be truly ready for college. 🙂
I love the Montessori activities we do at home. And even if I don’t initiate it, they do activities that are Montessori based without even knowing it.
I also love the Montessori at Home ebook. It puts it into another perspective. Even just knowing about sensitive periods has been a great help in understanding my boys.
Thanks so much, Chris! Those are great points! It’s so true that kids will do Montessori-based activities without realizing it. The Montessori at Home ebook is great! It’s awesome that you’re using the knowledge about sensitive period with your boys! 🙂
What an encouraging post! Nice.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Storyteller! I always love visiting with you! 🙂
Wonderful post, Deb! You have a great way of inspiring and informing, and your resource bank of posts gives any parent plenty of information to get started and keep going. Parents can do this!
Thanks so much for your very kind words, John! I love your statement: “Parents can do this!” 🙂
Hi Deb, Hope this brightens your day:http://exploreandexpress-sheila.blogspot.com/2011/10/happy-blogiversary.html
Have a wonderful week!
Thanks so much, Sheila … that definitely brightened my whole week! How wonderful that you’re celebrating your blogiversary! I’m so happy that we’ve gotten to know each other during the past year. It’s been awesome! 🙂
I very much appreciated this posting, it could have been my story. I also started using and adapting Montessori materials in my homw preschool back in the ’70’s…(wow I am old!) before I had completed my training. There was a little less “regulation” back then I think. So yes- I would echo this writer’s idea to be unafraid to use the philosophy and materials. And I hope that will open the whole world of Montessori to many young families.
Thanks so much for your comment, Michele! How interesting that we were on such a similar track back in the 70’s (shhh about the age ;)!
I totally agree in hoping that the world of Montessori will be opened to many young families! 🙂
This is my first visit! I used to teach Montessori myself!! I’ve never used it at home-my kids attend public school. I love how it uses the natural learning style!
Thanks for your comment! So glad you found my blog … it’s great to meet you! Montessori really does use a natural learning style, and I think the principles always stay with us in some way. 🙂
I need to spend more time letting my kids explore!
Thanks for your comment, Esther! It’s amazing how simple principles like freedom of exploration are some of the great reminders from Montessori. 🙂
Great post Deb, I’m working on a post…You may already being doing Montessori and not even realize it…type of thing, it’s still really rough, but I hope to get it up soon. Because it’s such a natural way of learning, I found that there were so many things I was already doing with my child, that I never ‘labeled’ as Montessori…it was just, life! lol
Thanks so much, Jennifer! So true about Montessori being a natural way of learning. I’ll love reading your post! 🙂
I love this post!!
Can I say again how happy I was to find your blog!!! You have such a beautiful friendly way of explaining Montessori.
Thank you …and thank you to all who post such great ideas!!!
Thanks so much for your very kind words, Cherine! I love it if I can help parents feel confident enough to start using Montessori! 🙂
Thanks! I just wanted to share that I’m hosting a Linky Party if you participate in them?! {you’d have to visit my blog to join} Do you ever host Linky Party’s yourself?
Thanks, Impossible Mom! I co-host Montessori Monday for parents and teachers to link up their Montessori lessons and activity trays each Monday: https://livingmontessorinow.com/category/montessori-monday/. I link up with a number of linky parties and probably can’t link up with any more right now. Thank you for the invitation, though! 🙂
Thank You so much for this post! I have been trying to do Montessori at home but have a baby at home as well. I have learned how to do presentations but I am having a hard time understanding how the environment should play out and what my role should be in it. The links that you gave look like they will be very helpful! Thanks!
Thanks, Natalie! I hope you find the links helpful! 🙂
I’ve never known about Montessori before. After reading this article, It makes me more interested in it.I will read up more on it as I have children that are at elementary school age.
Thanks,
Thank you, Sam! There are a lot of Montessori principles that you can apply with any age. It’s great reading! 🙂
I have a neighbor that is trying to do Montessori set up for her home day care.
I will provide her with this links.
I know she will use it.
Thanks so much, Chapman! I really appreciate your sharing my post! 🙂
Thanks for the Montessori information. This is a great way for home schooling.
Thanks, Sok! I definitely love Montessori principles for homeschooling! 🙂
Beautiful post! We’ve tried to intermingle many sensory trays into our play room, but I’m afraid we’ve many mainstream shelves full of toys, too! Our kids attend Montessori during the day and then come home to a more typical play room- We’re working mostly on incorporating the independence and self-sufficiency into the every day at home now- “How can we help you do it yourself?” is something we learned at a recent Rosa Barocio Discipline With Love conference…. 🙂
Thanks so much for your kind comment … I just found it! How wonderful that your kids attend Montessori – and that you work on incorporating independence and self-sufficiency into your home, too! 🙂
Your blog is not less than an inspiration for people like us. There is lot of stuff available here for learning and doing new things. Hope you’ll continue this amazing job.
Regards,
Nikita