Montessori is a truly unique method. One of the main characteristics of this philosophy is that it requires parents and teachers to acquire a particular list of habits, behavior, and attitude towards children, learning, environment, and a certain mindset.

I have great respect for parents who choose a homeschool Montessori path of education for their child and have no background in this area. After a few years of working in the Montessori classroom, I learned to entirely rely on my inner guidance and intuition, teaching children in the Montessori setting became like second nature to me.
I am talking about supporting children’s work, discipline, giving lessons, setting up the environment, etc. This means that now homeschooling using the Montessori method my own three-year-old child comes naturally. I have to say I am quite pleased with the results I see in my child. This is why I decided to write this post – to help you deal with issues that may arise during the times when you introduce your child to the world of Montessori materials.
First of all, I would like to say; that you have my uttermost respect. I can imagine how many frustrating moments you have gone through in the process. The apparent difference between teaching children in the classroom and at home is when you are a parent teaching your child to grade cylinders from thickest to thinnest you have million other things going through your mind, whereas when you are teaching in the classroom setting you to leave all concerns behind the door.
On the other hand, homeschooling allows parents to be more flexible with their time. So I would like to share with you a few tips for successful homeschooling based on my experience in the classroom and at home. I will mainly focus on the so-called three-hour work cycle – how to make working with Montessori materials more effective and enjoyable.
* Even though the Montessori method is all about individual work and concentration, be ready to work very closely with your child. For them to be able to work independently, they will need you to give them a lesson on every material and establish clear expectations – placing work back on the shelf, using a mat when working on the floor, learning to interrupt, follow instructions, etc. It will take time and lots of patience.
* I found that consistency in routine is key. Find a routine that works for you and fits your schedule. The most effective time to learn new skills and gain new knowledge is after morning tea – from about 9 am. You may find that at the age of three children may not need three hours every day.
Anywhere between 1,5 – 3 hours is a good start since you do not have to deal with 25 children, there is plenty of time to support and dedicate to each of your children sufficient time. Older children have more potential to spend a more extended period of time and do not require as much assistance as three-year-olds.
* Quality is better than quantity. It is far more effective to have three or four lessons at a time rather than rush to present as many materials as possible.
* When starting your learning time, allow children to choose their activity first. If there are materials that you would like to present that they do not gravitate towards yet, offer them a choice between the two you have in mind. For example, you may say: “You worked hard with the trinomial cube today, now it’s time to work with the number rods or moveable alphabet, which do you prefer”.
* Positioning your body correctly is very important. When giving a demonstration, make sure you sit on the right side of your child’s right-handed and left if they are left-handed. This way you will give them the best chance for success to remember all stages of the presentation.
* Set them up for success. During the presentation make sure they are sitting properly at the table – legs down and hands on their lap, or with legs crossed and hands in their lap when working on the floor.
* Add a bit of fun. I found that my child had no interest in sandpaper letters and numbers. The 3-period lesson was too boring for her and she would quickly lose interest. So I decided to add a bit of fun to it by incorporating the “What is missing” game in the third period of a lesson. In the end instead of asking her “what is this sound” I hid the sandpaper letterboard behind my back or turned it face down and asked her what was missing. Oh boy, did it change her attitude? Now the sandpaper letters and numbers come as the first request.
* Always ask this question after finishing your demonstration: ” Did you enjoy working with …?” If the child says “yes” – tell them that he or she is welcome to work with … any time they like.
* Lost concentration – time to move on. Once the child lost interest and seems to be getting distracted – time to pack their work away and move on to choose a different activity.
* When giving a lesson use minimum words and make your movements very precise.
* If the child is working independently – choose your work from the shelf and work as if you were extremely engaged, interested, and focused on what you are doing. Children are the best imitators.
* Keep praise to a minimum. This will encourage the child to gain intrinsic motivation from within. When the child proudly presents to you their finished result, you may say: “Oh, it looks like you worked hard, good for you”.
* Encourage your child to ask for help. Encourage them to seek help if they need to and restrain yourself from correcting them. Allow them time to figure out if they made a mistake. If you see that they made a mistake, point to it and ask if there is anything there they would like to correct. If they say “no” let it be, do not correct it for them. Next time when they take the material, ask them to have a turn first and demonstrate the correct use of the material.
* One last piece of advice – never stop learning and educating yourself.
Here are some examples of the homeschool activities my children would do during their work cycle





HOMESCHOOL RESOURCES, TIPS, AND IDEAS
Homeschool - Learning Resources and Must-Read Books
Back to School Learning Activities Bundle Preschool and Kindergarten
Back to School learning resources with hands-on activities gathered in one bundle. This bundle includes materials that help develop skills to support the main areas of a child's development - language, math, geography, fine motor, social-emotional, organizational skills, and sensorial. It fosters creativity and logical thinking and prompts moments of deeper concentration. The materials are suitable for use in a classroom setting at school or childcare and in the homeschool setting. It contains tools to help children transition and settle well into their classroom and support the development of their executive functioning skills. You will find many materials to include in your All About Me unit, editable name tracing printouts, and tools to help you organize your classroom such as a Linear calendar and Mobile calendar to start the day. Editable and Homeschool teacher planners are also included. The bundle contains language resources for learning to identify initial sounds and CVC words, and math hands-on resources for teaching basic mathematical concepts.
Chore Chart Editable In PDF Form for Children
Chore Charts for children of different ages
Fifty-six visual and thirty-six non-visual chore cards
Blank rounds and editable blank chore cards to add your chores to the list
Different chore board designs to choose from
Editable Homeschool Planner for Montessori Families
Editable and customizable homeschool planner with daily and weekly planner templates for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and lower elementary students based on key areas of Montessori scope and sequence. It can be used by families internationally with the option to choose Jan-Dec or Aug – July academic year.
Calendar Mobile for Children in Watercolor with Moon Phases Montessori
This calendar will be a beautiful addition to your classroom! It is a wonderful help for your calendar morning routine.
Seasonal Hands-On Activities for Montessori 3-6 Classroom Bundle
Seasonal printables were designed specifically for Montessori classrooms with a large variety of activities that cover different learning areas, such as geography, math – one-to-one correspondence, language – identifying the initial sound, reading, sight words recognition, classification, fine motor practice for students aged 3-6.
Montessori Editable Linear Calendar | Northern Hemisphere
Introduce your students to the concept of years, months, days, and seasons. Children can explore the passage of time with the help of the linear calendar for the Northern Hemisphere.
I Have Who Has Math Games Bundle
I Have, Who Has? Math Games help reinforce valuable lessons and math concepts whilst capturing students’ attention, focus and concentration in a fun and engaging way. Students will be learning while having fun and playing math games with their peers in pairs, in small and large groups. Once students are familiar with the subjects, these cards can be also used as an individual activity to review important math concepts.
Nature Curriculum in Cards Ever Growing Bundle
Nature Curriculum in Cards is an ever-growing bundle with resources that cover major Botany, Zoology, and Geography subjects, plus also includes Nature-Themed Early Learning resources.
Safari TOOB and Toy-Matching 3-Part Cards | Montessori | Editable
Early Learning Bundle with 40 printable sets that contain 3-Part Cards for an object-to-picture matching activity. Sets are designed to match the classroom favorites – Safari TOOB figures. Use in any language. All sets include an editable PowerPoint file. Types labels in your own language and print.
Emotions and Feelings - Printable Activities
I was always passionate about teaching children to understand their emotions and being empathetic towards each other. It inspired me to create this teaching resource.
A Tour of Summer's Homeschool Learning Environment
When I first learned about Montessori, we had just welcomed our second son and I was in the midst of trying to figure out where my then 3-year-old son was going to go to preschool. He had been attending a 3-day-a-week autism therapy school for early intervention and was about to complete his time there since he had reached all of his targeted goals.
10 Benefits of Homeschooling Your Preschooler - How to Find The Best Route to Take
Homeschooling isn’t a new concept, but it sure has gained momentum over the last few years. But, is it effective? What does the research say?
You might be surprised to learn that while only 7% of American students were homeschooled in 2021 (an increase from 4%), over three quarters (78%!) of these students perform better than their traditionally schooled peers.
Is Homeschooling For Your Family? How to Make This Life-Changing Decision
Should your family homeschool or should you send your child to a school? This question has crossed the minds of many parents in the past few years. So I am here to share with you my thoughts on whether it’s best to home educate or to send the child to school.
Homeschool Room Setup Ideas
A homeschool space setup is an integral part of home education. How do we create a space for learning that is inviting, clutter-free, practical, budget-friendly, and efficient? Before we set up a learning environment we need to ask ourselves, what goals are we looking to achieve.
Some of the Best Montessori Resources and Materials for Teachers and Parents
I often get asked where to purchase Montessori materials, what I consider Montessori essentials, what handmade items are best for those who prefer handcrafted materials, etc. Below you will find a list of materials, resources, and toys I sincerely recommend. Everything on this list is of high quality and value. I’ve gathered resources and products that I personally purchased, had in my Montessori classroom, reviewed, and would genuinely recommend.
Nature Display in Homeschool Setting
Setting up a nature display in a classroom or homeschool learning space can be very beneficial. Not every child enjoys going out in nature.
Many children protest and dislike being outdoors where they can experience discomfort from the weather, they might not like getting dirty and have fear of crawling creatures.
Outdoor Activities for Children with Free Seven-Day Planner
Prepare fun and engaging educational outdoor activities and nature-based experiences for your children. Now sure where to start? Use our seven-day outdoor learning pre-filled planner to get inspired!
Free One Week Planner for Preschool Children With Low Prep Hands-on Activities
Having a plan at hand, especially during uncertain times, can only benefit busy and overwhelmed parents. Sometimes parents can be going through a period of transitioning when they work on establishing new homeschooling routine.
Homeschooling - the Reality of it All Amid a Pandemic. Free Resources for Parents
With streets and public places going quiet during the time when all the effort is being made to minimise the transmission of the virus, life is definitely getting busier at home.
One Day in the Life of a Homeschooling Family
Do you wonder sometimes what a day in the life of another homeschooling family may look like? Unless you are a part of a dynamic and large homeschooling community, you may not have time or energy to connect with others on a regular basis to discuss your routines and timetable.
New to Montessori Homeschooling?
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.
How to Do Montessori at Home on a Budget
Don’t fall for gorgeous looks! Beauty is within. The modern world portrays Montessori as a fancy method of education for privileged children. In its essence, the Montessori method is not about the status or gorgeous classroom interiorioir. It is about meaningful connection, respect and authenticity.
Mistakes Montessori Newbies Need To Avoid
Are you new to Montessori?! Do you feel sometimes overwhelmed with the amount of new information you need to process? Would you like to hear advice from Montessori parents, bloggers, and teachers on common mistakes Montessori newbies make and how to avoid them!?
Enhancing Learning With Movement - Brain Gym For Kids
The connection between movement and learning is one of the central topics among brain researchers and educators. Maria Montessori has discovered this connection many years ago.
Homeschooling Preschooler The Montessori Way
Our homeschooling journey is something that consumes my heart and mind these days. I guess because it is unknown territory that we are walking into. So far it has brought great fruit and I feel that our everyday life is bursting with colors like never before. My daughter’s “whys” have got a completely new dimension, and I love, love, love how excited she got from receiving a magnifying glass by mail the other day. I would like to share what happened when we emerged into our Montessori work 3 – hour session. You can read about our Homeschooling routine in this post. I hand-picked a list of Montessori materials for our classroom. Aside from this list we also use some natural toys and materials that carry educational purpose.
Routine For Our Montessori Home Preschool
It is not a secret that the child needs stability in life in order to feel secure. Order in life creates inner order and peace, something that lays the foundation for successful learning, smooth transitions, and a happy kid. One of the first tasks for homeschoolers is to establish their own rhythm, and set up a daily schedule that is the backbone of the whole process.

Mama, Why Am I Homeschooled?
It’s a question that nearly every homeschooled child asks at some point. With its delightful, hand-painted illustrations and rhythmic structure, this charming book shows readers how they can learn scholastic skills through everyday life.

Montessori Homeschooling, One Family's Story
A fifteen-year experience of day-by-day, year-by-year, learning how to create an authentic Montessori education at home through elementary, middle, and high school. The main guide or teacher during these years had taken AMI teacher training courses for 0-3, 3-6, and 6-12 and had taught for many years.

Absolutely Everything!: A History of Earth, Dinosaurs, Rulers, Robots and Other Things Too Numerous to Mention
Discover how history, nature, and science connect in this fast-paced, entertaining, and incredibly informative history of the world, from the beginning of time to the present day.
How was our universe made from a tiny speck of energy? Where did the first trees, plants, animals, and humans come from? What happened to the dinosaurs? What was so miserable about medieval times? How were railroads and electricity invented? What are the perils of global warming?

Montessori Math Workbook: A Hands-On Approach to Early Mathematics (Primary Book 1)
A hands-on open-and-go Montessori math curriculum. Use as a supplement to traditional, physical Montessori math materials OR as a stand-alone math curriculum. Montessori math sets a firm foundation in concrete principles before slowly progressing into abstraction.

Montessori Reading Workbook: A LEARN TO READ activity book with Montessori reading tools (Montessori Activity Books for Home and School)
This is a learn to read book for kids 3-5 and5-7. Each age group will use the book in a slightly different way. The first group will be able to work with the help of an adult, while the older group can start the Montessori reading series mostly on their own, as they will be able to cut, paste and color most of the reading activities by themselves.

Montessori Math Workbook | Number Concepts, Golden Beads, Colored Bead Bars, Arithmetics: Math Activity Workbook
Number Concepts - number rods, cards and counters and one to one association
Golden Beads - introduction and arithmetics with golden beads
Linear Counting - bead bars, teens, tens, skip counting, hundred board
Arithmetics - addition, multiplication, subtraction and division

Easy Wood Carving for Children: Fun Whittling Projects for Adventurous Kids
Looking for an outdoor hobby to engage your children and encourage them to be crafty and creative? Wood carving is not only easy to learn and fun to do, but almost everything you need to get started can be found for free -- right outside your door!

Science Experiments You Can Eat
Kids take the reins in the kitchen with this hands-on book of edible science experiments! With revised and updated material, a brand-new look, and hours of innovative, educational experiments, this science classic by award-winning author Vicki Cobb will be devoured by a whole new generation of readers.

The Arts: A Visual Encyclopedia
This beautiful art encyclopedia charts the evolution of the greatest cultural achievements in painting, sculpture, and photography.
The greatest art exhibition at your fingertips! Packed with fascinating facts, clear explanations, and stunning photography, this awe-inspiring art encyclopedia for kids aged 9-12 years takes you on a magical tour through time exploring every artistic style and movement in stunning detail. From Leonardo da Vinci's iconic Mona Lisa to Vincent van Gogh's spectacular The Starry Night, this art history book celebrates the lives of groundbreaking artists and their most famous art masterpieces.

The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life
Parents who are deeply invested in their children's education can be hard on themselves and their kids. When exhausted parents are living the day-to-day grind, it can seem impossible to muster enough energy to make learning fun or interesting. How do parents nurture a love of learning amid childhood chaos, parental self-doubt, the flu, and state academic standards?

i-Poster My World Interactive Map - Educational Talking Toy for Kids of Ages 5 to 12 Years Old
MULTI AWARDS WINNING FUN LEARNING TOY - Family Choice, Mom's Choice Gold Metal & Tillywig Brain Child Award Winner 2018, and Creative Child Kids Product of the Year Winner 2019! The most popular interactive smart educational talking world map poster.

Continent Race Geography Learning Educational Game for Kids 7 Years and Up
Continent Race Geography Game for kids was created by 6 year old Byron duringpassion for geography with a desire to help boys and girls like him learn and have fun during their hospital stay - and beyond! For 2+ players

ShillerLearning Math Kit I - Homeschool Montessori Math Curriculum - (Pre-K to 3rd Gr)
The ShillerLearning Math Kit I - everything you need in a single box! No lesson preparation required by parents!
Your package contains over a dozen different manipulatives based on Dr. Maria Montessori's method developed over a hundred years ago. Includes a balance, number cards, number tiles, operator set, foam ball, wood dominoes, a US/metric ruler, wooden shapes, dice, measuring cups, and probability bag.

SolarQuest The Space-Age Real Estate Game: Mission to Mars Edition - Space Adventure - Family
Magnetic Fuel Tank Monitor Card. Magnets on the game board to hold Fuel Stations in place. 2 levels of game play.
This game will arrive in new condition. Please note that each Mission to Mars Edition game was opened in the U.S. for the sole purpose of adhering the magnets to the game board, thus saving customers the task. The game will arrive taped closed with clear tape on all 4 edges of the color box.

Thames & Kosmos Simple Machines Science Experiment & Model Building Kit, Introduction to Mechanical Physics, Build 26 Models to Investigate The 6 Classic Simple Machines
Through 26 model-building exercise, gain hands-on experience with gears and all six classic simple machines: wheels and axles, levers, pulleys, inclined Planes, screws, and wedges.

Differently Wired: Raising an Exceptional Child in a Conventional World
It’s time to say NO to trying to fit square-peg kids into rounds holes, and YES to raising them from a place of acceptance and joy.
Today millions of kids are stuck in a world that doesn’t embrace who they really are. They are the one in five “differently wired” children with ADHD, dyslexia, giftedness, autism, anxiety, or other neurodifferences, and their challenges are many.

Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students
Teaching children how to manage their intense emotions is one of the most difficult aspects of parenting or educating gifted children. Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students: Helping Kids Cope With Explosive Feelings provides a much-needed resource for parents and educators for understanding of why gifted children are so extreme in their behavior and how to manage the highs and lows that accompany emotional intensity.

Parenting with Presence: Practices for Raising Conscious, Confident, Caring Kids (An Eckhart Tolle Edition)
Our children can be our greatest teachers. Parenting expert Susan Stiffelman writes that the very behaviors that push our buttons — refusing to cooperate or ignoring our requests — can help us build awareness and shed old patterns, allowing us to raise our children with greater ease and enjoyment.
- New To Montessori Homeschooling?
- Homeschool Room Setup Ideas
- Routine For Our Montessori Home Preschool
Homeschooling Preschool - Homeschooling – The Reality Of It All Amid A Pandemic. Free Resources For Parents
- Nature Display In Homeschool Setting
- Homeschooling Preschooler The Montessori Way
- Tips For Successful Montessori Homeschool 3 – Hour Work Cycle
- Outdoor And Nature-Based Learning Activities For Children
- Some Of The Best Montessori Resources And Materials For Teachers And Parents
- Outdoor Activities For Children With Free Seven-Day Planner
- Free One Week Planner For Preschool Children With Low Prep Hands-On Activities
- Choosing The Right Calendar For Your Classroom
- Authentic Handmade Materials For Your Dream Montessori Classroom
- One Day In The Life Of A Homeschooling Family
- Editable Homeschool Planner
- How To Do Montessori At Home On A Budget
- How To Help Young Children Regulate Their Emotions
- Let The Child Lead!
- Montessori Peace Corner – Powerful Way To Resolve Conflicts
- Enhancing Learning With Movement – Brain Gym For Kids
- Learning To Read With Montessori Cards
- Meeting Special Needs In A Montessori Classroom
- 5 Reasons To Own Montessori Materials At Home
- 5 Montessori Inspired Ways To Support Early Literacy
This is an absolutely fabulous article. So much insight for Homeschoolers. Teaching Montessori at home is very different than in the classroom and your first observation about all that you as the parent are thinking about is SO True! The photos at the end of your post are important because a lot of what you do in homeschool is relate the lessons to things you are doing in the home anyway…what the children enjoy doing…so you can be very creative and inventive. Thanks for this great article. Even though I haven't homeschooled since 1993(!) I still miss it.
Love, Love, Love this post!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to write it. So many great points! I can't wait to share it with others.
Thank you, Carolyn! Thank you for such an inspirational feedback! I really appreciate your opinion!
I am so glad you found it helpful!
So many people ask about the points you have pointed to. I hope lots of parents and teachers get to read it.
Thank you, Karen, I would be delighted to hear that I could help people in their journey!