CURRICULUM

In Language there is the development of speaking, writing and reading. All children learn to speak their native tongue before they can read or write. Reading and writing seem to develop between the ages of 3 ½ to 5 years old. Some children begin to read and write simultaneously, while others begin one before the other. There is no set rule on which develops first. In a Montessori classroom environment the teacher and every other material in Practical life and Sensorial has been preparing the child for reading and writing. As in Math and Sensorial, Maria Montessori developed concrete materials that assist in refining the senses for reading and writing. The teacher models the spoken language in the classroom. In writing a child is introduced to tracing the sandpaper letters which teaches the hand movement of a letter. The child has also been strengthening his/her fine motor skills through the entire Practical life and Sensorial work. These exercises allow the child the muscle control needed to hold a writing tool. In preparation for reading a child has been refining his visual sense through the sensorial materials and pre-reading exercises. These materials assist the child in visual discrimination, for example, differentiating from the letter “a” and “c”. The development of vocabulary, sequencing, working from left to right and following directions are learned through the many different materials and activities in the classroom, individually or in small group lessons. The introduction to sandpaper letters teaches writing and reading at the same time. We have a phonetic reading program that teaches the sounds of the letters to prepare the child for reading. For writing, we introduce both cursive and print sandpaper letters. We introduce cursive letters because it flows with the child’s natural ability to write and as the child gets introduced to print, the writing is done with such precision! It is amazing to watch a child explode into writing at this age!