Language activities prepare the student for auditory learning by developing memory and critical thinking. Perception, usage, vocabulary, isolating sounds, visual discrimination of forms and letters are the first steps to reading. Reading activities are designed to strengthen and enrich the children’s vocabulary and lead them through phonic awareness to reading and comprehension. Developmentally appropriate fine motor lessons promote writing skills. The Montessori sandpaper letters and moveable alphabet are used along with other language materials to assist 3-6 year olds in the development of language from writing to reading.

 

The fullest array of exercises, materials, and activities in language make it possible for the children to learn to write and then to read what they have written, so that often they cannot even remember when or how they learned these skills. In the first stage, they learn phonic sounds through various fun activities, recognizing and associating letters with phonic sounds. They then start reading, building and blending words and eventually progress to Consonant Digraphs and Vowel Digraphs. Every aspect of the Montessori classroom draws forth language development, and specific materials and exercises refine and extend vocabulary, exhibit grammatical principles and properties, enrich vocabulary, and tune the ear to the beauty, rhythm, and song of the language. The last stage of reading is the introduction to Early Grammar, Comprehension and Creative Writing.