A Montessori Teacher Reset: Thrift Finds, Classroom Setup & Quiet Reflections

 

In this video, I’m taking you through a little bit of everything

— a thrift store haul for my Montessori classroom,

how I’m setting up new works and spaces for the children,

and some honest reflections from behind the scenes of teaching.

From baskets and pouring work to calming corners and library refreshes, this is what it really looks like to build a classroom week by week — often out of your own pocket, with intention behind every detail.

I also share a glimpse into life outside the classroom… preparing for conferences, finding small moments of rest, and the role reading plays in helping me stay grounded during a demanding season. If you’re a teacher building something from the ground up — you’re not alone.

✨ I write more deeply about Montessori leadership and teacher sustainability on Substack: 👉 https://creativityandwonder.substack....

Are you needing some support with how to structure your classroom? As a Montessori teacher, I understand that feeling of overwhelm! I have created a detailed lesson plan to 'hold your hand' through each day.  These lesson plans can either be used to jump start how to create the rhythm of the classroom (monthly) or I have a full year plan that can then be used for a 3 year cycle.

Montessori Daily Lesson Plans 

Montessori INSPIRED Lesson Plans 

 

LOOKING FOR ART LESSONS FEATURING DIFFERENT ARTISTS? 

Link to my FREEBIES

 

Ask a Montessori Teacher: Why I Created a Supplemental Montessori Guide

 

 

Most Montessori teachers are well prepared.

They know the philosophy.
They know the materials.
They know the albums.

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And yet, many still find themselves at the end of the day struggling to answer a very simple question:

“What did we actually do today?”

Not because nothing happened — but because so much did.

What the albums don’t always account for

Montessori albums are meticulous. They are beautiful in their precision and care. They preserve lessons that have stood the test of time, and they matter deeply.

But albums were never meant to function as daily lesson plans.

They don’t always account for:

• The rhythm of a full seven-hour day

• Group meetings and transitions

• Art, science, cooking, or cultural work

• Documentation needs for administrators or parents

• The reality of mixed settings or hybrid schools

Many teachers quietly fill in these gaps on their own — late at night, on weekends, or between responsibilities — often without realizing how much invisible labor they are carrying.

 READ MORE 

 

Are you needing some support with how to structure your classroom? As a Montessori teacher, I understand that feeling of overwhelm! I have created a detailed lesson plan to 'hold your hand' through each day.  These lesson plans can either be used to jump start how to create the rhythm of the classroom (monthly) or I have a full year plan that can then be used for a 3 year cycle.

Montessori Daily Lesson Plans 

Montessori INSPIRED Lesson Plans 

 

LOOKING FOR ART LESSONS FEATURING DIFFERENT ARTISTS? 

Link to my FREEBIES

 

 

What I’m Actually Doing to Get My Students Kindergarten-Ready

 

In this video, I’m sharing exactly how I’m preparing my students for kindergarten—especially when many of them are coming in without letter sounds or early reading skills.

This is not a perfect Montessori classroom. This is what it looks like when you have to build a literacy plan in real time.

I walk through:

How I assess letter names and sounds (ASMT)

What I do when children aren’t blending My daily structure (one-on-one + whole group) How I’m using simple, sometimes non-traditional materials

What I do when progress is slow

How I’m planning forward in weekly letter groupings I also share honestly about: Making materials quickly (not always “beautiful”)

Using Teachers Pay Teachers to fill gaps What happens when parent support isn’t consistent

Why I shifted to protected one-on-one time (Tonekeeper)

If you are a teacher trying to meet real children where they are—this is for you. I’m happy to share materials and brainstorm better systems together—just leave a comment.

✨ I write more deeply about Montessori leadership and teacher sustainability on Substack: 

👉 https://creativityandwonder.substack....

Are you needing some support with how to structure your classroom? As a Montessori teacher, I understand that feeling of overwhelm! I have created a detailed lesson plan to 'hold your hand' through each day.  These lesson plans can either be used to jump start how to create the rhythm of the classroom (monthly) or I have a full year plan that can then be used for a 3 year cycle.

Montessori Daily Lesson Plans 

Montessori INSPIRED Lesson Plans 

 

LOOKING FOR ART LESSONS FEATURING DIFFERENT ARTISTS? 

Link to my FREEBIES