By Yolanda C Stallings
As a Montessori educator, I feel that the Montessori approach to reading is the best method for young pre-K and kindergarten level students. It uses a distinct set of practices that nurture a positive, natural learning experience to teach reading and writing. Here are a few of the steps in the sequence used in a Montessori environment to ensure that children master literacy with joy. Children in a Montessori environment learn to write first before they learn to read. This approach is organic, as children can put the letters for the sounds they know together into a word before they are ready to interpret and string together the sounds of a word on a page. Children begin learning the letter sounds using sandpaper letters, which incorporate the sense of touch to reinforce learning further. While the child learns the letter sound, they trace the letter with their fingers on textured sandpaper, learning the strokes used eventually to write that letter on paper. The classroom is prepared to fit the needs of the child, such as small chairs, tables, and age-appropriate activities. The curriculum is usually in five areas: Practical life, mathematics, language, sensorial, zoology, botany.
Montessori is a method of education based on self-directed activity, hands-on learning, and collaborative play. In Montessori classrooms, children make creative choices in their knowledge, while the highly trained teacher offer age-appropriate activities to guide the process.
The Sensitive Years
For nearly one hundred years Montessori educators continuously see this phenomenon found in young children world-wide. The sensitive years; it was first identified by Dr. Maria Montessori an Italian physician, educator who was best known for her philosophy of education, and writing on scientific pedagogy. The sensitive periods are stages in a child’s learning. These are stages in which the child is open to acquiring certain skills. From the period of 0-3 years the child unconsciously gathers impressions from his environment. These skills usually take form of survival, and independence. During the stage 3-6 the child consciously seek ways to give order or create a system for those prior experiences of knowledge that was gathered unconsciously.
The Montessori approach to reading is to teach young preschool the sounds of the letters before writing and memorization. Children at infancy learned through sounds that why children should be read too, starting from birth to six years of age. Phonics is a method to teach young children to learn the letters of the alphabet by using sandpaper letters. The child will hold a sandpaper board in her hand, tracing the letter b, repeating with her pointer finger three times. At this time, the child will sound the letter out, such as the letter b (bah) phonically.
E-Learning Technology
Many of the high tech software used today can help with reading skills as a supplemental tool along with regular studies. Omos: Little Genius Starter kit is a digital software for children between 3-5 compatible with any iPads, tablet, and iPhones. The games expose children to the digital world. Help identify letters, phonically associate the sounds to the notes, decode messages into words such as a bat, cat, and mat. This kit enforces and lays the foundation for early literacy. Also, it helps the teacher in creating interests and self-motivation for young children. The kit comes with 38 colorful silicone sticks and rings, 19 costume pieces, stackable storage containers, and silicone play mat. They can build letters with squishy sticks and circles. Pre-schoolers will love the hands-on manipulatives. It helps build vocabulary up to 300 words with mo the monster. How can you beat this type of artificial intelligence advance learning system on an iPad? As technology excels in the 21st century, we must do not forget that going to the library with your child to check out library book will instill in your child the importance of books.. Visual literacy in children’s picture book will help young children to think about, what they see, and guide them toward becoming media-savvy in real life. Visual literacy means being able to read, understand, and create visual texts. Omos: Little Genius Starter Kit help build confidence, skills and a love for reading.
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