How We Organize Our Bilingual Montessori Homeschool Materials
Our storage for Montessori materials and Chinese/Korean activities is a work-in-progress. I’ve been hesitant about sharing how we organize our Montessori homeschool supplies that are out of rotation, because I still have a lot I need to clear out!
Since many of you have patiently waited for this part of our homeschool tour, here’s a preliminary overview of how our storage looks.
Explore this: How We Transformed Our Play Area / Homeschool Room – Before and After Guide
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Why we rotate our Montessori homeschool materials
Decluttering is the most important first step before organizing! If you’re tackling organization for the first time, I highly recommend starting with donating and recycling.
Normally, I would donate or recycle resources that my kids are not using.
Because my children are 3 years apart in age, I have been saving printables, crafts, and other resources to reduce prep time for my younger child. I also admit to irrationally saving some cardboard toilet paper activities, even though I know they would be easy to remake!
Since we have limited space in our kids’ homeschool/play area, I don’t want to crowd it with too many options.
Periodically, I go through to see what my kids have outgrown or have lost interest in. Then I replace with developmentally appropriate options and perhaps some seasonal or holiday activities.
Where we store our trilingual Montessori homeschool materials
We’re lucky to have a walk-in closet in our master bedroom! Since we use only half of closet for clothes, the other half is dedicated storage for our Montessori homeschool materials.
This area is generally off-limits for my children.
Labels for our homeschool storage containers
As with most parts of my house, I use painter’s tape and Post-It tape for labeling our homeschool storage containers.
Since I’m always trying to boost our minority language at home, most of our labels are written in Chinese.
Try this: Create a Print-Rich Environment with Labels that Promote Literacy
Recommended storage containers for homeschool materials
Here’s a closer look at our homeschool storage with links to everything!
As much as I try to avoid plastic, I have found transparent containers to be most useful.
Storage bin organizer carts:
Both carts required relatively easy assembly.
Our clear plastic storage bins are so durable and have lasted for several years. I like how I can see through the sides to get a preview of what’s inside.
Storage boxes:
- Container store clear plastic storage boxes (sweater box size)
- Similar option: Sterilite storage boxes
We also have these white bins from the container store, which I like for our pantry. But in hindsight, they are too heavy and inconvenient for homeschooling storage.
Small printer stand
Since we don’t have a separate home office, my husband and I do our work in our bedroom. Our printer is tucked away in this corner of my closet!
- 2-tier stand (old; similar color on Amazon)
- Printers
- Epson color inkjet (old; similar here)
- Brother laser printer (old; new model here)
- Laminator and laminating sheets
The overflow: skeletons, cardboard, and Montessori materials
This shelf is an eyesore, but voila, here it is for the world to see! These random materials didn’t fit our plastic containers, and I need to donate or recycle at least 50% of the things here.
Oh and I literally have a skeleton in my closet! In all seriousness though, the skeleton and human body torso model are fantastic science learning toys!
Related: Human Body Books for Kids in Chinese, English, and Korean
Last but not least, now you know where I store the cardboard that I hoard for projects that I no longer have time for!
How is organizing going for your family?
For us, decluttering and organization are ongoing, never-ending tasks!
But I hope some of these storage solutions can help with your homeschool organization!
Please ask any questions or share suggestions in the comments below!
The rest of our bilingual Montessori homeschool tour
- Play Area / Homeschool Room Before and After: 11 Tips for Decluttering
- Art Storage and Organization with Kids
- Homeschool Tour: Mid-Century Modern Meets Montessori (old tour…I’ll post an updated tour soon!)
- Kids Water, Snack, and Self-Care Station Makes Life Easier for Everyone
- Montessori Inspired CD Organization and Accessibility for Kids
- Daughter’s Trilingual Library Bedroom and Piano Room Tour
- Homework Organization for Kids: Before and After Pictures!
Coming soon:
- Favorite Cleaning Supplies for Kids
- Practical Life Skills and Kitchen Organization with Kids
- 5 Ways to make Books Easily Accessible to Kids
- Son’s Mid-Century Modern Montessori Bedroom
- Updated Play Area and Homeschool Room Tour