What Does Montessori Say About Assessment? A Guide for Homeschoolers
If you grew up in traditional school, you probably associate learning with things like homework, pop quizzes, standardized tests, and GPA rankings. Maybe you studied hard to make the grade. Maybe you defined your self-worth by your report card. Maybe your college or career path was shaped by those numbers.
You, being the thoughtful, intentional homeschooling parent, remember that world and want something better for your child.
The good news? Montessori agrees.
Montessori Offers a Different Path
Traditional testing is designed to rank students, not to help them grow. It promotes extrinsic motivation (grades, stickers, gold stars) instead of internal drive. And it teaches children that their value is tied to a narrow expression of performance.
Dr. Maria Montessori understood that learning is innate and self-driven. She believed children learn best when they’re:
Free to follow their curiosity
Given meaningful, hands-on work
Supported by adults who observe and guide
In Montessori, assessment happens naturally, through feedback. Natural feedback is super effective because the world is filled with it.
Cook with too much salt? Your tastebuds tell you.
Hammer a nail wrong? Your thumb gives you the message.
Make a rude comment? Your sense of regret lets you know.
This kind of intrinsic feedback is how we learn best. And it’s how we want our children to learn, too.
So How Do You Know If Your Child Is Learning?
Observation. However, because most homeschoolers aren’t trained educators, the signs of readiness and growth can sometimes feel elusive.
That’s why at Child of the Redwoods, we created a simple, natural framework to support assessment at home. We call it the D-E-B Understanding Matrix. As your child works on lessons, you’re observing for a depth of understanding.
🔍 Discovery
This is a brand new concept—your child is just being introduced to it.
Reading example: “This is the letter S. It sounds like sssss, like ssssnake.”
🧪 Exploration
Your child is experimenting, practicing, and playing with the concept.
Reading example: Your child sorts items by sound—snake, soap, spoon—matching objects to S and M. Mistakes happen. That’s okay. You’re learning together.
🧱 Building
Mastery has arrived. Your child can apply what they’ve learned independently and in new situations.
Reading example: Your child points to a stop sign and says, “It starts with sssstop!” They grab the letter S when you ask for a snack. They’ve got it, and they’re applying it creatively.
The ultimate goal isn’t that you know your child is progressing, it’s that they do. Montessori education builds self-awareness and internal motivation.
They Can Do It. You Can Support.
Your child is already wired to self-assess. Even toddlers who can’t yet speak will try again and again to tie shoes, pour water, or balance a block tower. Your role is to help them recognize their own progress, which helps them build perseverance, confidence, and ownership.
