December is almost over, winter break around the corner
The temperatures may be lower, but our spirits have never been higher!
Language development in Montessori environments is supported with various works.
Here are a few different works, that all help children develop an appreciation and
understanding of language and literacy. Above we see exploring with and matching a
shell research book with shells from the preliminary shelf, the sand tray which is the first
stage of writing, the Related Objects Game where the child names and matches
pictures with their pairs. Below we see children looking at a book together, the movable
alphabet which allows for writing without before the hand is ready to form the letters
and children developing their writing grips with colored pencils while also creating their
own illustrations.
The hand is prepared and strengthened for writing once the child enters the
environment. Our youngest friends prepare for writing with practical life activities and
the sensorial materials. Cylinder blocks not only aid in the development of the visual
sense, but also develop the child’s pincer grip which will later be needed for writing.
Watercolor painting encourages creativity and artistic expression, it also prepares the
hand for later writing. Cutting work with scissors develops the oblique squeeze as well
as hand-eye coordination as the child moves the scissors along the lines on paper.
The development and expansion of children’s vocabulary occurs with spoken
language works. These include sound games that break down the individual sound
fragments of a word, and nomenclature cards where children are given vocabulary
through classified cards such as dog breeds, boats, butterflies, vegetables, etc. Living
and Nonliving cards allow the children to sort the cards according to their category as
well as learn the nouns. Cultural folders are a material that give glimpses of daily life in
the seven continents, as well as help encourage vocabulary as children describe what
they see.
