Key Sounds in the English Language

The English language has 40-44 key sounds varying with dialect.

This video shows the key 42 sounds as learned in an AMI training center in the midwest.

Related Montessori Nuggets:

Sandpaper Letters - Single and Double (Phonogram)

Phonogram Key Sounds

Sandpaper Letters

Sandpaper Letters - Single and Double

See an AMI Montessori resource for further details not included here.
          

Materials

Box containing the letters of the alphabet, lower case and cursive, made of sandpaper cut out and mounted on thick cards or wood; consonants on pink, vowels on blue. 

     11 small letters – 4.25x7.5 inches: a e i o u x r v n c s

     11 medium letters – 6x7.5 inches: t l g h d k y q b z j

     2 large letters – 4.25x9.25: m w

     2 extra large letters – 8x7.5 inches: p f

The letters are placed on the right side to hold the card with the left hand; or place them centered on the lower section of the card for use by both hands.

Lines are not necessary, providing only an unnecessary crutch for the child.

Sensitizing tray and a tray to carry the letters.

Display: Most letters are in the box but a few should be displayed on a reclining stand and rotated frequently.

Prerequisite

touch boards and tablets; geometry cabinet; sound games

(add in phonogram sandpaper letters after about the 5^th individual letter)

Guidelines to Follow

¨ The interest of the children (i.e. first letter of child’s name)

¨ Use three letters: one vowel and two consonants.

¨ Have a few letters on display and rotate them frequently (or child can do so). 

Direct Aim(s)

To help the child become conscious of sounds in spoken language and to associate the sounds with the symbols through visual, auditory, tactile and kinesthetic senses.

Introduce the letter combinations in English that change their phonetic sounds.

Indirect Aim(s)

Preparation for writing and reading.

Age

3-3.5 (after much work with the geometry cabinet)

Endnote(s)

*Color backing should coordinate with the movable alphabet.

*Show a left-handed child how to hold the card with his right hand and trace with his left.

*Cursive is chosen over print because it has a more natural movement and is easier to form the continuous flow of each letter. It helps eliminate the reversal of letters such as b and d. Since most children know the names of the print letters, it is easier to give the sound of the cursive letters as a new experience rather than change the child’s current matrix of knowledge.

*The sandpaper letters are always presented at a table for correct writing posture.

*The sandpaper letters are the key to the whole world of written language. When Montessori was asked how the children in the first casa learned to write and read she said, “I gave them the alphabet.”

*The letters should be given in a lively and interesting manner.

*They should be presented early and fairly quickly (within three months). It is therefore critical that we keep track of the letters we have presented. Children who enter at the age of four and older many not have the same interest in tracing, so it is helpful to say to them, “Tracing will help your hands know how to write.” You can use the sandpaper letters and chalkboard together, or in games that involve fetching letters. Anything to help instill interest. The moveable alphabet may be used for sound consciousness as well, although this does not give the muscular experience that leads to understanding. 

Phonogram or Double Sandpaper Letters: 
Size: 4x9.5 inches; 6.5x9.5 inches

Sandpaper Cyphers

Materials

A set of figures 0-9 cut out of sandpaper and mounted on separate green boards (zero is placed at the back of the box); sensitizing tray. 

Size: about 3x6 - no specific dimensions

Age

Approximately 4, after work with the number rods.

Language

cipher, numeral

New Information

Association of names of numbers with their corresponding symbols.

Endnote(s)

Present ciphers only when the child knows the names of the number rods. This presentation is always done at a table or chowki due to its preparation for writing numbers. The presentation is similar to the sandpaper letters, noting that the letters correspond to a single sound while the cyphers correspond to a whole word signifying a specific quantity. Present 1-9 after working with the number rods, returning to 0 after work with the spindle box. Other continuing with the sandpaper letters (tracing on chalkboard and paper, etc) should incorporate the cyphers. 

Montessori Phonograms - Key Sounds

In the English language, there are 16 "key" phonograms: 

ai, er, ie, ee, or, ue, oo, qu, th, ch, oy, sh, ou, oa, ar, au

All others are variations on these ;) 

The sandpaper letter phonograms

The sandpaper letters phonograms should be introduced at the same time as the individual sandpaper letters - learn 3-5 individuals, then introduce a phonogram; continue introducing one new one at a time with individuals in between such that all sandpaper letters, individual and phonogram, are finished up at about the same time - typically 3 weeks after beginning the first sandpaper letters ;)

In this way, the children can immediately write anything with the movable alphabet, without needing prompts or guides as to what they can write versus what they have not yet learned - they'll have learned it all! 

Montessori Cursive - Original Cursive Materials

Building on a previous Montessori Nugget: Which comes first - cursive or print - writing or reading?


From Dr. Montessori's Own Handbook (the link is to the free edition on Gutenburg.org) - a great historical piece, NOT where I would recommend anyone *start* their Montessori reading, but for historical value, this book and The Montessori Method are interesting.

Scroll down the section entitled:

Exercises for the Writing of Alphabetical Signs

For the section on the cursive letters used at the time. (the method/experience itself was tweaked over the years to respond the needs of the universal child - and greatly simplified). 

So the children ONLY learned cursive. Yet they could read this: 

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).