Introduction to Language – Start here
Reading and Writing go together and start in the senses. The child develops sensorial skills that will help them to later master the elements of reading and writing generally well before the Age of 6. We have included the methods to reading and writing in summary form on the same page below. If you would like to get our complete ebook for learning to read and write by Age 6 which includes all the materials you will need, you can purchase it via scribd for only $14.95 or if you signup as a MontessoriHelper Premium Member it is automatically included as part of your membership ! The reading and writing activities should be commenced roughly around the same time between the ages of 3 and 6.
Writing Activities in the Montessori Method
A child can learn to write using the Montessori Method typically between the Ages of 3 and 6. The Stages of this Process are detailed below. It is important for the child to Master a Stage before Proceeding to the Next Stage. |
Materials Needed - The Sandpaper Letters - Flour Tray - Blackboard - Unlined paper - Large lined paper - Small lined paper - Tracing cards or copying cards, for the child to trace or copy. (Alternatively, the tracing / copying card will repeat a letter e.g. a, a, a, a, a, a, a or b b b b b b b on one card.) - Thick pencils, thinner pencil crayons, lead pencils. |
Ages 3 ½ – 6 years approx. |
Stage 1 Using the sandpaper letters, invite the child to write the letters in the Flour.Show the child where the letter begins to form. Show the child how to shake the tray so that the letter disappears so that he can write a new letter or sound. Do not correct the child at this stage, but keep inviting the child to trace the sandpaper letter to reinforce the shape of the letter. |
Stage 2 Using the Sandpaper Letters, invite the child to write the letter on the blackboard.Show the child how to erase the letter with the duster and invite the child to try a new letter each time. Do not correct the child at this stage, but keep inviting the child to trace the sandpaper letter to reinforce the shape of the letter. |
Stage 3 Using the Sandpaper Letters, invite the child to write the letters on unlined paper.If the child is not confident to do these himself, then allow him to trace or copy, from a tracing card, on which are all the various letters of the alphabet. Remember though that Copying the letters is more effective than tracing and some letters are easier than others to write. Do not correct the child at this stage, but keep inviting the child to trace the sandpaper letter to reinforce the shape of the letter. At this point the child may still be using thicker pencils. |
Stage 4 Put the movable alphabet out on a work mat.Tell the child that we are going to show them how to write groups of letters. Tell the child that we will start with the “c” family and that the children should feel all the letters that feel the same shape. The children should take out the letters from this family and place them on the lined mat. The letters included would be: c a d g q o. These letters are based on the round shape. Let the child see the similarities and then invite him to write these letters on :
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Stage 5 Put the movable alphabet out on a work mat.Tell the child that we are going to show them how to write groups of letters. Firstly, we will place the letters on the mat and then we will write them. Tell the child that we will write the letters from the “r” family and that the children should feel all the letters that feel the same shape. The children should take out the letters from this family and place them on the lined mat. The letters included would be : r n m h b p Let the child see the similarities and then invite him to write these letters on :
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Stage 6 Put the movable alphabet out on a work mat.Tell the child that we are going to show them how to write groups of letters. Firstly, we will place the letters on the felt mat and then we will write them Tell the child that we will write the letters from the “i” family and that the children should feel all the letters that feel the same shape. The children should take out the letters from this family and place them on the lined mat. The letters included would be : i t l u y j k Let the child see the similarities and then invite him to write these letters on :
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Stage 7 Put the movable alphabet out on a work mat.Tell the child that we are going to show them how to write groups of letters. Tell the child that we will write the letters from the :” v” family and that the children should feel all the letters that feel the same shape. The children should take out the letters from this family and place them on the lined mat. These letters are based on a slanted line. The letters included would be : v w x Let the child see the similarities and then invite him to write these letters on :
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Stage 8 Once the child has reached approximately 6 – 7 years of age, you can show the child how to write all the letters on Lined Paper. The letters should fit into the two lines.They are : a c e i m n o r s u v w x z |
Stage 9 Once the child has reached approximately 6 – 7 years of age, you can show the child how to write all the letters on Lined Paper. Show the child how to write letters that extend above the two lines.That is : b d f h k l t. These are also known as the ASCENDERS. |
Stage 10 Once the child has reached approximately 6 – 7 years of age, you can show the child how to write all the letters that extend below the two lines.That is : g j p y These are also known as the DESCENDERS. |