As I have mentioned before, I am teaching my daughter to read using the Montessori method. We are just at the beginning, but she is making progress at recognizing sounds and three-letter words. We are in the Pink Series, which is the first stage in the Montessori language program.
The activity below has been a hit with her as well as with the first and second graders at my school. The child builds simple three-letter words using star-shaped beads. The beautiful cards are a free download from Montessori Print Shop, which has a ton of free materials. Thanks, Montessori Print Shop! I later happened to find star-shaped beads in a hobby shop and immediately thought of using them to make words with these cards. (I look at almost everything these days with the thought, "Could I use this for Godly Play or Montessori?")
Preschool and younger elementary children tend to love the tactile experience of building the letters and I have seen some children work for up to 20 minutes on it.
Another activity that my daughter has enjoyed it guessing the ending sounds of words. The cards below are also a free download from Montessori Print Shop. My daughter enjoys using the chalkboard to write out the words.
I'm always amazed at how children get so excited over a chalkboard. Our elementary school actually doesn't have any in the classrooms (instead we have multi-media screens called "Smart Boards"), so there is something earthy and attractive about using a chalkboard in our Montessori lessons.
Linking to Montessori Monday at Living Montessori Now and One Hook Wonder
The activity below has been a hit with her as well as with the first and second graders at my school. The child builds simple three-letter words using star-shaped beads. The beautiful cards are a free download from Montessori Print Shop, which has a ton of free materials. Thanks, Montessori Print Shop! I later happened to find star-shaped beads in a hobby shop and immediately thought of using them to make words with these cards. (I look at almost everything these days with the thought, "Could I use this for Godly Play or Montessori?")
Preschool and younger elementary children tend to love the tactile experience of building the letters and I have seen some children work for up to 20 minutes on it.
Another activity that my daughter has enjoyed it guessing the ending sounds of words. The cards below are also a free download from Montessori Print Shop. My daughter enjoys using the chalkboard to write out the words.
I'm always amazed at how children get so excited over a chalkboard. Our elementary school actually doesn't have any in the classrooms (instead we have multi-media screens called "Smart Boards"), so there is something earthy and attractive about using a chalkboard in our Montessori lessons.
Linking to Montessori Monday at Living Montessori Now and One Hook Wonder
This is my first visit to your blog and I love the idea with the beads and the cards. I am always looking for new ways to use free printables like that.
ReplyDeleteI am now following your blog and I look forward to reading more, especially about Godly Play as I am always looking for more online resources for using it!
Thanks,
Heidi
www.workandplaydaybyday.com
and
www.workplayread.com
Thanks Heidi! I'm heading over to check out your blog as well.
ReplyDeleteWow! What a creative and fun idea, Sheila! The star-shaped beads add a new dimension to the activity. Children could even spell out the words using colors similar to the Montessori moveable alphabet ... too cool! Thanks for linking up with Montessori Monday. I featured your post at the Living Montessori Now Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/LivingMontessoriNow
ReplyDeleteSo glad I found your blog through Deb at Living Montessori Now. Thank you for letting others know about our free printable Montessori materials - we appreciate it. You've shared a lovely sensorial experience to forming letters that many children will enjoy! It's always a breath of fresh air to see creative extension lessons for the standard Montessori materials. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Deb and Montessori Printshop, for your encouraging comments!
ReplyDeleteI'm back! I featured your photo and post in my post about homeschooling inexpensively: http://livingmontessorinow.com/2011/10/11/how-to-homeschool-without-spending-a-fortune/
ReplyDeleteThanks, Deb! Your post is super helpful, and I appreciate you featuring one of my ideas.
ReplyDelete