Two weeks ago I was talking to a Montessori guide. We were discussing growing readers. She mentioned that Maria Montessori believed in teaching writing first, and then reading will follow.
I thought it was an interesting comment, and knowing how impactful "sound writing" can be, it stuck with me.
Fast forward one week later and I was reading Laura Sandefer's Growth Mindset blog, "Words You Can Live By (https://www.actonacademyparents.com/words-you-can-live-by/).
Laura says, "Before ever entering our studios, all guides read Choice Words by Peter Johnston, Mindset: The Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck and Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius by Angeline Stoll Lillard. These and other books demonstrate that the language used by teachers (guides) in praising a child’s work has a profound influence on learning, motivation and achievement." ~Laura Sandefer, May 9, 2016
I've read Johnson's Choice Words and Dweck's Mindset: The Psychology of Success, both amazing books that changed the way I interacted with children at home and school. I had no knowledge of the Montessori methods and thought that it was a bit of a free for all, but I couldn't resist a book recommendation by someone I deeply respect and admire.
I started listening to Lillard's Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius, and after the first 30 minutes, I was so amazed at what I learned that I immediately shared it with my entire first grade and kindergarten teams, a prek teacher, my husband, my mom, and a friend that I bumped into at the book store. It's that important. Here's what I learned...
In the early childhood Montessori classroom (children ages 3-6), the learning tasks are beautifully sequenced to develop skills that build upon one another. In the sequence of teaching children sounds, writing and reading, it begins with puzzles.
Cylinder Blocks
Early in the sequence, young children (3 year olds) begin with the work of using their pincer grip (first two fingers and thumb, your pencil grip) to remove and replace cylinders with precision using the 4 levels of cylinder puzzles. This develops visual and spacial skills, precision, and the hand muscles and dexterity that will be essential for holding a pencil later.
- Info Montessori provides an excellent explanation:
Cylinder Block Presenation (http://www.infomontessori.com/sensorial/visual-sense-cylinder-blocks.htm)
Metal Insets
Later children begin tracing metal insets with colored pencils to practice grasping a pencil with a precise grip, tracing inside the rectangular inset, and later tracing the insert, which requires more control. Children practice an appropriate grip and how to apply just the right amount of pressure. They create art while filling their shapes with parallel lines, wavy lines, and shading from light to dark. The work is interesting and it develops the dexterity and hand strength necessary for writing sounds (printing letters).
- If you want to learn more, this video explains the presentation, process and learning opportunities:
Insets Video. (https://youtu.be/mEJTBWPTpQU).
- Montessori Info also has a video and description here: http://www.infomontessori.com/language/written-language-metal-insets.htm
Letter Tracing & Sound Practice
Montessori guides show children how to trace sandpaper letters while saying the sound, using the index and middle finger, because these two fingers are a part of the pencil grip. Once the child adds a writing implement and the thumb, then they will be correctly holding a pencil. Genius!
Pre-Writing & Tracing Letters in Sand
Children move on to pre-writing by using the two fingers to trace letters in sand. This challenges learners to craft letters in sand without the guide provided by the sandpaper letter. They can compare their sand writing with the printed letter. Later, writers may write in the sand with a writing implement. This gradual practice provides many repititions of writing and saying sounds, and comparing them to the printed letter, as they move along the continuum. As children progress, the skillfulness of printing sounds and holding a pencil converge, leading to writing with pencil and paper.
When children have fluidity in sound printing, the natural progression of producing sounds to decode and create words will flow with much greater ease than we see in many kindergarten and first grade classrooms today.
Lessons learned - the Montessori method is a beautiful art, filled with scientifically sequenced activities that create joy in learning.
What's next? It only makes sense that we incorporate this work in our traditional classrooms and we open our conversations to connect and learn from educators, guides, parents and especially our children.
With Love, Kristy
PS - More to come since I'm only half way through the book!