Montessori Materials: Language Curriculum in Preschool
In Montessori classrooms, every material has a purpose. What may look like just a simple box of sandpaper letters or a tray of tiny objects is specific learning tool. Each activity or “work” isolates one concept, allowing children to master it through their senses. There is a deep layer of meaning behind each activity that teaches various concepts.
The Power of Hands-On Learning
Maria Montessori observed that children learn by doing – “What the hand does, the mind remembers.” For example, the teacher will show the child how to trace a sandpaper letter with their fingers while saying its sound.
The child is linking three sensory pathways: touch, sight, and hearing. This multisensory experience strengthens the neural connections that make reading and writing possible.
Modern research now calls this the “Science of Reading.” Decades of studies confirm that effective reading instruction involves explicit teaching of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Montessori materials naturally integrate each of these pillars long before the term “Science of Reading” existed.
The Sandpaper Letters: Where Phonics Begins
The sandpaper letters are one of the most iconic Montessori materials. Each letter is cut from sandpaper and mounted on a smooth board so children can trace its shape. As they do, they say the sound the letter makes rather than its name. This tactile and auditory pairing creates muscle memory for letter-sound relationships.
Unlike rote drills or worksheets, this experience invites the child to explore sound and movement together. It is playful, sensory-rich, and remarkably effective.
The Moveable Alphabet: Writing Before Reading
Once children can identify letter sounds, they begin to build words using the moveable alphabet. Before they ever hold a pencil, they are already writing phonetically by spelling words according to their sounds. Words like “cat,” “map,” and “sun” come alive on the floor mat as children arrange letters to express their thoughts.
This hands-on word building gives children early success as communicators. They discover that sounds can be represented by symbols, that symbols can form words, and that words can tell stories. Reading then emerges naturally as they begin to decode the words they have been building.
Phonetic Object Boxes and Early Readers
The phonetic object boxes contain small objects such as a cup, lid, pin, or fan paired with matching word cards. Children read each word and match it to the correct object. The concrete connection between symbol and meaning helps them internalize decoding and comprehension at the same time.
From there, Montessori readers introduce phonetic patterns and later, function words and grammar. Every step is intentional, sequential, and rooted in real experience.
The Hidden Curriculum of Concentration and Confidence
While these materials clearly teach reading skills, their deeper purpose extends further. They cultivate concentration, independence, and self-correction. Children learn to choose their own work, check their progress, and feel proud of their growth. They are not waiting for a teacher’s approval because they are building intrinsic motivation.
Montessori and the Science of Reading: A Shared Vision
The Science of Reading validates what Montessori educators have practiced for more than a century. Children learn to read most effectively through explicit, multisensory, and joyful instruction. Montessori education embeds these methods in a peaceful, child-centered environment where literacy grows alongside curiosity and confidence.
Bringing It Home
Parents can support this process at home by:
- Reading with your child every night.
- Library trips to allow a love of reading to emerge.
- Offering real writing opportunities such as notes, grocery lists, or thank-you cards
- Encouraging patience and practice rather than correction
When children engage their hands, eyes, and ears, they do more than learn to read. They learn to love learning.
Want to learn more about Montessori Stepping Stones? Click here!
