Today in the ongoing insider series, I have a terrific interview with Meredith who homeschools her three boys with the Montessori method. Meredith describes her passionate journey to find the best fit for her kids’ education. Plus I learn just how she’s been able to have so many amazing destination lessons! I absolutely love Meredith’s story, and I bet you will too. The more of these interviews I do, the more I realize the Montessori community is truly comprised of courageous, boundary-pushing, instinct-trusting women (much like Maria herself).
Please introduce yourself:
Hi, my name is Meredith. I have three boys ages 5, 7 & 9 yrs old. We currently live in Florida but I will always consider North Carolina my home. I have many loves in life including: my family, traveling, research, carpentry, designing, chickens (yes…chickens!) and of course the Montessori Method.
With all of the options, methodologies and curriculums available to homeschoolers today, what drew you to Montessori homeschooling specifically?
I was, in most respects, a very traditional first-time mother. We ascribed to attachment and authoritative parenting so the idea of “following the child” was not new, but I wrongly assumed counting was count and the alphabet was the alphabet. I was hesitant to enroll my first child in “school” because he had a speech delay but like many parents, I allowed outside social pressures to influence me. Doctors and therapists hoped “socializing” my son would improve his verbal skills, and I reluctantly followed their recommendations; he was 2.5 years old when we enrolled him.
After a few weeks then months, I began noticing changes within my son. The hopes of doctors and therapists were not coming to fruition, and I realized the chaos of the classroom was negatively affecting my son. I became more and more hesitant to send him to school and felt there HAD to be a different approach. It was then that I started researching alternative schools outside of our direct area but still within a reasonable drive. I eventually found the AMI Montessori school he would later attend. Prior to enrolling in this new school, I attended an information session where I was shown a golden beads math lesson. This was my first experience with the material, and I went home with a fire in my heart. Having experienced my own learning difficulties as a child, I wanted something different for my children, and for the first time I saw it. To say this moment was life altering is an understatement! During that simple lesson, I ached for my son and selfishly for the little girl inside of me. I instantly realized the limitations of our current system and the many well-meaning preschools that funnel into it. I knew there had to be so many other children like myself, that didn’t understand concepts without seeing, feeling or experiencing them. That January, he enrolled at The Casa as a first year primary student. It was during this time that I began learning more about the Montessori Method and seeing it firsthand within my son’s classroom. The school was very proactive about educating parents on the method and encouraged us to read various books / material which they willingly provided. They also conducted workshops and other educational sessions. They once offered a workshop with Barbara Gordon called “The Silent Journey and Discovery.” I was able to see more in depth the upper level classes and middle school farm. It was amazing!
Independently, I couldn’t get enough and dove head first into researching and learning as much as I could. All of these experiences cumulatively solidified that I simply love the method and will always look to it for guidance.
Why do you choose to homeschool your children?
Making the decision to homeschool was not an easy one for me to make. I was scared — terrified really — BUT I felt like my life circumstances had given me the time, space and desire to homeschool, so I jumped!
I deeply desired a quality education for all my children, but also wanted to be an active participant vs a bystander. I once read an article stating the three main reasons people homeschool (I think it’s a little more complicated than that but bear with me): 1) religious reasons, 2) the thought that you can do things better and 3) the thought that you can do things different.
I wasn’t sure I would be as “good” as a professional Montessorian, but I had hope I could do things differently.
I wanted my kids to learn and grow at their own pace, to gain confidence, to explore without fear, to know where to gain knowledge about unfamiliar subjects and ultimately, to learn their education is not limited to a classroom or a phase in life. All of these desires are Montessori principles but one vitally important thing is missing that I wanted to include: family.
I wanted all of this to occur with, around and encompassing our family. I felt they needed their family; they needed me especially when they were younger! This is where I felt I differed significantly from Maria’s original observations. The children of the first casa were children left to their own accord. Their parents had to work, and they were home alone. This was not the case for us. I was home and available. I was ready and willing to guide them. This observation was not a reflection or judgement on those original parents or others who work now, it was simply our circumstances. Things were different for us, and I wanted to embrace this difference. I wanted to learn and grow with my children using a pedagogy that I know is simply amazing!
I love how passionate this is, and I couldn’t agree more! 🙂
Do you have a dedicated homeschooling space? Why or why not?
We have both dedicated and non-dedicated homeschooling spaces. Both have value and also limitations. As my boys grow and the materials change I find we move more and more away from our dedicated space. I can not fit a primary and lower elementary classroom within our tiny spare bedroom and so this space has begun to feel cramped and crowded. Instead we have started using our entire house as our schooling space. When we renovated our little house, I anticipated this issue, so I tried to design our home with this in mind. Our kitchen is their practical life area with drawers containing items at their level. The backyard and quiet street are available for fresh air, exercise and exploration. We also added a small flock of chickens to our family, and they serve as both pet and biology inspiration. Our floors, dining table and kitchen island all provide ample space to work and lay out material. The original space still stands, but as I begin to sell materials my boys have mastered and no longer need, I’m transitioning material to built-ins where they will still be accessible but not as visible. I realized recreating “school at home” was NOT my desire. I don’t want to be stuck in a room.
We want to be out in the environment, in the fresh air, in our community spaces. You’ll often see I take materials into the “wild.” I’m not afraid to pack a few lessons in a bag and head to the zoo or go to our local science center or even jump on a plane and go hike the Grand Canyon. I know my family’s circumstances are very unique. My husband is an airline pilot, so traveling is easier for us but this added to my desires to homeschool. I wanted to capitalize on our reduced travel expenses and explore the country to learn. Some seasons we travel more than others, and given the current circumstances of our world with COVID things have been limited, but we still get out locally as much as we safely can. I see this as one of the GREATEST homeschooling advantages! Even the best Casa can’t take the children to all the places a parent can. The community IS our homeschooling space, and I try to utilize it as much as possible!
Love, love, love — and a-ha! Airline pilot! Now I understand why you have so many amazing learning adventures!
If you had the chance to tell yourself one thing at the beginning of your homeschool journey, what would it be?
I would tell myself there’s no one way to homeschool. Trying to recreate what I saw at our old Montessori school, online or what others do, will not work for us. Find your own path, and release your preconceived ideas of what homeschooling life should look like.
Things don’t need to be perfect, I don’t need to be perfect, and I don’t have to know everything on the first day or really any day! Yes… be prepared… don’t wing it, but don’t be afraid to say, “ I don’t know; let’s find out together.” Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t be afraid to change directions. Listen to your children. Listen to yourself. Hear their interest and be prepared to deviate from your plans. Committing to homeschooling today doesn’t lock you into it forever but do make some type of commitment. (We typically choose to commit to a year then reassess.) Remember, different seasons in life require different considerations. Set small attainable goals and celebrate those victories.
Be kind to yourself, give yourself a lot of grace and know there will be good days, and there will be bad days! Find a support system both online and locally! Even if they aren’t your best friends, having a relationship with real people in real life in your local space who are walking a similar path is vital for both yourself and your children.
Lastly, you are enough! Enough for yourself, your children and their education! You can do this!
I’m so pumped up! This is the best advice!
Thank you so very much Meredith for sharing your space and beautiful story with us. Your pictures are stunning. I have enjoyed learning more about you and your family immensely!
Be sure to check out the other interviews in our Montessori Homeschooling series here.
