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What is ShillerLearning?
ShillerLearning is a homeschool curriculum for math and language arts that follows a Montessori-inspired, multisensory approach. Its materials are aimed at children roughly ages 3 to 13, with kits organized by level: preschool, elementary, and middle school.
What makes it distinctive
- Montessori-style manipulatives: Lessons pair printed guides with hands-on objects such as wooden geometric shapes, a geared clock, a work mat, a number tile set with operator cards, metal insets for handwriting, and a wooden movable alphabet.
- Scripted lessons for parents: The lessons are written out so a parent can teach without prior Montessori training. That matters most for a first-time homeschooler who wants clear wording rather than open-ended activity ideas.
- Diagnostic testing and special-needs support: The site indicates placement testing and support for children with special needs, which is useful if you are unsure where to start or need to adapt pacing.
- Kits, not just books: The curriculum combines lesson books with manipulatives, guides, and encouragement materials.
Who it suits
A parent homeschooling one or more children in the early grades who wants an all-in-one, hands-on program and is willing to manage physical materials. It is less suited to families who prefer a fully digital, screen-based curriculum or who want a secular, non-Montessori scope-and-sequence.
A practical next step
Before buying a kit, use the diagnostic testing to place your child at the right level, then check whether you already own comparable manipulatives—some items are sold separately. If you want to compare Montessori-aligned homeschool options, look at NAMTA for background on the method and HSLDA for state homeschooling requirements.
Note: Prices and specific item availability change; confirm current details on the site before ordering.
How does ShillerLearning's Montessori-based curriculum differ from traditional homeschool math and language arts programs?
ShillerLearning is built around Montessori-style, multisensory lessons rather than a standard textbook-and-workbook sequence. Its page describes scripted lessons, hands-on manipulatives, and diagnostic testing, with kits organized by age band from preschool through middle school. That combination is the main difference: the parent is guided through what to say and do, while the child learns through physical materials instead of mostly reading and writing.
What changes in practice
- Lesson delivery: Scripted lessons tell the parent exactly how to present a concept. Traditional programs often assume the parent can teach from a textbook or explain a topic directly.
- Learning materials: Kits pair guides with manipulatives such as geometric shapes, a geared clock, number tiles, a work mat, metal insets for handwriting, and a movable alphabet. Traditional programs usually rely on worksheets, textbooks, and written exercises.
- Sequencing: Montessori-based instruction tends to follow the child's readiness, supported here by diagnostic testing. Traditional programs more often move a whole grade level through the same lesson order.
- Subject integration: Math and language arts are sold as separate kits, but both use the same hands-on, parent-led method. Traditional programs may separate subjects more sharply by workbook.
- Audience: It suits homeschool parents who want a prepared script and are willing to manage physical materials, including families new to homeschooling. It is less convenient for parents who want a child to work independently from a workbook or who dislike storing and organizing manipulatives.
A concrete comparison
| Aspect | ShillerLearning approach | Typical traditional homeschool program |
|---|---|---|
| Parent role | Follows a scripted lesson | Explains from a textbook or guide |
| Child's main activity | Handling manipulatives and doing guided activities | Reading, writing, and completing worksheets |
| Pacing | Adjusted through diagnostic testing and readiness | Usually tied to a grade-level schedule |
| Materials | Kits with guides plus physical items | Books, workbooks, and sometimes online lessons |
| Best fit | Hands-on learners and parents who want clear direction | Independent workers and parents who prefer a lighter material load |
Next step: If your child learns best by touching and moving objects, or if you want to be told exactly what to say during a lesson, start with the age-band kit that matches your child and check whether the included manipulatives fit your storage space. If your child already works well from a workbook, a traditional program may require less setup.
For a broader look at Montessori-inspired homeschooling materials, you can compare options at ShillerLearning.
What age range and grade levels does ShillerLearning cover, and which kit should I start with for my child?
ShillerLearning covers roughly ages 3 through 13, with its catalog organized into Preschool (ages 3+), Elementary, and Middle School sections. That span corresponds to pre-K through about eighth grade, so it is designed to follow one child across most of the pre-high-school years rather than serve a single narrow grade band.
The site presents math and language arts as separate tracks, each built around kits that combine scripted lesson books with hands-on Montessori manipulatives. The page describes kits as "more than just lesson books," and the sample components shown include items such as a 64-piece wooden geometric shapes set, a geared clock, a number tile set with operator cards, a work mat, metal insets for handwriting, a wooden movable alphabet, and a PDF math answer guide. These are the physical and printable tools that carry the multisensory, parent-led approach.
Choosing a starting kit
- Ages 3–5 (pre-K/kindergarten): Begin with the Preschool section. At this stage the language arts manipulatives (movable alphabet, metal insets, letter-making grain) and early math materials do most of the work.
- Roughly grades 1–5: Use the Elementary section. This is where the math and language arts kits with scripted lessons and answer guides become the core of daily work.
- Roughly grades 6–8: Move to the Middle School section, which continues both subjects at a higher level.
- Unsure of level: The site mentions diagnostic testing, which is the sensible first step if your child is working above or below their nominal grade, or if you are switching from another curriculum. It also notes special needs support.
- New to homeschooling: The homepage explicitly addresses both new and existing homeschoolers, plus teachers and education partners, so the entry path is not limited to experienced families.
A practical next step: call the number listed on the site to speak with a homeschool expert, and ask specifically which kit matches your child's current skill level in math and in language arts separately, since a child can easily be at different points in the two subjects. If you prefer to decide yourself, start with the diagnostic testing before buying a full kit, because the scripted lessons are sequential and starting in the wrong place is the main risk with this kind of program.
For broader context on Montessori-style home learning, American Montessori Society publishes general guidance on the philosophy and materials.
How does the diagnostic testing and special needs support work for placing a child in ShillerLearning?
ShillerLearning frames its placement process around a Montessori, multisensory curriculum for ages 3–13, and its own page points to diagnostic testing and special needs support as part of that offering. In practice, that means you would not simply drop a child into a grade level by age; you would use the diagnostic to find where the child actually is, then match the kit or activity pack to that level.
From the page evidence, the site organizes shopping by stage — Preschool (Ages 3+), Elementary, and Middle School — and the kits combine lesson books with manipulatives, guides, and encouragement. A diagnostic would sit before that purchase decision: it tells you which kit or which parts of a kit fit, and it can surface gaps that a grade label would hide. The special needs support is the part that matters most when a child's profile does not line up neatly with a single level, because it implies someone can help interpret the results and adjust pacing or materials.
A practical way to use this:
- Call the homeschool expert line listed on the site and describe your child's current skills, not just their age or grade.
- Ask specifically what the diagnostic covers — math, language arts, or both — and whether it is a placement test, a skills inventory, or both.
- If your child has an IEP, a diagnosis, or a known area of difficulty, say so up front and ask how the support changes the recommendation.
- Ask whether the recommendation is a full kit or a mix of individual items, since the page shows kits alongside separate manipulatives like the 64-piece wooden geometric shapes, geared clock, work mat, number tile set, metal insets, movable alphabet, and letter-making grain.
The trade-off is that a diagnostic-plus-consultation route takes more time than picking a grade-level box, and Montessori-based placement can put a child at a different level in math than in language arts. That is usually a feature, not a bug, but it does mean you should expect to buy or use materials across more than one stage if the diagnostic shows uneven skills. If you want the fastest path, start by calling the expert line and asking for the diagnostic first, then let the results drive which kit you buy.
What manipulatives and materials are included in a ShillerLearning kit, and are they necessary to buy separately?
ShillerLearning kits are built around hands-on Montessori-style materials rather than a conventional textbook-and-workbook package. According to the site's own product listings, a kit combines lesson books with physical manipulatives and guides, and the individual components are also sold on their own. Examples shown on the site include:
- Math manipulatives such as a 64-piece wooden geometric shapes set, a geared clock, number tiles with operator cards, and printed answer guides.
- Language arts manipulatives such as wooden movable alphabet letters, Montessori metal insets for handwriting, and letter-making grain.
- Practical kit items such as a 22" x 34" work mat, plus printed guides and encouragement materials.
The site frames these as "more than just lesson books," so the manipulatives are presented as part of the intended method, not optional extras.
Do you need to buy them separately? Not necessarily. The kit format is designed to bundle the lesson books, manipulatives, guides and support materials together, which is the simpler route if you want everything matched to the scripted lessons. Buying separately makes sense mainly if you already own equivalent materials (a movable alphabet, geometric solids, a geared clock, a work mat) or if you only need to replace one lost or worn item. Because the site sells components individually, replacement and top-up purchases are possible without rebuying a whole kit.
A practical way to decide: list what you already have at home, compare it against the kit contents for your child's level (Pre-K, Elementary or Middle School), and price the gap. If you're missing three or more core manipulatives, the kit is usually the cleaner choice; if you're missing one, a single replacement item is enough. If your child has special needs or you're unsure where to start, the site mentions diagnostic testing and special needs support, so it's worth contacting them before ordering to confirm which level and materials fit.
How much does ShillerLearning cost, and is there a subscription or free kit option?
ShillerLearning sells physical homeschool kits and individual manipulatives rather than a single all-access subscription. Based on the page, you buy a kit or activity pack once; there is no evidence of a recurring monthly plan. A free kit option does appear: the site promotes a "Win a Free Kit" giveaway, which is a contest entry, not an ongoing free tier.
What you actually pay for
| Purchase type | Examples from the page | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full kits | Math Kit I Basic Manipulatives, Language Arts Kit A | Bundles of lesson books, manipulatives and guides |
| Individual manipulatives | 64-Piece Wooden Geometric Shapes, Geared Clock, Work Mat, Number Tile Set, Montessori Metal Insets, Letter Making Grain, Wooden Movable Alphabet | Buy separately to replace or supplement |
| Digital guides | Math Answer Guide 1 PDF | A downloadable answer key, not a curriculum subscription |
Listed prices on the page include $39.95 for the geometric shapes and number tile set, $9.95 for the geared clock, $24.95 for the work mat, $69.95 for the metal insets, $79.95 for the movable alphabet, $5.95 for letter making grain, and $29.95 for the Math Answer Guide 1 PDF. Kit prices are not shown in the supplied page evidence, so check the current kit pages or call the number listed on the site for a quote.
Is there a subscription?
No subscription is described in the page evidence. The pricing signal mentions "subscribe," which typically means an email newsletter, not a paid curriculum membership. Treat any subscription language as marketing updates until you see a recurring billing option at checkout.
Practical next step
If you are new to homeschooling, price a full kit plus the few manipulatives you will reuse across ages, such as the work mat and number tiles. If you already own Montessori materials, buying individual items or the PDF answer guide is the cheaper route. For a free option, enter the kit giveaway, but do not plan your budget around winning. For current kit pricing, contact ShillerLearning directly through ShillerLearning.
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