Right around Reed's second birthday, he started showing interest in the alphabet. He began singing the ABC song, pointing out letters on TV or in books, and just showing a general interest in literacy.
Now before I go any further, I would like to very firmly and clearly state that I understand every child learns differently and will learn at his/her own pace. I am not writing this with the intention of supporting a "right way"; I simply want to share what has worked for us (so far, anyway).
I teach high school, so early literacy is just a little off my radar. I did a ton of research, and although conventionally parents and teachers use the alphabet song, paper worksheets, or sight words to teach early literacy, my research led me in a completely different direction. And I believe it is the right direction (for us). At just 2 1/2 years old, Reed knows 22 of the 26 letter sounds, is able to trace the letters, and is beginning to construct words. I think it is safe to say that this Montessori-style way of teaching letter sounds is working for Reed.
Now before I go any further, I would like to very firmly and clearly state that I understand every child learns differently and will learn at his/her own pace. I am not writing this with the intention of supporting a "right way"; I simply want to share what has worked for us (so far, anyway).
I teach high school, so early literacy is just a little off my radar. I did a ton of research, and although conventionally parents and teachers use the alphabet song, paper worksheets, or sight words to teach early literacy, my research led me in a completely different direction. And I believe it is the right direction (for us). At just 2 1/2 years old, Reed knows 22 of the 26 letter sounds, is able to trace the letters, and is beginning to construct words. I think it is safe to say that this Montessori-style way of teaching letter sounds is working for Reed.
My research led me to understand, first of all, that children should not be taught their letters in order of the alphabet or ABC song. This seems to be an across-the-board consensus among researchers. According to an article by educators at Penn State University, it is more important that children understand letter sound than the name of the letter, that letters are introduced lowercase first, and that short-vowel sounds should be introduced before long-vowel sounds. The order in which to introduce letters is determined by the frequency of use in simple words, separating letters that may look alike, and other factors. Check out the letter order I chose to use here, along with some more information on beginning to teach letter sounds. I introduced 2-4 letters at a time over the span of 6 months, not moving to the next set of letters until he had completely mastered the first.
My primary resource for determining letter order, and my go-to for most of my questions, was Living Montessori Now, a website/blog created by an extremely well-educated, former Montessori teacher and school owner. Reed responded well to many of the strategies and activities recommended on her blog, and I still go to her site quite frequently to teach seasonal and weekly lessons. I look forward to referencing her site over the years to come- it is just stuffed with ideas for teaching preschoolers.
While exploring letter order, I came across sandpaper letters, apparently a very common Montessori resource. The letters are durable and can easily be stored or stacked. I made my own because the wooden ones run about $50 on Amazon. I am so happy with mine, and they have lasted 6 months now and show no signs of wear and tear. Here are a few reasons why I chose to use sandpaper letters:
1. They teach letters by sight. They're like big, wooden flashcards.
2. The child traces the letter with his or her finger, teaching writing at the same time.
3. Because the letters are so durable, they are great for playing games!
4. The letters can be placed next to each other to form words. Reed has just started synthesizing his own words; he likes to pull out 2-3 letters, place them next to each other, and "sound them out." For example, this past week, he found the "r" and the "a", placed them together, sounded it out, and ran around the house yelling "RAAA" like a dinosaur. Little steps!
While exploring letter order, I came across sandpaper letters, apparently a very common Montessori resource. The letters are durable and can easily be stored or stacked. I made my own because the wooden ones run about $50 on Amazon. I am so happy with mine, and they have lasted 6 months now and show no signs of wear and tear. Here are a few reasons why I chose to use sandpaper letters:
1. They teach letters by sight. They're like big, wooden flashcards.
2. The child traces the letter with his or her finger, teaching writing at the same time.
3. Because the letters are so durable, they are great for playing games!
4. The letters can be placed next to each other to form words. Reed has just started synthesizing his own words; he likes to pull out 2-3 letters, place them next to each other, and "sound them out." For example, this past week, he found the "r" and the "a", placed them together, sounded it out, and ran around the house yelling "RAAA" like a dinosaur. Little steps!
I'll keep you updated on the research and ideas that seem to be working for Reed. Be sure to check out what I have so far!
DIY Sandpaper Letters
Sandpaper Letter Games
How to Teach Letter Sounds Using Sandpaper Letters
DIY Sandpaper Letters
Sandpaper Letter Games
How to Teach Letter Sounds Using Sandpaper Letters