The Michael Olaf Montessori Company provides practical advice for using Montessori philosophy in all kinds of settings. "Montessori Materials" are not the most important aspect of this method of education. Too many objects in the classroom or home create what is commonly known as the "supermarket effect," which scatters the child's energy and interferes with concentration and optimum development. The list of essential materials offered by Michael Olaf grows intentionally shorter every year and everything is well tested. They focus on helping parents and teachers create simple, beautiful, educational environments that foster creativity, independence of thought and action, a positive self-image, joy, and a spirit of service to others and to the environment. They also offer two e-books, "The Joyful Child" and "Child of the World," discussing the Montessori method.

Educators have many ways of defining and describing the way people process information including learning personalities, modalities, and styles. The simplest to understand and apply involves three categories: lookers, listeners, and movers. It is helpful for a teaching parent to know his own learning style as well as the preferred learning style of each child in the family for several reasons.

The reality of homeschool socialization is that there are usually more opportunities to socialize than there is time. The crush of activities, friends, and interactions with others keeps most homeschoolers more than busy.

Stacy Mantle discusses seven specific types of learning styles: linguistic, logical, spatial, musical, bodily, interpersonal, and intrapersonal.

We all know that homeschooling has its advantages. But is homeschooling an only detrimental to your child’s development? I shared many challenges of homeschooling an only child as well as socialization ideas for homeschooling onlies. However, the advantages of homeschooling just one far outweigh the obstacles you have to overcome.

A group designed to discuss Charlotte Mason's methods from a Catholic perspective.

Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-3000
Phone: 435-797-2631

The Merrill-Cazier Library is the Utah State University library. It is a 304,000 square foot facility in the center of the campus. Search online or visit the new facility. Features over 1,400,000 voulumes of books, magazines, and journals. Also houses 1,200,000 federal publications titles and 76,600 USGS topographic maps covering the entire U.S.