The Montessori pedagogy is one of several hands-on learning approaches that allow children to experience and learn using all their senses. The Montessori approach is therefore also very well suited for bi- or multilingual children learning more than one language.
I have used a Montessori approach throughout our homeschooling journey, but particularly for our children to learn to become fluent speakers, readers and writers in German, French and English. After more than 8 years of raising my tri-lingual children using a Montessori approach, I am more than ever convinced that it is one of the most effective ways for children to learn with fun and motivation.
When using a Montessori approach for learning, there is much more to it than just the learning activities. It goes along with preparing the space and yourself as a guide for your child. I will not deepen these two aspects here. You can read more about how to set up a productive learning space here.
Key elements for language learning using a Montessori approach
Below, you will find the key elements for language learning in a Montessori way.
- Preparing your child to become ready for reading and writing
- The sensitive period for language
- Introducing letters
- Writing
- Reading
1. Preparing your child to become ready for reading and writing
Before even starting to learn letters and how to read and write, children need to learn a lot of other things.
In the Montessori pedagogy a lot of emphasis is put on those preparatory works supporting the child to develop phonetic awareness, a good pencil grip and most importantly a love for language
and reading.
From very early on it is important for your child to be exposed to a rich
language environment, including spoken and written language. Reading books, songs and rhymes and using a rich vocabulary when speaking is part of that. Children thereby learn about different styles of language; they develop a rich vocabulary and train their ears to distinguish letter sounds. They also learn how written language is linked to stories and pictures and how to flip a book from left to right.
In addition, children can expand their vocabulary by naming and classifying
objects, sorting them by color, size and matching different objects of the same
category.
Besides an early exposure to rich language, children also need to refine their fine-motor skills before being able to properly write with a pencil.
Montessori offers a wide range of activities that strengthen the child´s fingers, hand-eye coordination and left-right movement. Transferring, scooping, sponging and pouring activities are an important part of this.
Further ideas on how to integrate language in everyday life can be found
here.
Would like to best support your child´s language development with Montessori-based activities?
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2. The sensitive period for language
When working with children Maria Montessori observed that children develop at one point a very strong interest for writing and reading.
While the sensitive period for language is very long and stretches from birth to the age of 6 years, the sensitive period for writing and reading often happens between the age of 3 1/2 and 6 years. Once you observe your child´s interest in writing and reading, this is the best moment to introduce letter sounds and early reading activities.
3. Introducing letters
Letters are introduced in the Montessori approach through letter sounds and not letter names. This means that when introducing the letter A, you pronounce the sound aaaaa as in apple.
Learning letter sounds helps children with further reading. You can apply this approach with any alphabet you want to introduce to your multilingual child.
Before starting to write with a pen, children are introduced to written letters using all their senses. Sandpaper letters are the most known material. However, tracing letters with grains, tracing letters into salt or sand, forming them with flowers or out of salt dough are all ways for children to experience letters with all their senses. This approach can be used for any alphabet and is an interesting way to introduce different alphabets to multilingual children.
Letters (as well as new vocabulary) are best introduced using a 3-period-lesson. How does this work? Read more here on how to use a Montessori 3-period lesson to introduce new words to your child.
4. Writing
In the Montessori approach, children learn how to write before learning how to read.
Once children have a basic understanding of most of the letters, they can start building their first words using single letters. Movable alphabets are very helpful for this, but letters can also be written on cardboard or paper snippets.
Children will start building simple words, e.g. two- or three-letter words. Again, writing happens first through hands-on activities, before children write with a pencil. In the beginning the emphasis is on the joy to communicate through writing and correct spelling is not expected.
Further writing activities can include labeling items, matching words to objects, writing shopping lists, writing names of friends and finally starting to write more complex sentences and texts.
The more writing can be linked to content that is interesting for the child, the more children will be motivated to engage in it.
4. Reading
As children learn letter sounds, it becomes easier for them to spell out short words.
One would usually start with consonant – vowel – consonant words like cat, pot, mat, etc.. It is helpful for the child to learn how to read words with similar characteristics or sounds at the same time.
Montessori emphasizes to work separately on specific challenges to help children focus on these. This method can be applied in any language.
Practicing reading can happen in many different occasions. Children will be most interested to read based on their interest. Reading signs in the street, labels in the supermarket and short texts in an activity flyer can all be occasions to practice and enjoy reading.
How to get started with Playful Learning
In this FREE 3-Day Video-Course I am showing you the first steps you can take to stimulate and engage your child in playful learning activities at home without tantrums and without any materials you have to buy.
Hi, Nice to meet you
Learning and growing up with multiple languages does not have to be hard work. I am Maria, a mother of 3 kids, an development and education expert and Montessori homeschooler. Having lived as a family over ten years in Africa and Asia I know exactly how challenging it can be to get access to high quality educational activities. With my step-by-step playful learning method, I am showing you how to raise little happy multilingual learners with limited time and only using local materials.
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