Pre-reading is an important developmental stage in preschool in which children develop a deeper understanding of language and symbolism. They will eventually use their pre-reading skills to learn to read and write. Many preschool programs skip pre-reading activities and jump into reading and writing activities. However, the Montessori method allows a child to spend a significant amount of time exploring pre-reading activities to build a strong reading base. Below are some Montessori materials you may find used if you send your child to a Montessori-influenced preschool.
Accessible Grammar Through Symbols
When your child is 3-6 years old, they may be ready to learn the basics of grammar. Montessori materials make grammar accessible to pre-reading children by using colorful symbols such as triangles, circles, and bars to represent each part of speech. These may be available in two or three-dimensional objects that your child can move to map sentences and group certain parts of speech together.
Understanding Letters Through Sensory Engagement
Before your child begins writing letters, they need to understand the strokes within each letter. The Montessori method encourages this through sensory activities involving raised letters made of cloth or sand glued on paper. The child can stroke the letter with their finger and then try to copy the letter in a box of sand or similar soft material. Your child may start with basic shapes such as circles and triangles, and move onto letters as they gain a better understanding of symbolism and strokes.
Developing Pen Control With Tracing
While many preschool materials encourage tracing, wooden Montessori blocks intended for letter tracing are especially good at teaching your child fine motor control. These blocks have letters cut out in grooves. A child uses a wooden stylus to trace the curves and lines of each letter, which allows them to gain the correct muscle memory for writing.
Once your child has mastered pre-reading activities, they may move onto reading and writing activities. However, it is important to develop a solid understanding of language and symbolism before beginning to read or write. If you want to make sure your child develops these pre-reading skills, you should discuss which materials and curriculum your child's preschool follows. If your child's preschool uses Montessori materials, understanding how they work can allow you to have productive conversations with your child and to support their learning while they are at home. Contact a preschool program for more information.
Share11 November 2020
When I started college, I was laser focused on finishing my degree. I didn't care much about what I graduated in, as long as I finished soon. Unfortunately, that attitude really caused problems later when I realized that I had spent a lot of money on a degree that didn't matter. I had to go back to school and find my passion in order to really flourish. Also, I had to take deeper, more advanced classes to develop the kind of strong education I really wanted. This blog is all about learning how to learn, because the art of being good at school doesn't come naturally to everyone.