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My son officially started kindergarten a few months ago, and I'm happy to report that it's been a success! Today I'll be going over what we've been doing in our kindergarten homeschool, inspired by the Montessori method. I will share how I blend Montessori with different resources, our curriculum picks, most used math materials, tips for stress-free handwriting practice, favorite read-alouds, our approach for art and our morning basket content.
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Morning Basket:
We love having a morning basket to use during our morning devotions, it is a simple way to include the Bible in our day and make reading a daily habit for us. I enjoy nurturing these habits and creating special traditions while they are still little. I am convinced that these practices will always be part of their memory. I am always left edified after each morning devotional with them, the Word of God brings encouragement to my soul and gives me strength to face each day. How special it is to be able to teach about His everlasting love to my children!
What we have in our Morning Basket:
- Scripture Cards for Memorization
- The New Bible In Pictures for Little Eyes
- Short Picture Books (See my recommendations here)
- Meaningful Menus
- BlueTooth Speaker
- Beatrix Potter's Tales
- A Year of Tales Curriculum
- Toys (See my recommendations here)
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Phonics:
The curriculum we've been using: All About Reading Level 1.
I loved using the Montessori method to teach Levi phonics in preschool, without having to use a formal curriculum. Before I present you the curriculum we picked for Phonics & Reading, I wanted to leave you with some important information in case you're looking into working with the Montessori method at your home.
Before children can learn to read, they first need to:
- Have practice hearing and speaking the language
- Understand the meaning of words (vocabulary enrichment)
- Hear the individual sounds in words
- Match the sounds of words with the symbols of our language (letters)
- Link those letters to create words
I would not recommend investing on a phonics & reading curriculum before your child is able to master these skills. Montessori Primary doesn't require support curriculums. In fact, the method - combined with the appropriate materials - will supply everything you need for the early years. You can simply offer the child the support materials and watch her enrich her vocabulary with ease. I'll be linking a list of Montessori materials at the end of this post.
For our kindergarten homeschool, the support curriculum we picked is called "All About Reading - Level 1".
Here's what Levi is learning in level 1 and some topics you would expect to see in this curriculum:
- Phonological Awareness
- Decoding (Phonics)
- Decoding (Structural Analysis)
- Vocabulary Enrichment
- Fluency
- Comprehension
What I love about All About Reading is that it sets a purpose for reading, and also provides content that enables the child to understand dialogues, to read with meaningful expression, accuracy and natural phrasing. Its format helps prepare the child for rich literature reading and poem appreciation.
The level 1 curriculum offers a kit of three readers, which we love and use everyday. These books are collections of short stories that are directly connect to the workbook lessons.
Oops, according to my Montessori heart I just used a no-no word: "WORKBOOK". Have I completely lost my senses? 😀
Jokes aside, don't expect this curriculum to be worksheet heavy. It is not. You won't see blank boxes to be checked, or lessons that will require the child to follow a traditional approach. And that is why I love it so much! All About Reading is easy to blend with our Montessori materials, the work that it proposes is child centered and fun to follow. Not to mention the beautiful illustrations you will see in each short story.
Levi has been thriving in it. He can read three and four letter words, he shows a deep desire to enrich his vocabulary, he loves the flash cards that came with our kit and gets excited every morning to start a new lesson. The curriculum challenges him, but it doesn't overwhelm him. I am confident we made the right choice.
Support Material for Phonics:
Here are some of our most most used support materials:
Green Flashcards / Word cards from All About Reading
Wooden Rotating Alphabet Manipulative Letters Blocks
Alphabet Tree Slices by Stepping Stones Shop
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Handwriting:
“In Montessori programs, children learn to write before they learn to read, and reading follows spontaneously several months after writing has begun” (Lillard, 2007, p. 22).
“every time the child forms a letter, the movement is becoming automatic: practice makes permanent” (Woods, 2001, p. 41).
Handwriting practice is an important part of our homeschool. And it is a skill that needs to be maintained, therefore I make it my goal to provide enough practice time almost everyday. The teaching of handwriting must look like an attractive activity to the child, otherwise it won't feel like meaningful work to them. It shouldn't be a regimented practice either, but one that the child feels called to do.
A sand tray is the perfect material for preschool and kindergarten (or primary class if you are following a Montessori curriculum). I use sand paper letters so Levi can run his fingers through the rough texture, then he does copy work by looking at each letter card and tracing its shape onto the sand.
We also use pencils for handwriting practice since he loves writing his own name on paper. Whenever he feels like it, I give him a piece of paper and a sharpened pencil, and that's how he gets to practice. That simple! It's important to let him enjoy and develop his skills on his own, that way he always sees handwriting as something delightful and that is worth spending his time on.
Support materials:
Sand Tray by Bless This Homeschool (It comes with sand)
Handwriting Without Tears Workbook
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Math:
If you are new to the Montessori Method, I highly encourage you to read Math Works - Montessori Math and the Developing Brain by Michael Duffy.
Here's a little bit about the content of this book: "Michael Duffy presents a concise, compelling explanation of the Montessori math materials, their purpose, and their classroom uses. He also addresses topics of concern for parents such as homework, recent brain research, and standardized testing." (Extracted from Amazon).
Montessori Primary Guide has very useful information about Montessori math activities, I encourage you to take a few minutes to browse through their website and read what they have to say about Introduction to Mathematics. This video is very informational and will show detailed instructions for introducing sandpaper numerals.
Maria Montessori believed the teacher / parent should expose the child to concrete materials first, then offer her other opportunities to work with abstract concepts. In a classroom setting, this concept of learning will happen the following way: a child holds a material in her hand, it can be beads or wooden number cards, then she makes the first connection with the object, and that will lead to cognitive recognition later.
Let's say she chooses to manipulate the Bead Stairs, she will run her fingers through the beads and count them one by one. Slowly she will make the connection between the beads and the symbol (number) they represent. The idea of mastering that skill without the assistance of materiais is what teachers refer to as abstraction.
I love working with Montessori Beads! In primary classrooms at Montessori schools, children use them to learn how to count. You will notice each set of beads has a different color. That allows the child to first connect quantity to color, then move on to understanding what each number/symbol represents. Soon she's able to capture basic math concepts in her mind, without having to ask for assistance. It's important to note that Bead Bars are used all the way through age 12, they are useful at every stage.
All of that to say, if you have basic knowledge of the method and the right materials, you will not need a formal curriculum to teach math at home. The materials we use are self-explanatory! See my recommendations below:
Support Materials:
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Art:
We are taking a Waldorf approach for art in our Kindergarten Homeschool. I love the Wet-on-Wet Technique.
Here's a video with instructions on how to introduce Waldorf Wet-On-Wet Watercolor Painting:
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Art Materials I recommend:
Non-Toxic Watercolor Paint Set
Watercolor Paint - Complete Set
Books about Waldorf Art:
Painting With Children by Brunhild Müller
Read-Alouds:
I try my best to keep things minimal in our homeschool, but when it comes to books I realize you can never have too many. Our home library is full! I selected our most favorite reads below, these have been the perfect addition to our kindergarten homeschool curriculum!
My recommendations:
How to Make and Apple Pie and See The World
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCLOSKEY
Everything You Need for a Tree House by Carter Higgins
Just One More by Jennifer Hansen Rolli
Just For Me by Jennifer Hansen Rolli
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
The Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson
The Emperor and the Kite by Jane Yolen
Rechenka's Eggs by Patricia Polacco
Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business
Everything You Need to Know For a Tree House by Carter Higgins
Chapter Books - Read-Alouds:
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Gannett
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Which and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
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Living Books:
What are living books?
Definition: A book that engages the reader and draws him or her into learning more about a subject; it is typically narrative in style and written by an authority on the material. Living books are written by someone with a passion for the material or by someone who has experienced the story first hand. The author pulls the reader into the story and presents the scientific or historical facts in such a way that the student hardly realizes they are learning. (Source: Elemental Science)
Here are some books my kids love engaging with:
A Butterfly is Patient by Dianna Aston and Sylvia Long
Trees, Leaves and Bark by Diane L. Burns
Are You a Ladybug? by Judy Allen and Tudor Humphries
Birds, Nests and Eggs by Mel Boring
The Life and Times of the Honeybee by Charles Micucci
Are You a Snail? by Judy Allen and Tudor Humphries
Are You a Bee? by Judy Allen and Tudor Humphries
The Reasons for Seasons by Gail Gibbons
A Seed in Need: A first look at the plant cycle by Sam Godwin
A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston
A Bean's Life Cycle by Mary R. Dunn
It Starts With a Seed by Laura Knowles
In the Garden: Who's Been Here? by Lindsay Barrett George
Tree: A Peek-Through Picture Book.
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Books for Parents:
If you're getting ready to homeschool your children, I want to share a piece of encouragement: You can absolutely do this! All you need before you start homeschooling is confidence and a good research on methods and approaches. Reading about different alternatives will help you as you prepare your mind for teaching your children at home.
Below you will see my book recommendations for you to acquire knowledge in the different areas of home education.
My recommendations:
The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie
Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne
The Call of the Wild and Free: Reclaiming Wonder in Your Child's Education
Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace by Sarah Mackenzie
Last Child in The Woods by Richard Louv
The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life
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Extra Resources:
Black Iron Easel Book Display (I use these in our shelves to display our books)
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Montessori Shelf
Our 30H X 48W Birch Montessori Shelf is from Sprout Kids, and it's the best investment I've ever made for our school room. It was really easy to put together (it requires no screws) and the quality of the wood is amazing! This shelf keeps all of the school materials accessible, and it's useful for early childhood and up. It makes our weekly themes more attractive and inviting. I cannot recommend it enough!
Coupon code: Use MASALIN to get 10% off your entire purchase with Sprout Kids!
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Thank you so much for reading! Please pin your favorite images to your Pinterest boards, I really appreciate your support!
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Xoxo,
Bru Masalin
This article is great! If it help, you can teach your child to read,
this video reveals how any child aged 2-9 can quickly learn to
read at home: https://bit.ly/36nmkge