What Should My Child Be Learning? A Montessori Approach to Homeschooling
When you think about education, the first subjects that come to mind are probably the "3 R’s" — Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. And for good reason! These are the foundations of so much else. Whether it's science, history, politics, or technology, literacy and math are everywhere.
But giving your child a great education is so much more than just academics. You are helping your child grow into a curious, capable, compassionate human being! The Montessori approach is designed to support exactly that.
Education for Life (not just for the test)
One of the greatest advantages of homeschooling is that learning doesn’t stop at the edge of a desk. Everyday experiences, like running errands, cooking dinner, or exploring nature, become moments of meaningful learning for your child.
We have a saying at Child of the Redwoods we want to pass on to you.
We don’t have to bring the world into a classroom. We bring our children into the world.
With regular exposure to real life and a curriculum grounded in developmental needs, you can support your child’s growth on every level—not just academically, but socially, emotionally, and practically.
What It Really Means to Be Educated
Beyond core academics, we believe every child deserves the chance to:
Be Literate: Able to read text for pleasure and information and write to communicate thoughts, feelings, and ideas
Be Considerate: Able to put themselves in the metaphorical shoes of another person and behave with polite manners and kindness
Be a Critical Thinker: Able to get curious about a topic and research it to assess for themselves whether it is factual or inherently biased
Be Responsible: Able to understand, acknowledge, and adequately perform their role in community with others
How Children Learn Best (Hint: You’re Already Doing It)
Children are born ready to learn. From their earliest days, they absorb the world through every sense—and they’re wired to explore it.
90% of the brain is being developed during those first, precious five years of life. The neural connections that are built during that time and beyond will have an enormous impact on your child’s future sense of self.
It doesn’t take a specialized “schoolish” environment for this learning to occur. Your child’s perfect education begins right here at home with a loving, caring family. The nurturing relationship you developed with your baby or toddler continues as they grow.
The secure and stable foundation you provide will allow them to explore their world uninhibited, making joyful discoveries everywhere they go.
If your child:
Builds with blocks for hours
Watches ants cross the sidewalk
Pretends to be a parent, teacher, or animal
Insists “I do it myself!”
…they are showing you exactly how learning happens.
The same repetitive, insistent behaviors occur when children are older and ready to gain academic abilities, like learning how to perform basic calculations or write their own name. At every turn, we need to be ready to offer our assistance.
How You Can Support Their Growth
As Montessori homeschoolers, we:
Observe our children’s interests and skill levels
Introduce topics in fun, hands-on ways
Model behaviors and break down complex skills
Offer gentle encouragement and lessons in perseverance
The Essential Subjects We Cover
At Child of the Redwoods, we’ve organized our curriculum into 10 core subject areas that support the whole child:
Sensorial
Practical Life
Reading & Writing
Grammar
Mathematics
Geometry
Physical Science
Life Science
The Arts
Humankind
If that sounds like a lot, don’t worry! These subjects emerge naturally in daily life and are woven into our Montessori scope and sequence. With the right curriculum and a bit of guidance, you’ll feel confident introducing them all.
Ready to start?
Take our free Homeschool Superpower Quiz and get a gentle nudge toward your next best step.
Love this so much? You can also try the Child of the Redwoods Curriculum free for 7 days. We’d love to welcome you inside.
