give_me_a_latte Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Has anyone used this? I'm just getting my toes wet, learning about Montessori methods. So I wonder if this Homeschool Program would be something a parent with no Montessori background could easily implement. They *say* you need no Montessori background, but I'm wondering if anyone has actually done it. It's crazy expensive and only has a 3-day refund policy :001_huh: so I'd really love to hear some BTDT experience with it. http://www.montessori-home-schooling.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 (edited) I can only share with you what my friend has shared with me. She owns both the 3-6 and 6-9 NAMC teacher's manuals. I would love to implement Monstessori in our home but I am unable to invest at this time and our home does not provide for the space that we would need. Anyway, she found the 6-9 very useful and has been using it for her kids that fit that age group. For the 3-6 she did not find it as useful and is using Basic Montessori mostly, for her little one. In our case, since I cannot reproduce a Montessori environment to the level I would like, I am going to be using: How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way and Teach Me to Do It Myself I am hoping to at least implement the philosophical approach this way, even if I can't implement it fully. The woman (Maria Montessori) was a genius :)! Edited March 19, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa3033 Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 We are currently using the Montessori Method. It has taken A LOT of trial and error, but I feel like it is working for us. I have not purchased the program you listed, but I did do an online program (World Wide Montessori). I will say that I was not enthused with WWM. There were some great ideas and a lot of insight offered, but it wasn't really what I was looking for. It is by far cheaper than NAMC. I'm not exactly sure how expensive it is, I just know it's expensive. WWM is $150-$200 and while it doesn't provide materials, it does provide printables that can be used in place of many montessori materials. For example, she has print-outs of the bead material for those who are not able to purchase or make their own. I learned the most on the Montessori Method from reading books. Head to your library and check out all the relevant books. I also learned a great deal from Margaret Homfray's videos (no link handy, but google will pull it easily). Margaret Homfray was a student of Maria Montessori and given that the Montessori name has been slapped on just about everything, I wanted to ensure I was remaining pure to Montessori. Afterall, I had decided to homeschool using the Montessori Method, not using so-and-so's take on the Montessori Method. Margaret is firm, kind, gentle, and I really learned a lot just from watching her demeanor on how to present lessons. You can also youtube some things as well. I searched high and low looking for a Montessori curriculum. I did find a few, but most were general. And then a light bulb hit me. You really can't write a Montessori curriculum, it's directly opposite of the way the method is supposed to work. You can guide, you can give ideas, but at the end of the day the whole point of the method is to "follow the child" and of course every child is different. I gained the most ideas from reading blogs. Find blogs of parents with kids your kids' ages that are active and follow them for awhile. Particularly those who post info on the theory behind the activity they are presenting. Feel free to pm for more info too, as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifra Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 (edited) Look, Montessori materials are very expensive (although I have used most of mine for all three of my children--even the cheaper ones)--and most of the Montessori online catalogs charge an arm and a leg for shipping. Why not just use books like Basic Montessori that Marie recommended and buy the materials online? Another set of books that are oldies but a goodies for Montessori information is Teaching Montessori in the Home: The Preschool Years and Teaching Montessori in the Home: The School Years (and because they are so old, they are cheap and to boot, you can probably find them in your local library). For sources of materials I like Michael Olaf, Montessori Services and Montessori N Such, but as I said, their shipping costs are very high. The best source of Montessori materials (with the best quality but out of this world prices) if you have money to spend is Neinhuis Montessori. Edited March 27, 2011 by Shifra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
give_me_a_latte Posted March 27, 2011 Author Share Posted March 27, 2011 Thanks for all the links everyone! I'll look for some of those books at my library. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poke Salad Annie Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Marie and others have linked to some wonderful books for reading up on Montessori theory and practice. The Gettman and Hainstock books are great. I made quite a few items for our Montessori work. The Michael Olaf catalog can be accessed online, and gives a bit of different flavor than some of the other catalogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 You can also download Montessori's books for free from Archive.org. The woman was a genius! I wish I could follow her method as she intended but I don't have the space and it would be too expensive to buy the original manipulatives (per Montessori's specifications). Oh well, I can at least do what I can to follow the spirit behind it ;). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poke Salad Annie Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 Oh well, I can at least do what I can to follow the spirit behind it ;). :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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