Frequently Asked Questions

The Montessori homeschool journey can feel intimidating at first, so don’t worry if you have lots of questions – you’re supposed to! We’re experienced in both, but we remember what it was like to be new and curious, a little bit nervous but also excited.

This page is here to give you clear, honest answers to our most commonly asked questions. Scroll through to find what you need, and remember: you’re already doing enough just by being here.

Not sure where to begin? Start here to see how Montessori works at home.


Getting Started With Montessori

For families who are new to Montessori or just beginning their homeschool journey.

  • Right here with us. You don’t need a teaching background or to have taken Montessori training to begin. Our curriculum was designed to walk with you step-by-step.

    We give you ready-to-print materials, scripted lessons, and lots of encouragement at every turn. You can start teaching right away, and when you’re ready to take a full course on the Montessori method, you can do that as part of your Complete or Unlimited membership.

  • Our curriculum is designd for children 2-9 years old. That’s preK through 3rd grade. Whether you’re starting with a toddler or guiding an elementary age child, you’ll find age-appropriate content that meets your child where they are.

    We don’t have a curriculum for children younger than 2, but if you want to join early to study ahead of time and be prepared for the years ahead, we welcome you. Several parents have happily done this. Another great resource for you would be Aubrey’s books: Baby’s First Year Milestones and Toddler Discipline for Every Age and Stage.

  • Nope! You do not need a teaching background. There are no U.S. states that require parents to hold any kind of teaching certification to homeschool. A few states have other educational requirements, such as showing proof of a high school diploma, which you provide to your local district if they require it. Homeschooling is legal in many countries around the world and is a lot easier to navigate than you may think (which is great!). 

    Of course, we recommend that you check your state or country’s homeschooling requirements, and if you can, find a homeschooling network or group in your local area because they will be able to give you the best tips.

  • You may be familiar with accreditation because it is used often in the context of schools. Child of the Redwoods is not a school for children – we are an educational resource for parents. Fortunately, no U.S. state requires any homeschooling curriculum or program to be accredited, so this is not something you need to worry about.

    Rest easy, because our homeschool system is deeply aligned with authentic Montessori principles and created by experienced, certified educators. As former classroom teachers, we are very familiar with state and common core standards, and we are happy to talk to you about them so you feel secure in your choice.

  • Not directly, and that’s on purpose. Our curriculum is rooted in authentic Montessori pedagogy (the science of teaching), which emphasizes developmental readiness. 

    We will take the opportunity to brag, though! The academic lessons we provide often meet or exceed typical grade-level benchmarks. Instead of standards, we look for skill-building in the 10 core subject areas that we have identified as being part of the Montessori method.

  • Yes. You can download your first lesson and begin today with a sample pack.

    We offer a 7-day free trial so you can explore a full Theme before making a decision. You’ll get access to scripted lessons, printable materials, and planning cards, plus a chance to see how it feels to be a member. We want you to be sure it’s the right fit for your family.

  • First of all…welcome! You’ll receive an email with everything you need to log in and start exploring the curriculum. We recommend downloading your first Theme and checking out all the family-friendly features inside like the recommended book lists and Everyone Can Play sections. Then give a lesson or two a try, just for fun! And don’t be shy — our community is ready to welcome you if you want to come say hi and ask questions.

  • Choosing a homeschool curriculum is a very personal decision. Many potential members chat with us here on the website, sign up for a tour or email with details about their child’s age and family situation first before enrolling. We do this all the time. All of these will reach us personally. (100% human!)


Curriculum Access

Everything you need to know about how and where to find your materials.

  • You’ll receive a welcome email with login instructions as soon as you join. From there, you can create a password and log in. You’ll find everything organized and ready to explore. You can start teaching the very same day!

  • All materials are digital. That’s a benefit! That means no waiting for shipments; instead, you get immediate access and can start printing, planning, and teaching right away. (And yes, it works beautifully for families on the go. I’m looking at you, “roadschoolers” and “worldschoolers”!)

  • New themes are published every month from August to May, (summer themes are pulled from our Theme Library) and we help you prep for them ahead of time. If you're on a Complete or Unlimited plan, you’ll also get full access to our entire Theme Library. There are dozens of topics so you can follow your child’s interests, mix and match, or go at your own pace.

  • YES — absolutely! Our members live in many different time zones and juggle all kinds of schedules, so we make it a priority to record every coaching session and upload them to the membership site. We won't leave you hanging. Ask questions ahead of time and then pop back in to watch when it’s convenient for you.

  • Yes! Our curriculum is designed to meet the needs of families. You only enroll once as a family, not per child. That means that even if you happen to have a toddler, preschooler, and a second grader at home at the same time, you’ll be teaching them together. Our lessons are designed to be easy to adapt so everyone can play!

  • Our curriculum is secular. We believe that all children deserve a high-quality education, and we welcome families from all backgrounds. We respect and value different faith traditions, but our lessons themselves are not religious in content or tone.

    Because of the deeply academic and spiritual legacy Maria Montessori left us, our work is firmly grounded in love, humility, wonder, and an intense respect for all things. If you have questions about specifics, please reach out.


Billing & Membership

Questions about payments, upgrading your plan, and managing your account.

  • The Complete and Unlimited plans are annual programs and access to all materials is immediate. Once you have finished all required payments for the year (paid either in full or over 12 installments), you may cancel your membership from your account dashboard. You must complete all required payments for the year as outlined in your Terms of Service

    The Theme of the Month plan is a month-to-month subscription, and you may cancel or upgrade anytime. This is a great way to get a feel for what we do without the yearly commitment.

    If you have more questions or need clarity on this, please reach out and ask!

  • Unfortunately, we do not have a way to pause your membership. Please reach out to us if you have questions.

  • Because access is instant and fully digital, we do not issue refunds — but we do offer a 7-day free trial so you can explore our lessons before committing. You can also sign up for a tour for a 20-30 minute 1:1 consultation.

    That way, you can make sure it’s the right fit for your family before your first payment is charged.

  • Upgrading your plan is easy! You’ll log in and do it right on your account page. Once you upgrade, you’ll instantly gain access to all the additional benefits!

  • Yes! Several of our members use these funds to cover their membership costs. If you have a particular charter in mind or you are just exploring this possibilit, feel free to reach out to us directly!


Philosophy/Methodology

For curious parents who want to understand the Montessori foundation behind the curriculum.

  • It’s the real deal. Our curriculum is defined directly by Maria Montessori’s work, not merely “inspired” by. Were you to invest thousands of dollars and hours in a classroom Montessori training and certification program, you would recognize the lessons and the method we use as intimately familiar.

    We are carrying on the legacy by adapting and expanding the scope and sequence and innovating on resources to make it easy for homeschooling parents to implement in their own homes.

    Unlike many other Montessori homeschool curriculums sold to parents, we don’t water it down. We don’t just give you a set of albums and call it a day. We write all of our lessons the way a trained Montessori guide would present them based on our years of teaching experience and knowledge of the Montessori method. We are very particular with both our lesson scripting and design. No fluffy stuff; no cartoony worksheets.

    At the same time, we are not purists. That’s gatekeeping, and we don’t do that. You don’t have to have all of the materials; you don’t have to present anything perfectly – just follow the steps, have fun, get creative if you feel like it, and you’ll do a great job!

  • There’s no shortage of Montessori printables on the internet, but most aren’t connected to a bigger picture. What sets Child of the Redwoods apart is our comprehensive system. You get planning guidance, fully scripted lessons, carefully curated printable materials, a complete roadmap from ages 2 to 9, and real support from educators who genuinely care.

    It’s a Montessori foundation you can trust. Our members tend to stay with us a long time because they find themselves transformed by the journey. Downloading a bundle of parts cards can’t do that.

    We also have a very thriving and collaborative private community. Here’s what a member said about the community recently:

    “I was hesitant of joining the mighty network community when I joined COTRW. I didn’t want a social media platform. What I found was inspiration all around. This is my place to type a topic or lesson to find creative ways that other amazing members have done in the past or they are working with. Aubrey herself is always ready to mentor to the most personalized level. Inside we lift each other up, we understand our journeys against a system that is not pro-child. Being Montessorians made us a family in here no matter where in the world we are. We feel safe to share our vulnerabilities, our wins, doubts and we learn from each other beyond academics. This community is a blessing to me.” - Anabel

  • We will! The Montessori approach to teaching reading is grounded in the science of reading. Our method supports how the brain naturally learns to decode words.

    You’ll first bring your child’s awareness to sounds and then connect them to the shape of the letters using tactile materials, and then you’ll use a movable alphabet to build words systematically. At the same time, you’re going to have access to a lot of recommended book lists.

    Most parents stress about teaching reading to their child, but promise – we’ll walk you through it. Get excited! It’s going to be fun!

  • With enthusiasm! We love the arts and we are invested in helping you explore and understand cultural traditions. We are intentional in how we present different cultures and perspectives, and we approach every topic with humility and appreciation. We actively work to counter stereotypes while also celebrating what makes us uniquely human.

    You’ll see this represented in our recommended book lists and in the way we write the lessons themselves. Our goal is to help children unapologetically love who they are and also see the beauty in others.

  • If you are ready to invest your time and energy into learning the Montessori method, absolutely. We don’t just hand you a list of activities and send you on your way.

    We show you how to create a family rhythm and routine, give lessons with confidence, and spend quality time with your child in a way that feels like warm sunshine.

    Our self-paced courses, planning tools, and community are here to guide you through the how, step by step. It’s a journey, so it won’t happen overnight, but we are ready to teach you, and you can get started as soon as you join.


Tech Support

Need help navigating your account or locating your resources? Here are some quick tips!

  • Do this first: go to the login page and click “Forgot Password?” to reset, and then check your email. If changing your password doesn’t work, send us a message and we’ll help you get back in.

  • No, it’s all online and easy to access through your internet browser.

    Our documents and lesson guides are designed to be printed with a home color printer.

    If you don’t own one, you can view lessons digitally with our Lesson Explorer or use a print shop or library printer.

    Most members do invest in a good color printer. If you need a recommendation for a good one, just ask us!

  • Yes! You can access everything on mobile, tablet, or with a desktop browser. You can easily search for every single lesson in our entire database from anywhere in the world, on any device!

    Many families use their phone or tablet to reference the lessons discreetly. You can do this while homeschooling at the kitchen table, in a museum, or at the playground.

  • If a file won’t open or if something is just not working right in your account, reach out to us here. The internet is sometimes a quirky place, so don’t fret. We’ll do our best to help right away.

  • We will help you personally. We don’t outsource member support or use chat bots, we handle everything in-house. Email is the easiest way to keep track of tech support requests. Use the contact form, explain your issue, and we will reply via email.

Still have a question? Just ask.

We’d love to hear from you and are happy to answer any questions personally. Reach out to us anytime — we’re real people, Montessori educators, and homeschooling parents too.