The Montessori Language Program is designed for children to learn phonetically. Phonics is a reading method that allows a child to learn the sounds of letters by developing an understanding of how these sounds are used individually, in groups, and whole words. Phonetic instruction is the foundation of the Montessori Language Program. Once a child has mastered the sounds associated to each letter, they are introduced to the movable alphabet, which allows them to put letters together, sounding them out to spell simple, then progressively more complex, words.
I always enjoy watching a child progress through the reading program with all the little boxes and baskets of the materials. I prepare little index cards for each child that is involved with this part of the Language Program. Beginning first with the three-letter phonetic words, each card lists all of the reading boxes in the order a child will progress through the program. Keeping track this way really works and allows for the child to independently see which box they are going to be working on and which ones have been completed. At times boxes may be repeated and this is also marked, perhaps with one line going through it rather than a x mark or stamp mark. However you set up your system for record keeping, the Language Program in the Montessori classroom is truly amazing and enjoyable for each child.
(Children take their cards home once completed and then move onto the next card.)
I also make little booklets for the words to be written in with each box. Other boxes and baskets contain materials such as reading words, word lists, and sentence building as part of the progression throughout the program. Once a child completes the three-letter words or pink series (also called the pink level), they move onto the four and five-letter words (blue series), and then onto the green series which include phonogram words. More details and progression of the program can be found in the Language Area on the website.
(Children sound out words to make a sentence about the picture.)
