Episodes
As Montessorians, we believe the method has value for humans at every stage of life, starting at the earliest moments and continuing on until our final days. However, there are definitely periods when we are showing signs of readiness for something new. What are those signs? How do we know when our toddlers are ready to begin their journey with the Primary materials? Join Aubrey and David on YouTube as they explore this (very frequently asked) topic!  To learn more about our work, visit us...
Published 03/22/24
Published 03/22/24
Something strange happens in the Primary years that doesn't happen to us as adults, and it has to do with order. No, this is not the same thing as tidiness, so step aside Marie Kondo, although we share your love of containers for things that spark joy! Understanding the child's sensitivity to order is key, so join us for an episode all about how to engage your Primary child. Plus, we'll be featuring our stegosaurus plates activity from our Constellation theme Dinosaur! To learn more about...
Published 03/15/24
In this episode, Aubrey and David talk about ways to make your Valentine's Day celebrations a little more Montessori. They also teach a simple -- yet enormously satisfying -- work that you can quickly pull out for your kids. It lends itself to Montessori scissor precision practice + geometrical explorations, and...the results are always amazing! Say hello to concentric hearts!  For more Montessori magic, visit us at www.childoftheredwoods.com.
Published 03/08/24
Little brains learn MORE when little fingers are involved! Join us Live as we talk about hands-on learning that is inherent in Montessori. We'll discuss the 10 core subject areas that are featured in all of our programs, and we have an Awesome Lesson for you! We're going to give you a sneak peek into our latest theme Pigment and show you how a simple prism in your window can be a HUGE opportunity for learning. For more about our work, visit us online at www.childoftheredwoods.com.
Published 03/02/24
Nothing invites a child to a lesson like a good old fashioned MYSTERY. In Montessori, this is actually a key teaching tool, and hands-down one of our favorites! Join us for a Live chat on YouTube (or watch the replay!) as we talk about how to incorporate more 🕵️ skills into your homeschool. Find the Arachnid Mysteries right here in our theme WEB: https://childoftheredwoodsmembers.com/product/web-theme/ Learn more at ChildoftheRedwoods.com Learn more at https://www.ChildoftheRedwoods.com
Published 02/16/24
In this episode, Aubrey and David talk about how to beat the winter blues with some fun, seasonally-inspired lessons.  For more Montessori magic, visit us at www.childoftheredwoods.com.
Published 02/09/24
Join Aubrey and David as they discuss one of Maria Montessori's greatest works -- The Secret of Childhood! This is part 2 of 4 and covers chapters 8 to 17. To learn more about our work, visit us online at www.ChildoftheRedwoods.com
Published 01/05/24
Join Aubrey and David as they discuss one of Maria Montessori's greatest works -- The Secret of Childhood! This is part 1 of 4. To learn more about our work, visit us online at www.ChildoftheRedwoods.com
Published 12/22/23
In the modern world, most of us don't darn our socks because buying new ones is affordable - and because it seems daunting. But taking the time to teach your child basic sewing skills may have you rethinking your willingness to fix fabric rather than replace it by punching the buy button. With confident skills, your child will find sewing pleasant and extremely purposeful. And you only need a few materials to make it happen. Join us for an awesome lesson on sewing. We'll be making a craft...
Published 12/15/23
Wanna see a magic trick? Like a real deal one that can't be explained away? Get a magnet and join us on YouTube for a free Awesome Lesson! We'll show you how to teach this simple yet inherently mysterious concept. More experiments with magnets can be found in the Constellation theme Magnetic: https://childoftheredwoodsmembers.com/product/magnetic-theme/  Learn more about our work at ChildoftheRedwoods.com
Published 12/09/23
In this special Spooky Season episode, Aubrey and David talk about how to help Littles navigate a creepy crawly holiday and why less is almost always more. Visit www.childoftheredwoods.com for free and low cost Montessori resources for your home.
Published 12/01/23
Have you ever wondered what happens in Montessori Elementary schools? It's a lot of TIMELINE work. Today we are discussing a most awesome lesson that is a central part of our 1st-3rd grade Montessori curriculum: the Timeline of Life. There is an effective way to teach it and a not-so-effective way to teach it. We will show you how to give this lesson in a way that your child really, really gets the concept! To learn more about our work, visit www.childoftheredwods.com
Published 11/17/23
One can be fun, but two is me & you! Teaching your child the difference between odd and even is a game you can play over and over in different ways. In this video, Aubrey and David discuss the classic Odd and Even lesson and a few fun variations. Learn more about our work at www.childoftheredwoods.com
Published 11/10/23
In every child’s life, there comes a point at which they want to learn to…use scissors! While these common artistic tools may seem daunting, Aubrey and David are here to help you with a clear and concise sequence for all your scissor-skill needs! After this, your child should be ready to cut pretty much anything! Find out more at https://www.childoftheredwoods.com
Published 11/03/23
one of the most essential skills: blending consonants and vowels together to make words. Join Aubrey and David to learn how! For more tips and lessons, check out our website: https://www.childoftheredwoods.com where you can get your very own Vowel Tree in our Shop: https://childoftheredwoodsmembers.com/product/vowel-tree/
Published 10/27/23
Land and water and air...it's the stuff our planet Earth is made of! This very popular lesson is simple and sometimes overlooked. Yet it is SO IMPORTANT because we are teaching a lot of concepts that build your child's core knowledge base for future connections across the curriculum. Come learn why - and how to give this awesome lesson to maximum effect. Join Aubrey and David in a conversation about Land, Water, and Air! 
Published 10/20/23
Now I know my ABC's...won't you please play a GAME with me? Singing the alphabet song, cute as it is, does not teach your child how to read. What does? Matching the initial sound of a word to the letter it is represented by! The Alphabet Roll is a fun, intuitive way for your child to practice their sounds. Plus, it's a sequencing activity, which is great for cognitive development! Join us on YouTube to learn how to give this AWESOME reading lesson to your child at home. ...And now your child...
Published 10/13/23
Don't get stuck! Join Aubrey and David as they discuss one of their favorite Montessori lessons -- How to Glue! They talk about how to give the lesson, what materials you'll need, and why it's so awesome! As always, remember to monitor your Littles when doing lessons that involve small objects, like the glue containers referenced in the Live. To learn more about Child of the Redwoods, visit us at www.childoftheredwoods.com.
Published 10/06/23
Living! Nonliving! Seems pretty simple, right? In actuality, this is the first concept covered in a traditional biology class, and it's not so straightforward! Come join Aubrey & David in a lively discussion as we show you how to give this classic, AWESOME Montessori lesson to your child. Want more Montessori? Download our list of Montessori Essentials here: https://www.childoftheredwoods.com/essentials Episode Note: Unfortunately, YouTube Live crashed just before we wrapped the...
Published 09/29/23
You’ve got the whole world in your hands! Nothing brings to life the shape, size, and orientation of our planet quite like a physical globe. In this episode, Aubrey and David discuss what makes globes so essential, how Montessorians use them, and why digital versions just don’t cut it.  Globes are just one of Child of the Redwoods’ 21 essential Montessori materials. To download the full list, go to www.childoftheredwoods.com/essentials. 
Published 09/22/23
They’re colorful. They’re playful. They’re joyful. They’re… a geometry lesson?! It’s true! The study of Geometry in Montessori is as much about the art and beauty of shapes as it is the math, and nothing quite exemplifies that like the geometry sticks. Join Aubrey and David Live as they explore this often underappreciated but none the less amazing Montessori essential.  Geometry sticks are just one of our Montessori essentials. For a free printable version of the complete list, head over...
Published 09/15/23
Montessori had a....FARM?! Yes, she really did. She loved farms and all they had to offer children. She taught children the names of the animals, she encouraged children to work outside in the garden growing and harvesting food to eat, and she also used it - (I kid you not!) - for GRAMMAR lessons! Yup, a toy farm is a MONTESSORI ESSENTIAL. 😆 That's what we're talking about today in our Live on YouTube. Come join us! For our entire list of 21 Essentials, head to...
Published 09/08/23
Tantrums, bedtime power struggles, whining, frenetic hyperactivity! In our modern culture, we complain about parenting littles a LOT. And it's warranted! With all the unrealistic expectations we place on ourselves and our children? We are stressed -TF- out! No wonder we can't keep our cool. Fortunately, the Montessori method offers some blissful balms and soothing salves to ease you into a more peaceful way of life. Join Aubrey and David for a conversation about finding your calm...with...
Published 09/01/23
Books, books, books! You know your child needs them, but what kind is best? In this episode, David and Aubrey discuss why - and how - you should be using nonfiction books in your home with your children. In fact, nonfiction books are an essential material for a Montessori home! Head over to childoftheredwoods.com/essentials to get our free downloadable copy of the 21 Montessori Essentials you should own.
Published 08/25/23