Literacy Learning In The Montessori Classroom

In Montessori education, literacy learning combines language development with practical experiences, trusting in the child’s natural pace and their ability to grow. Throughout their day, the learners in Classroom B are immersed in a language rich environment that is filled with conversations, song, movement, art, and writing.  This allows for the opportunity to naturally absorb the sounds, structure, and meaning of words, while demonstrating their understanding of language through their engagement in the classroom. 

The process of literacy learning is supported by the classroom environment, the materials, and a hands-on instructional approach that fosters both reading and writing skills in an engaging way. A notable feature of the Montessori classroom is the arrangement of materials ranging from concrete to abstract, which are arranged on shelves in a left-to-right, top-to-bottom order. This setup mirrors the structure of many written languages, gently preparing children for the directional flow of reading and writing, while naturally promoting literacy readiness.

Featured in the literacy area of Classroom B are a variety of materials that invite children to develop their literacy skills.  Beginning with works focused on phonological awareness, which encourages children to recognize and differentiate sounds that they hear. This leads them to match letter sounds to letter symbols. From here, the children have opportunities to encode or make words, followed by decoding/reading activities and language comprehension.

Dr. Maria Montessori believed that once a child is ready, writing should precede reading. In Classroom B, this belief has become a curriculum component that they call writers workshop - a designated time for children to engage in reading books, and writing and drawing in their writer's notebook. Doing this work engages children in the physical practice of holding writing implements, making lines and shapes, as well as connecting their actions to ideas. This in turn solidifies the connection between writing, drawing, and representation. Students also have the opportunity to dictate stories, which teachers transcribe, offering a valuable glimpse into the children's thinking. It’s wonderful to see how both experiential and representational drawing and writing hold meaning for them. This approach ties into the Reggio Emilia philosophy of "mark making," emphasizing the importance of early symbolic expression.