Spelling Contents in AMI Albums


From the Tables of Contents in Primary Montessori Language and Elementary Montessori Language:

First things first: exposure to the key 40-44 sounds in your dialect (presuming English language - numbers differ in each language). This is done through a keys-based experience with the presentation in the spoken language, writing, and phonetic reading portions of the language albums.


PRIMARY ALBUM: 



Phonogram Cards

Phonogram Alphabet Exploration

Phonogram Commands

Research

Spelling

Dictionary

Personal Dictionary



Reading: Puzzle Words

Puzzle Words (primarily reading, but helps with writing too)








Reading: Function of Words

All word lists can become dictation games. 





Word Study

All Word Study lists can become dictation games. 



ELEMENTARY ALBUM



Chapter II: Grammar and Syntax

           All Word Study provides dictation exercises. 

                        Introduction to Word Study

                                    Suffixes

                                    Prefixes

                                    Compound Words

                                    Word Families

                                    Synonyms

                        Parts of Speech

                                   Each grammar box provides some spelling rules
                                      on one level or another. 


                                    Introduction to the Noun

                                    Oral Presentation of the Noun

                                    Grammar Box II: The Article

                                    Definite and Indefinite Articles

                                    Noun: Number

                                    Noun: Gender

                                    Classification of Nouns:

                                                Common and Proper

                                                Concrete and Abstract

                                                Material and Collective

                                                Classification of Abstract Nouns

                                                Classification Chart

                                    Grammar Box III: The Adjective

                                                Adjective Command Cards & Classification

                                                Comparison of Adjectives

                                    Introduction to the Verb

                                    Grammar Box IV: The Verb

                                                Verb Commands and Synonyms

                                    Other Grammar Boxes & Commands Cards - Notes

                                    Grammar Box V: The Preposition

                                    Grammar Box VI: The Adverb

                                    Grammar Box VII: The Pronoun

                                    Grammar Box VIII: The Conjunction

                                    Grammar Box IX: The Interjection

                                                Additional Grammar Symbols

                                    Personal Pronouns

                        Introduction to the Tenses of the Verb
                                practice in changing the endings with the verb tense

                                    Simple Tense: Present

                                    Simple Tense: Past

                                    Auxiliary Verbs

                                    Simple Tense: Future

                                    The Perfect Tenses

                                    The Infinitive and Moods

                                    Negative Form of the Verb

                        

Chapter III: Written Language

            Written Language Part I & II

            The Content of Children’s Work

          Be checking for spelling issues here; develop the child's dictionary with words and needed rules from here. 


Appendix: Vendolia’s Rules for Writers

Appendix: Singular/Plural Chart




The Montessori Phonetic Approach



From the Introduction to the Language Primary Montessori Album:

We provide the keys to reading, writing and spelling and the children learn spontaneously and joyfully. While we use a phonetic approach, we do not use it in a traditional manner – we use 42 sounds where a traditional phonetics approach uses 150 or more.

So yes, Montessori uses a phonetic approach to reading, writing, and spelling - but that is a huge difference between 150 and 42! Those long series of graded readers? Simply not necessary. Children go from little/no reading to 2nd grade reading level in no time, and within weeks are 5th grade and higher. If they are not, then a crucial key was missed (or too many unnecessaries were thrown in). Or there is another influence within the child (a particular developmental need that should be met another way).


 

Spelling in AMI albums


When looking for spelling practice in the AMI albums, look for the following concepts:

  • phonograms (booklets, cards)
  • the word "dictation" in any follow-ups or extensions (think anything with a word list, including the phonogram cards and word study)
  • (or turn any/all word lists into dictation games)
  • function of words 
  • word study
  • let the children come up with words on their own - dictate to each other
  • note typically mis-spelled words in their writing - cover those needed rules through games or direct instruction

Doesn't feel like much, but it is powerful.

The adults are responsible for ensuring all the areas have been introduced and are being utilized.




Snake Games, Part 2


There are only THREE snake games:
As started in first post, when it says gray with red binding,
actually DO that. Everything shows up nicely on GRAY. 

  1. Addition Snake Game
  2. Subtraction Snake Game
  3. Negative Snake Game


(for the first Montessori Nugget on snake games, visit this Montessori Nugget from last June)

Addition and Subtraction are done in primary or very early elementary (can be continued through lower elementary as practice is needed).

Negative Snake Game is an elementary material when we are preparing the children to work with truly negative numbers (in a way, subtraction is already "adding a negative" but with the negative snake game, we can actually get an answer below zero).

Each Snake Game has verification steps.

The verification step 2 of the addition snake game has the child grouping his original snake by lengths of bead bars and multiplying each group to see if his golden snake matches. (details are in the album)

Presumably, you can do that work with all of the snake games in the appropriate places.

Some people are calling this a separate snake game: Multiplication Snake Game. It's not a different snake game. It's a verification method on the addition (and again, presumably the other snake games).


:)