Language Lesson

5 Lessons You Need to Know Using the Moveable Alphabet

By Marnie Craycroft Filed Under: Montessori Lessons Tagged With: Language Lesson, Pink Series This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Montessori's Moveable Alphabet is an exciting transition for many young children. Thus far in the Montessori Language sequence of lessons, children have progressed using the sandpaper letters only. Once the guide presents the moveable alphabet, the children are eager to continue the learning.

Below are the Montessori lessons that use the moveable alphabet. The first lesson listed below is actually the fourth lesson in the pink series sequence of lessons.

What is the Montessori Moveable Alphabet?

In brief, a moveable alphabet is a tool used in a Montessori learning environment to teach reading, spelling, and writing. It is a wooden box containing 26 wooden letters. Vowels are in blue and consonants are in red.

Using the Moveable Alphabet with Montessori Language Lessons

Introduction to the Movable Alphabet
Association of the Movable Alphabet and the Sandpaper Letters
Short Vowel Word Building: Movable Alphabet and Sandpaper Letters
Movable Alphabet: Short Vowel Words with Objects
Movable Alphabet: Short Vowel Words with Pictures

#1 – Introduction to the Moveable Alphabet

Typically the child is 3.5 years old or older when she starts using and learning with the moveable alphabet. You know she is ready because she can recognize 3-4 consonant sounds and one vowel sound.

The goals of this lesson are to familiarize the child with movable alphabet, to teach care of the work by being careful with the letters, and by organizing & straightening letters in the box.

Language Sequence of Lesson Opt-In

Present the Moveable Alphabet with this approach:

Invite the child to do the work.
Go to the shelf and carry movable alphabet to rug area.
Give a name to the apparatus.
Describe the contents within the wooden box.
Let child familiarize themselves with it.
Demonstrate how to straighten letters in the box in order to see them clearly; stacking same letters together in each compartment.
Remove one or more letters and then return to the box.
Use scanning, left to right.
Return letters to proper compartments and put back on the shelf.

The child will likely be interested in the myriad of letters available to her hands. The blue and red colors will engage her, too. She will begin to identify sounds to match the letters. The child may also be interested in how the letters fit into the box's compartments so neatly (a control of error).

#2 – Association of the Movable Alphabet and the Sandpaper Letters

The next lesson in the sequence is associating this new tool, the moveable alphabet, with familiar material, the sandpaper letters. The age, readiness, and goals of this lesson are the same as when introducing the moveable alphabet. Similarly, age 3.5 years old or older, having the ability to recognize 3-4 consonant sounds and one vowel sound, and preparation for reading, writing, and spelling. Finally, for this presentation, you need only a mat, the sandpaper letters, and the moveable alphabet.

Associating the Moveable Alphabet with Sandpaper Letters

Associate the Moveable Alphabet to the Sandpaper Letters with this approach:

Invite child.
Unroll rug if to be used.
Choose a sandpaper letter.
Find the same letter from the moveable alphabet (or can remove a few to match sandpaper letters).
Place on or under the sandpaper letter.
Continue depending on the child's interest.
Return letters to movable alphabet box.
Use scanning, left to right.

The child will be interested in matching the letters. The control of error is that the letters don't match.

#3 – Movable Alphabet and Sandpaper Letters – Short Vowel Word Building

Once the guide introduces the moveable alphabet and associates the moveable alphabet with the sandpaper letters, the child is likely a bit older, about 4 years old or so, with the same prerequisites. The goals of this next lesson focus on order, concentration, coordination, independence, self-esteem, and preparation for writing, reading, and spelling.

Build Short Vowel Words with the Moveable Alphabet & Sandpaper Letters with this approach:

Bring the sandpaper letters to the rugs
Begin with the consonant sounds and vowel sound the child knows, for example: (c, s, m, t, a)
Form a word the child has previously read, such as “mat,” with the Sandpaper Letters.
Introduce the Large Moveable Alphabet to the child.
Show the child how to scan box left to right, top to bottom with the index finger to find letters.
Ask the child to find the corresponding letters in the Moveable Alphabet.
Show the child how to arrange the letters of the Movable Alphabet to form the word “mat.”
Ask the child to read the word he has formed.
Continue with other words, such as: “cat,” “sat,” “rat.”
Show the child how to return letters to proper compartments.

The child will be interested in the different colors of vowels and consonants, the sounds, blending the sounds and letters, the colors of the vowels and consonants, and fitting the letters into the respective compartments.

Learn the Montessori Moveable Alphabet Lessons

#4 – Movable Alphabet: Short Vowel Words with Objects

When the child is ready to move on from short vowel word building, she will tackle the next lesson on the pink series sequence. The child will create short vowel words and match objects to the words.

For this lesson you need the following materials:

Red & blue pencils (for writing on labels if the child is ready)
Movable Alphabet and objects whose names are phonetic, rug, work board, paper slips
Containers of objects having the short vowel sound and the CVC pattern:

- /a/: bag, can, cap, cat, fan, pan
- /e/: bed, hen, jet, peg, pen, web
- /i/: bib, kid, lid, pig, pin, wig
- /o/: dog, fox, log, mop, pop, top, pod
- /u/: bud, bus, cup, gum, jug, tub

Similar aims as the prior lessons including:

To begin forming and reading three letter short vowel phonetic words
Order
Concentration
Coordination
Independence
Self-esteem
Analyze sounds in words
Word building
Preparation for reading
Builds vocabulary

Match Short Vowel Words to Objects with this approach:

Invite the child to work with the short vowel objects and the Moveable Alphabet.
Show the child where the short vowel objects and the Moveable Alphabet are located on the shelf.
Unroll rug
Select the container with the short /a/ objects and the Moveable Alphabet and carry them to the rug.
Name each object.
Child repeats the name of each object.
Place the container of objects (/a/: bag, can, cap, cat, fan, pan) to the upper left of the rug in a vertical column.
Place the box of Moveable Alphabet letters to the right of the container of objects.
Name the object: “rug”.

Matching Short Vowel Words with Objects Using the Moveable Alphabet

Make the first sound of the object while pointing to each letter in the Moveable Alphabet box to locate the letter that represents the sound and place on the rug.
Continue method, isolating each sound from word.
Point to the object and name the object.
Point and move the finger from left to right under the word and read the word emphasizing the sounds of the word.
Continue with the second object: bat.
Continue the process as long as the child remains interested and focused.
When words are formed, have the child read each word out loud.
Remember not to correct any misspelled words.
When ready to return the material to the shelf, begin with the object at the left. Name the object and return to container.
Read the word and return each letter to the appropriate compartment.
Return the objects and Moveable Alphabet to the shelf.

The child will be interested in exploring the objects, placing the letters in a row to make a word, the colors, the sounds, associating the sound and the letter, reading the words, reading the written words, and writing the words.

#5 – Moveable Alphabet with Short Vowel Words & Pictures

Once the child masters matching the objects to short vowel words built with the moveable alphabet, he is ready to move a bit more abstract. In this lesson, the child will build short vowel words with the moveable alphabet and match pictures (instead of objects) to the words.

Materials needed for this lesson include:

Movable Alphabet and pictures whose names pencils (red and blue) are phonetic, rug, work board, paper slips,
Containers of pictures having the short vowel sound and the pattern consonant/vowel/consonant:
- /a/: bag, can, cap, cat, fan, pan, gas, ham, jam, rag, rat, tag
- /e/: bed, hen, jet, peg, pen, web, keg, leg, men, red, ten, hem
- /i/: bib, kid, lid, pig, pin, wig, fig, fin, hip, rib, tin, lip
- /o/: dog, fox, log, mop, pod, top, cob, cot, hog, rod
- /u/: bud, bus, cup, gum, jug, tub, bun, mud, pup, rug, sun, bug

The goals for this lesson include:

To begin forming and reading three letter short vowel phonetic words.
Order, concentration, coordination, independence
Self-esteem
Analyze sounds in words
Word building
Preparation for reading
Builds vocabulary

Match Short Vowel Words to Pictures with this approach:

Invite the child to work with the short vowel pictures and the Moveable Alphabet.
Show the child where the short vowel pictures and the Moveable Alphabet are located on the shelf.
Unroll rug
Select the container with the short /a/ pictures and the Moveable Alphabet and carry them to the rug.
Place the container of pictures (/a/: bag, can, cap, cat, fan, pan) to the upper left of the rug in a vertical column.
Place the box of Movable Alphabet letters to the right of the container of pictures.
Name the picture: cat.
Make the first sound of the picture while pointing to each letter in the Moveable Alphabet box to locate the letter that represents the sound and place on the rug.
Continue method, isolating each sound from the word.
“C”, scan, remove the letter from box and place on the rug.
“a”, scan, remove the letter from box and place on the rug. Place the letter to the right of the first letter.
“t”, scan, remove the letter from box and place on the rug. Place the letter to the right of the second letter. Note: Letters can be pre-selected and laid randomly on the bottom of the rug.
Point to the picture and name the picture.
Point and move the finger from left to right under the word and read the word emphasizing the sounds of the word.
Continue with the second picture: can.
Continue the process as long as the child remains interested and focused.
When ready to return the material to the shelf, begin with the object at the left. Name the object and return to container.
Read the word and return each letter to the appropriate compartment.
Return the objects and Moveable Alphabet to the shelf.

Language Sequence of Lesson Opt-In

Resources Used in these Moveable Alphabet Lessons

Must Have Materials to Teach Montessori Grammar

By Marnie Craycroft Filed Under: Montessori, Montessori Lessons, Outdoor Education Tagged With: Grammar, Homeschool, Language Lesson, Reading and Writing This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Montessori Grammar is fun to do with kids, and noun sorting cards are a must have when you do so! When my son was almost six years old, he was extremely interested in parts of speech. He asked a lot about what certain words mean and why these words belong in a particular sentence. It was a great time to teach him and his younger brother more about nouns with Montessori grammar lessons.

I began by reminding my sons that nouns are the meat of the sentence; that nouns are what ground the sentence. Yes, I know it sounds dramatic, but it makes sense to kids. Then we went on a NOUN Hunt in our environment. We went outside and had a lot of fun collecting objects and even moved into adjectives as we described the collected objects. Once we got inside, the boys were ready to focus on a work. So, I pulled out our Noun Cards and let them at it.

So, we began with the sorting cards. I created cards with REAL images that I believe relate to my children and their lives. The lesson is fairly simple. Print out these noun sorting cards, cut them out, and laminate the cards. Invite the child to do the work, perhaps with the use of objects. My sons fetched our police person figurine, for example, during this exercise. Many children respond well to concrete.

Montessori Grammar Lesson with Noun Sorting Cards

The Montessori Grammar Noun Sorting lesson is straightforward.

Invite the child
Lay out the labels – Person, Place, Thing – saying the name on the label as you place it on the mat.
Remind the child of the definition of a Noun
Go through the cards and sorting the cards as you name the image.
Most likely the child will take over the lesson.

Grammar Lesson Extensions

Encourage her to point out nouns in the environment
Go on a noun hunt either simply by identifying or by collecting objects
Grab a magazine and scissors. Invite the child to identify, cut out, and sort by pasting the images onto a piece of paper.
Gather objects to sort into Person, Place, and Thing. Safari Toobs are a great source for these objects. Also, Montessori Services has a ton of objects to use in language lessons.

Download my Montessori Grammar Pack!

How do you use noun sorting cards in your Montessori grammar presentations?

Easy to Put Together Montessori Pre-Reading Lessons

By Marnie Craycroft Filed Under: Montessori, Montessori Lessons Tagged With: Language Lesson, Pre-Reading, Reading and Writing This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Children begin learning to read and write long before they pick up a book or a pencil. If a child is ready to start her language development journey, these Montessori pre-reading activities are a good starting point. There is nothing more beautiful to observe a child enter her period of sensitivity for language.

As the guide, create the environment and step back to watch the process unfold before your eyes. Below are five Montessori Pre-Reading Lessons to start your journey. These Montessori language are a great way to warm the child's logic, problem-solving, focus, and concentration skills.

Montessori Pre-Reading Lessons

Montessori Pre-Reading Does Not Belong

Children enjoy the Montessori Does Not Belong activity. You can make this activity as straightforward or complicated as you would like to by making the differences more or less subtle. Making cards is easy to keep the child's interest. I made a set of “Does Not Belong” cards using real images if you would like to take a look at them.

Montessori Pre-Reading Category Classification

This activity involves sorting images into categories. Like the “Does Not Belong” activity, you can make the Classification by Category lesson as easy or difficult as possible, adjusting for the child. This activity is also a fun way to integrate the concrete material into the child's learning with figurines. I choose to use real images in my classification categories. Children relate better to real images and are more likely to respond to the activity, in my experience. A set of Montessori Classification Cards is available in my Teachers Pay Teachers store if you'd like a fresh set!

Montessori Pre-Reading Nomenclature Cards

This pre-reading Montessori language activity involves simple nomenclature cards. The work can be done with image-to-image with the label, or image with a label to image and the to label.

Children match the image and then the labels to the image.

They work from left to right, preparing the child for reading and writing.

These cards can be as creative as you need them to be. You can create cards specific to a child. For example, if a child likes sports, or insects, or the human body, you can create nomenclature cards specific for a unit or a child.

Montessori Pre-Reading Look Alike Matching

This lesson works a child's logic skills as he closely compares and contrasts the images to make a match. The child develops language with these types of activities, as he works from left to right, preparing him for reading and writing.

Here is a set of Look-Alike Matching cards using real images that I created for my teaching.

Montessori Pre-Reading Story Sequence

I adore Story Sequence cards. You can create these cards to apply to a simple act in daily life, like giving a hug. You can also apply these cards to science with the life cycle, or even a story from a child's favorite book.

Children put the cards in order, working their reading comprehension early on in their journey to reading.

Do you have any favorite Montessori pre-reading lessons to share?

Marnie

All You Need for an Easy Sandpaper Letters Lesson

By Marnie Craycroft Filed Under: Montessori, Montessori Lessons Tagged With: Language Lesson, Pink Series, Shelf Work This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

This post includes the Montessori Sandpaper Letters Initial Word Building lesson. It the 3rd work found within Montessori's Pink Series Language. Once kids get the idea of this activity, they have a lot of fun. Sometimes too much fun but at that point, you know that the time has come to move onto the next lesson: Introduction to the Moveable Alphabet. Kids within the early childhood classroom and a variety of preschool classrooms enjoy this language activity!

Related: What is Montessori Language?

My 2.5-year-old particularly likes playing “Knock-Knock”, which is a worthwhile extension of the activity. Language learning is exciting. Kids absorb the world around them and communicate in ways that astound me. {This article gives a concise overview of Language Development if you'd like to learn more!}

Sandpaper Letters Initial Word Building Lesson

Age: When the child has mastered at least the first 4 consonants and one vowel sound.

Materials: Sandpaper letters

Aims:

To begin forming and reading three letter short vowel phonetic words.
Preparation for writing, reading, and spelling.

Prerequisites: Child recognizes 3-4 consonant sounds and one vowel sound.

Sandpaper Letters Initial Word Building Presentation:

Invite the child to do the work
Bring the consonant sounds and the one vowel sound the child knows, for example: (c, s, m, t, a), to the table or work rug

Place the family word (_at), (“a” and “t”) in front of child. Have the child feel and say each sound as it is placed on the table (“a” “t”).

Place the first consonant to the left of (“a” “t”) and say “m” “at.” Repeat each time bringing the “m” closer and saying “m”…”at,” “m”..”at” until all 3 letters touch and form one fluid word.

Ask the child to sound out each letter without feeling the letters. Then have him repeat more rapidly until he is actually pronouncing the word.
Remove the (m) and repeat with (“c” “a” “t”).
Repeat with (“s” “a” “t”). 8. After the child understands that he is reading words, exchange initial consonant many times. The child reads word formed each time (cat, mat, sat, mat).
Continue this method isolating each vowel with sandpaper letters.

Points of Interest:

Different colors of vowels and consonants
The sounds
Blending
The act of scanning
Colors of vowels
Colors of consonants
How the letters fit into the box

Control of Error:

Sandpaper letters are placed on the table surface directly in front of the child.
No other material is on the table in order to avoid distraction.

Language:

Sandpaper letters, Movable Alphabet, sounds, build, the color of vowels and consonants

Sandpaper Letter Resources

Using the Montessori Moveable Alphabet in the Short Vowel Lesson

By Marnie Craycroft Filed Under: Montessori, Montessori Lessons Tagged With: Language Lesson, Pink Series, Reading and Writing This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

So, here you are…at a Montessori Language Short Vowel lesson. Recently you gave your child a short vowel word building lesson using the moveable alphabet and sandpaper letters. The child is ready for more. So, we move onto building words with objects and the moveable alphabet, and we say goodbye to the sandpaper letters because your child has moved on!

I also offer a Montessori Pink Series Materials Bundle!

Montessori Moveable Alphabet – Short Vowel Lesson

This Montessori Language Short Vowel Lesson involves the moveable alphabet and short vowel objects like “cow”. The lesson is in the pink level typically around 4 years of age. It helps a child form and read short vowel words. Utilizing the hands and moving right to left and up to down prepares the child for writing.

Moveable Alphabet Short Vowel Presentation

Invite the child to do the work. Go to the shelf with the child. Bring the container with the short /a/ objects and the moveable alphabet to the work rug.

Place the container of objects in the upper left corner of the rug. Place the moveable alphabet to the right of the container.

Remove the objects one by one, naming each object. Have the child repeat the name and place the objects in a vertical column.

Name the objects, make the first sound of the object while pointing to each letter in the moveable alphabet while scanning for the appropriate sound. Once located, place the letter that makes the correct sound on the right to the right of the object. Isolate each sound of the word as you continue to locate the remaining sounds.

Continue with this approach for the remaining sounds, one letter at a time. Point to the object, name the object, move your finger under the word from left to right emphasizing each sound.

Continue with remaining objects as long as the child remains interested in the work. Don't correct any misspelled words.
When returning materials to the container, start with the object, name the object and return it to the container. Then read the word and return each letter to its compartment. Then, return Work to the shelf.

So, what's next? You can give this lesson using pictures instead of objects and then onto using word labels instead of the moveable alphabet with objects, moving from concrete to abstract.

Montessori Language Initial Sounds Lesson

This Montessori Language Initial Sounds Lesson is one of the first lessons in the Pink Level. The goal of the lesson is to recognize initial sounds. In addition, moving left to right in preparation for reading and writing. A child aged 3 to 4, one that has mastered the 1st & 2nd-period lessons of the sandpaper letters, is ready for this lesson.

Introduce Letters to Preschoolers Phonetically

As a reminder, the 1st-period lesson is “This is” and you point at the object and name the object (or letter). Furthermore, the 2nd-period lesson is “Show me” where you name the object but do not point, allow the child to point to (or hand you) the object.

I also offer a Montessori Pink Series Materials Bundle!

You can purchase Montessori Lower Case Sandpaper Letters from Amazon {affiliate link} or from a number of traditional Montessori materials suppliers. I highly recommend the book Montessori: Letter Work as a resource for your children. You can purchase a wide range of object boxes from Montessori Services (we have these sets).

What is the order to teach letters in Montessori?

As you know, Montessori introduces letters via their phonetic sound. We wait to name the letter until the sound is master. Also, sounds/letters are not introduced in the order of the traditional alphabet. Think of the alphabet as a way of organizing shapes that represent sounds. Make sense? While there is a bit of variation in the order of letters, this is the order in which I learned in my training.

s, m, a, t
c, r, i, p
b,f,o, g
h,j,u,l
d,w,e,n
k,q,v,x,y,z

As I mentioned, there is variation. I cannot discount any one approach. Do your research to identify the best order to teach letter in your Montessori environment.