Placing Montessori Three-Part Cards on Your Language Shelf
Keeping your shelves and equipment streamlined is very helpful as your child advances through material.
What Are Three-Part Cards?
Each set contains:
A picture card (no label)
A label card (just the word)
A control card (picture and word together)
These cards can be used in matching, reading, and vocabulary exercises, starting with very young children and extending into early reading years.
Organizing the Cards
There’s no single right way to store your three-part cards, so here are some popular options:
1. Divided Box Method
Use a small wooden box with three internal sections to separate the picture, label, and control cards. This keeps things orderly and helps your child clearly see the parts of each set.
2. Elastic Ribbon Method
If you prefer simplicity, tie each part of the set together with a thin elastic ribbon or a soft band. Store these in a single box, basket, or tray. It’s a compact and flexible approach, especially when you have many sets.
3. Uncut Master Sheet (Control Sheet)
For beginners or younger children, you might keep the master control card uncut. This allows your child to match the picture and label on top of the control sheet. You tie the labels and pictures in separate bundles, so everything fits onto a tray.
4. Stackable Wooden Boxes
To streamline your shelf setup, consider using small wooden boxes—stackable, with or without lids. This makes it easy to keep multiple sets organized and accessible, especially if you place a label on the visible side of each box.
We prefer to use boxes made of real wood—not plywood, composite wood, or plastic—for long-term storage. Plywood can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde, a known toxin that can easily build up in your classroom. If you need something right now, use the elastic tie method and a basket or envelope.
A special thanks to Eden for asking the original question 🌸. It is easy for me to forget to explain things like this because I’ve been setting up shelves so long that I can do it in my sleep.