Super Fun Way to Learn Letter Sounds Kids Love

Below is a Preschool Learning Letter Sounds Work, part of an integrative approach to teaching sounds to young children. I described Montessori’s approach to language in an earlier post. In addition to the smta, fnde, etc approach, using a sound of the week tray or basket is a great way to more deeply learn sounds and to review sounds for older children.

Learning Letter Sounds

I have a bias towards objects like those objects available via Montessori Services and Safari Toobs. My other bias is using real images. I make Sound Books to go with the work with real images either cut out from magazines, old calendars, catalogs or stickers books. I paper hole punch each image after laminating it on white cardstock, then use book rings to hold the images together for easy use for matching and to transfer to other language works.

Related Post: Montessori Noun Sorting Cards to Teach Grammar

Here is how to organize a sound work tray, shelf or basket. Consider including:

• Sandpaper Letter to Match the Sound
• Rainbow Letters (like these letter worksheets from Little Tots Montessori)
• Letter Tracing Sheet
• Basket of Objects with some overlap with the images to match
• Sand, Salt or Corn Starch Letter Tracing Tray on the shelf near by to pull out with the work

With each sound, I have created a booklet. These booklets of images are great because I can unclip and use the images in other pre-reading, pink, blue and even great language works.

Materials to Make Sound Books

• 1000 Stickers Book
• White Cardstock
• Paper Hole Hand Punch
• Small Laminating Pouches
• Paper Cutter or Scissors
• Book Rings
• Laminator
• Hole Reinforcements

I love the 1000 Stickers Book stickers book because the images are real. The stickers are organized by topic, most relevant to a child’s interests, and cover a wide range of topics so that you can integrate culture, geography and life sciences with the language learning.  I always find words that really complete the work.

The emphasis of this work is on beginning sounds. So don’t worry about blends, digraphs, ending sounds or phonograms at this point. There are plenty of opportunities for that work later in your child’s learning.

If you enjoyed this activity, check out my Montessori Pink Level Activities pack!

I hope you found this post helpful! Thanks for visiting! For more Montessori Language ideas & activities, check out my Montessori Language Pinterest Board and Montessori Language posts:

• Pre-Reading Ideas
• Word Family Activities for Preschoolers
• Montessori Writing Readiness
• Reading & Writing Learning Materials for Kids
• Reading Readiness for 3-Year-Old Children
• Pre-Reading – Rhyming Basket
• Reading & Writing Family Time
• Tell a Story with A Bag {StoryTelling with Preschoolers}
• How to Write a Story {by Your Preschooler}
• Storytelling 101 for Children & Parents

Please leave a comment! I love hearing from you!

Marnie