The Easiest Planning Method You’ve Never Tried
Let’s be honest — some of the hardest parts of homeschooling are knowing what to teach and how to know if you are hitting the mark. Add in the unique qualities of a Montessori approach, which emphasizes following the child, and many homeschool families can feel lost and overwhelmed.
For nearly a decade, we’ve been helping parents worldwide navigate this amazing journey. Our goal has always been to make Montessori easier, more accessible to parents. Why?! Because a Montessori education is the best education you can give your child! It’s for everyone.
After years of working with members, studying Dr. Montessori’s original work, and assessing what technological innovation could do to help, we’ve developed an innovative planning and documentation method we know you’re going to love. There is nothing else like it out there! It’s 100% exclusive to the Child of the Redwoods curriculum.
Here’s the Deal
The centerpiece of our approach is our innovative Planning Card system. We’ve taken the nearly 2000 lessons in the Primary and Lower Elementary curriculum and leveled, sequenced, and organized them into a set of fun, intuitive, and easy to use Planning Cards. (Lower Elementary cards available Fall 2024)
That’s right, Montessori planning has been gamified! Planning, observing, and documenting your child’s progress through the Montessori curriculum is as easy as selecting cards, presenting a lesson from that card, then checking off what you’ve done!
Let’s see exactly how you’ll use them. Imagine that it’s the weekend. You’re ready to plan for the following week. Let’s demonstrate how you’ll pick which lessons to give your child.
You’ll start with the Constellation theme of the month card, which is already planned week-by-week for you! Place this week’s card in the center of your planning workspace.
Then, add four Foundation cards. These cards cover the core academics, including Reading and Math. Complete Curriculum and Unlimited level members get a full, printable set of both Primary and Lower Elementary Foundational cards (Lower Elementary cards available Fall 2024).
Not sure which Foundational cards should you pick? No worries! We’ve got guidance based on your child’s age.
Over the course of the week, give lessons from the cards. Always prioritize the Theme card lessons. We carefully write every thematic lesson to cover multiple Foundational lessons in a fun, interdisciplinary way.
Work your way through those cards, and you’ll be well on your way to Montessori bliss!
Of course, a good education also provides special emphasis on core subjects, like Reading and Practical Life, so over the course of the week, you’ll add ONE LESSON from each of your four extra Foundations cards that is appropriate for your child’s Level (1, 2, or 3).
Throughout the week, observe your child’s progress.
If your child seems ready and eager, give more than one Foundations lesson from each card.
If your child doesn’t seem interested or ready for the chosen lesson, pick another from the card or sub in a new card entirely.
And if your schedule is packed or life is getting in the way otherwise, scale back on the number of lessons. Reduce the number of Foundations lessons first, starting with the two ‘free choice’ cards. Reduce the Theme card lessons last.
Step-by-Step Support
Want to make sure you are presenting the lesson the correct way? We’ve got you covered. You can find step-by-step directions for every Foundational lesson in the printable Lesson Guides and the online, searchable Lesson Explorer. And every Theme lesson is fully scripted and provides all needed printable materials.
At the end of the week, check off the lessons you gave on the cards then mark the D-E-B level for each Foundational card. D E B stands for Discovery, Exploration, Building. It’s our way of helping you determine your child’s progress
You’ll mark D if you’ve introduced at least one lesson from the card.
You’ll mark E if your child is making progress on these lessons and practicing
You’ll mark B if your child could “be the teacher” of all of the lessons and apply their knowledge in the real world.
Cards marked D or E can be repeated the next week or put back in the stack for future use. Cards marked B are complete and can be stored at the back of the card box.
Planning should be something you look forward to every week! It shouldn’t take much time, and you should feel confident in your child’s progress.