Hey, hey it’s my birthday today. I have a gift for you — another installment in our Montessori Homeschooling series! Today I am so excited to share Bree’s Montessori space and story with you all.
Bree (from Kindling Kids Montessori) DIYs are brilliant: a Perler bead pegboard, glittery checkerboard math, and a grammar analysis flowchart freebie are among some of my all-time favorites. Seriously this girl is on fire, and if you aren’t following her on Instagram and her blog you are missing out on fantastic content.
Without any further ado, I’m thrilled to share Bree with you (in her own words):
Please introduce yourself:
My name is Bree, and I’m a second generation homeschooler from the Pacific Northwest. My husband and I have been raising our three kids, ages 8, 5, and 3 with Montessori in mind from the very beginning. My passions are leading Montessori classes at our homeschool co-op, gardening with my family, and empowering parents as they consider, explore, or dive into homeschooling! I blog at kindlingkidsmontessori.wordpress.com and share our days on Instagram @kindlingkids_montessori.
Why do you choose to homeschool your children?
For us, homeschooling is the ultimate in intentional living. It provides our kids freedom and time to develop confidence, independence, explore passions, ponder their own thoughts, ask infinite questions, watch as we navigate every day life as adults, and be included in the real world. Every moment is a learning opportunity, and we’re able to slow down and honor it as such since we don’t have to rush off each day. People often ask why we haven’t considered a Montessori school and if we would. Unfortunately there aren’t any Montessori schools in our area. If there were, we would consider it for the elementary years, providing our kids wanted to experience that, but homeschooling is where our hearts lie!
With all of the options, methodologies and curriculums available to homeschoolers today, what drew you to Montessori homeschooling specifically?
Because it got me hook, line, and sinker! I picked up a Montessori book 5 years ago, and it still blows my mind today. The knowledge of sensitive periods, being able to see the “whys” behind the behavior and interests, supporting intrinsic motivation, having the confidence to follow the child’s interests, and being freed from rigid curricula. It’s given me the knowledge to see where my kids are leading and the materials, opportunities and skills I can provide to help meet those needs. I love the emphasis on educating the whole child and the awareness that they are so much more than just an “academic mind.”
Do you have a dedicated homeschooling space? Why or why not?
Having experienced both, I think either can work well! We recently moved from a home that had a 600 sq ft school room. While it was beautiful, functional, and all of our materials were able to be out and displayed, we are equally loving the closeness of our new home where our school room is intertwined with our main living space. Our new 1,000 sq ft home has necessitated that I’m very mindful of what we have out, and I spend more time observing! There are things that I love and miss about our large school room, and small spaces do bring about some challenges, but I love having our materials and work cycle less isolated. Having things more organically dispersed brings such a warm welcoming feeling to our day and softens the feeling of formality that can come in a designated space.
I love that description of integrated Montessori throughout the home! 🙂
Last question, if you had the chance to tell yourself one thing at the beginning of your homeschool journey, what would it be?
Montessori is exact, precise, and so well thought out, but don’t let that make you feel you have to have it all together and mastered to get started! “Presenting a lesson” can sound so formal! But remember that you are a parent in your home, not a teacher in a classroom, and approaching your child with the same love and gentleness as reading a bedtime story feels familiar and will invite more cooperation and interest. Connection is an encourager of curiosity.
What a beautiful way to sum up Montessori homeschooling. Thank you so much Bree for sharing with us today! The series continues next Monday.
