Developmentally around the age of 2
a child becomes very sensitive to the spoken language. So what did I do? I began to flash
letters of the alphabet in every shape, size, font, and animal in front of
them. What I didn’t realize, but
quickly found out, was that all the energy (and money in ink) that I put into
making a lesson lasted all of about her 3-minute attention span.
What I know now is that she was
showing me that she was ready for the foundation of language. The foundation of a language education
does not begin with flashcards and animal shapes, but in a much simpler, and time
saving way—orally!
Within the Montessori environment,
the first presentation of written letters does not begin until 3 ½. That doesn’t mean exposure to the
alphabet is not a good thing, but spend these beginning years fostering a good
foundation, so that when they are
developmentally sensitive to written language, learning their letters will come quickly
and easily. Montessori Read and Write has some great sound games and exercises that can be played at home and in the car. Books are also a great way to spy letters and sounds as well.
Level 1
Age 2 ½
What you will need:
Gather together a few objects which your child can name and put them on a table
in front of you. In the beginning
avoid objects that start with similar sounds, such as “p” and “b,” “v” and “w.”
Purpose: To help
your child to hear individual sounds at beginning of words.
How to Play: Choose
one of the objects, hold it in front of you and label its first sound
Example: I Spy
something that begins with “p”
Mastered: When
she can correctly identify all beginning sounds
Level 2
Age 2 ½ - 3
What you will need:
Familiar objects you have gathered from around the home. Initially, choose contrasting sounds,
but move closer to similar sounds.
Purpose: To help
your child distinguish one initial sound from another.
How to Play:
Place two objects in front of you, each with different initial sounds but
similar in nature. Ex (cup and mug, car and motorbike, airplane and helicopter. Your child now has to make a
choice listening closely to the sounds.
Gradually increase to having up to 5 objects. Commonly alike sounds are: b,p,m,n,v, and w.
Level 3
Age 3 ½
What you will need:
Nothing! This level of game can be played anywhere and at any time, and is
closest to “I spy.” Play this in the car.
Purpose: Make
your child aware that many objects may begin with the same sound. Once he has mastered this stage, you
are now ready to introduce the written letters. A traditional Montessori school would then show them the
Sandpaper Letters.
How to Play:
Choose an area (starting small and then gradually increasing the playing
area). Pick an object in it. Play
traditional “I spy.” She does not
have to locate the object, but simply to call it out recognizing its
sound. You can now take
turns.
Example: “In this
kitchen, I spy something that begins with a ‘g.’”
Level 4
Age: 3 ½ to 4 ½
Age: 3 ½ to 4 ½
What you will need:
You will need to temporarily return to a collection of objects or to a part of
the environment for play.
Regardless of whether you choose a collection of parts of a room, you
will need objects whose sounds are initially the same, but whose last sounds are
different. For example: ball,
bracelet, bag, or pen, peg, puppet.
Purpose: To help
develop your child’s awareness of sounds in words other than initial
sounds. An awareness of all sounds
in words is essential when he starts to write and read.
How to Play: You
say, “I spy something on the table (or in part of the room) that begins with
‘b’ and ends with ‘g.’” To begin with he may take a little time to learn to
listen to the last sound. If she
says “ball,’” be positive in your response.
“Yes, ball does begin with ‘b,’ but
I asked for something that begins with ‘b’ and ends in ‘g’; let’s listen to the
last sound in ball.” Say it slowly
and carefully.
Level 5
Age: 3 ½ to 4 ½
What you will need:
Nothing at all unless you wish to use objects.
Purpose: To help
your child to analyze all the sounds in a word. This is a skill that will be helpful when she is beginning
to read and write. In a
traditional Montessori school, she will need to be at this level before using
the Moveable Alphabet.
How to Play: This
stage will follow naturally from before.
Once your child can readily find a word that begins and ends with a
particular sound, stop and listen for all the sounds in the word. Begin with fairly short words. For example if the word is “cup” and
she has identified that it begins with “c” and ends in “p,” you could say,
“Let’s listen to all the sounds in ‘cup.’ Let’s say it slowly. C-u-p. Did you hear the sound after ‘c’? Let’s say ‘cup’ again.”
“Now
that we know all the sounds in ‘cup,’ let’s find all the sounds in ‘pan,’ then
‘coffee.’” Gradually the words
become longer and longer, and you two can have fun making the words more
difficult.
Level 6
Age 4 ½ - 6
What you will need:
Nothing
Purpose: This
stage is designed to use all the knowledge gathered thus far with regard to
sounds, and to encourage your child to play with the sounds in words.
How to play:
Think of a sound, for example “m.” Now think of all the words that have the
sound “m” in them somewhere. Think
of words with it in the initial sound, the middle sound, and the end. Example: marmalade, number, minimum,
etc. Have fun!
