I combined both reading sets into a single print listing on MontessoriHouse on Etsy.
Additionally, here are two gift sheets I created specifically for this post. There is a PDF to download at the bottom, too.
The majestic dragon resides on The Dragon Bridge in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia.
I added tracing to the standard reading strips because half of the paper was being wasted, and children really enjoy tracing.
Children can choose to either cut out the strips for all the words and phrases or use the sheets as they are. The activity is designed for independent work, so children can work alone or in pairs.
One of the biggest challenges for new Montessori teachers (including those teaching at home) is adjusting to the Montessori approach of not giving direct lessons or hovering to assist a working child. This contrasts with the more common teaching styles found in conventional schools, where such methods are considered good teaching.
Decades ago, I needed a substitute teacher for my class for a week, but no Montessori teachers were available. A very kind father of one of the students volunteered, as he had experience teaching elementary school. Despite his familiarity with Montessori through his child, he fell into traditional habits: giving morning presentations, hovering over the children as they worked, and generally creating frustration among my class of three to six-year-olds. By the second day, the children asked why the groundskeeper couldn’t be “the adult in the room,” as we explained the legal requirements.
The groundskeeper, a wonderful man passionate about gardening who often engaged with the children during their garden projects, proved to be an ideal substitute. He respected the children’s independence and their desire to focus as they worked. When he expressed curiosity about the long bead chains, saying he had always wondered how they were used, the children eagerly laid out the entire display to show him. This created a magical transformation for the class, and they were excited to share the experience with me when I returned.
Wishing you a happy day!
