Montessori Language Foundation
Begins at birth
Prior to introducing letter sounds with the sandpaper letters, we read aloud to children from good quality material that builds their overall language base. This material must include all facets of the language, ranging from vocabulary and usage to grammar and accuracy.
All material for reading aloud must be well-written. Our infant read-aloud cards are discussed earlier in my blog roll.
The main mistake that adults make is to introduce books with ABCs, single words, and insipid phrasing.
I have seen Montessori infant and toddler instructional books for parents. Many make the mistake of instructing parents to use “one word, one phrase” books for this age group. This is wrong. We are developing a child’s lifelong language foundation; we are not training dogs.
Speaking of dogs, introducing “one word” material does work. Check out “How Stella Learned to Talk” by Christina Hunger, a speech therapist. It is on the library app.
p.s. Everyone knows learning ABCs does not help a child learn to read, right? The sounds are different.
This is one of the things I like about Montessori, and Mercy's approach in particular. So much of this is just letting the child live life fully. They are taught language by seeing it used and using it.