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Montessori Reading for Kids Under 6

It is a well known fact that the vast majority of children learn the alphabet by rote. In other words they simply repeat the letters and learn them by repetition. The ABC song is probably the best example of this misguided conventional wisdom. The same applies to how most children learn the numbers 1 – 10. Since the alphabet and the number system are the most fundamental building blocks to all future language and mathematical learning in a child’s life… why is it that we do not allow the child to learn it in a way that aids comprehension, not just memorisation by repetition. In a “concrete” way where they will literally understand the difference between “1” and “2”, or “a” and “b”. Think about it, how is a child meant to comprehend what “2” actually means when all they have heard is someone say “2” and they have simply repeated it, much to the satisfaction of the doting parent or teacher. It is this very logic that is often the catalyst for “blocks” and learning difficulties with Maths and other subject areas in later years. By contrast, one of the benefits of using the Montessori Method, for teaching the alphabet and numbers, is because she stresses how important it is to “internalise” a concrete concept first before building on that.

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Ivan Jackson
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1K views4 pages

Montessori Reading for Kids Under 6

It is a well known fact that the vast majority of children learn the alphabet by rote. In other words they simply repeat the letters and learn them by repetition. The ABC song is probably the best example of this misguided conventional wisdom. The same applies to how most children learn the numbers 1 – 10. Since the alphabet and the number system are the most fundamental building blocks to all future language and mathematical learning in a child’s life… why is it that we do not allow the child to learn it in a way that aids comprehension, not just memorisation by repetition. In a “concrete” way where they will literally understand the difference between “1” and “2”, or “a” and “b”. Think about it, how is a child meant to comprehend what “2” actually means when all they have heard is someone say “2” and they have simply repeated it, much to the satisfaction of the doting parent or teacher. It is this very logic that is often the catalyst for “blocks” and learning difficulties with Maths and other subject areas in later years. By contrast, one of the benefits of using the Montessori Method, for teaching the alphabet and numbers, is because she stresses how important it is to “internalise” a concrete concept first before building on that.

Uploaded by

Ivan Jackson
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

How your child can :

Learn to Read & Write Before the Age of 6


Using the Montessori Method

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How your Child can learn to read before the Age of 6 using the Montessori method
Mo ntesso riHelper

The Pink, Blue, and Green Phonics Series

Read this f irst ! Why is the use of the phonetic alphabet important in Montessori As the child moves throughout the language series, he f ollows an order of learning and putting together phonetic sounds, to build his reading and writing skills.

Consonant and Vowel Sounds


T he Montessori reading series is mostly f ocused on the phonetic aspect of language. T he child will spend time learning the initial sounds. Next the f ocus is on identif ying middle sounds of words (emphasizing short vowel sounds), and the ending sounds of words. He does a lot of matching and sorting activities. Objects and pictures are matched by their sounds.

Blending Sounds
Once the child has mastered the twenty-six basic sounds of the alphabet, the directress will then start blending sounds with the child. She may do this with sandpaper letters or the movable alphabet, and it is done quite literally. T he directress will place the two letters at opposite sides of the workspace, then slowly say their sounds. As she continues to repeat the sounds, she will move them closer together and say the sounds f aster, until visually the sounds are next to each other and orally they are blended. A third and f inal sound will then be added. Many times word f amilies are introduced. T he child also can practice blending sounds with the movable alphabet. He will try to make up some of his own words, sounding out words that he knows.

Pink Series
T he pink series f ocuses on words with three individual sounds. Most commonly they are consonant-vowelconsonant words, such as cat, rug, mat, etc. T he child practices reading these words by labeling objects or pictures with cards. He practices spelling all of them with the movable alphabet. He also begins to learn sight words and starts work in appropriate phonetic readers.

Blue Series

In the blue series, short vowels are continued, but there are of ten more than three individual phonemes in the word. T he child has to sound out consonant blends, which are when the two consonants keep their individual sounds. Initial consonant blends include bl, br, bl, cr, dr, fl, fr, gl, gr, pl, pr, sc, scr, sk, sp, spr, st, str, tr. Final consonant blends include ct, ft, lt, mt, nt, pt, st, lm, ln, lp, mp. Consonant digraphs are also introduced. T hese include ch, ph, sh, th, wh, kn. Words may be as short as raft and whip, or as long as infant and pumpkin. Activities in this series again include object and picture labeling and movable alphabet practice. He can also use materials f or sentences instead of words. Appropriate readers are slightly more advanced than those f or the pink series.

Green Series
In the green series, the rest of the phonetic sounds are introduced. Long vowels are introduce with the Silent E f or example. Vowels change their sound as r-controlled vowels: ar, er , ir, or, ur. Digraphs and diphthongs are also introduced as more phonograms (vowel/vowel and vowel/consonant combinations that make a unique sound when together). Digraphs are two vowels that next to each other make on individual sound, such as ai and ea. Diphthongs are a pair of vowels that make two vowel sounds within the same syllable, such as oi, ou, oy. Again the child practices sorting, labeling, reading word lists, spelling with the movable alphabet, and reading more advanced books. As all of these phonograms are introduced, the potential length of the word is indef inite. T he Pink, Blue, and Green series f acilitate the f low of the Montessori method in phonetic learning and in conjunction with f oundation activities (like the sandpaper letters) are the basis of learning the structure of language.

Note: As much as Montessori is a method, it is also a philosophy. We suggest you consider familiarizing yourself with this by reading Montessoris books. When it is understood how the lessons relate to each other in this context one can achieve better outcomes

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How your child can : Learn to Read & Write Before the Age of 6 www.montessorihelperr.com Using the Montessori Method
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In the blue series, short vowels are continued, but there are of ten more than three individual phonemes in the word. The chi
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