Initial Word Building with Sandpaper Letters is 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!}
Initial Word Building with Sandpaper Letters Lesson
Age: When 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.
Initial Word Building with Sandpaper Letters 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 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. 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 table surface directly in front of child.
- No other material is on table in order to avoid distraction.
Language:
Sandpaper letters, Movable Alphabet, sounds, build, color of vowels and consonants
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is an excellent Pre-Reading work. I chose boards with short vowels words and chose only enough letters to cover the words as the 
