Unlocking the Joy of Reading: The Montessori Way
- Mrs. Bunmi
- Mar 25
- 3 min read
At Montessori School of Franklin, we believe in nurturing a love for reading through a hands-on, multi-sensory approach. The Montessori method to literacy is rooted in building strong phonemic awareness, using tactile materials, and allowing children to progress at their own pace.
Step One: Develop Phonological Awareness
Phonological awareness is the ability to hear and distinguish the individual sounds that make up words. This foundational skill, also known as phonemic awareness, is essential for reading success. Without it, children may struggle with decoding words as they begin to read. Fortunately, there are engaging ways to strengthen this skill.
Read Nursery Rhymes and Sing Silly Songs
Children love rhythm and repetition! Classic nursery rhymes like Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, and Hickory Dickory Dock introduce young learners to the sounds and patterns in language. Singing and reciting rhymes regularly, whether at bedtime or during daily activities, helps reinforce phonemic awareness in a fun and natural way.
Play Montessori Sound Games
In Montessori classrooms, sound games isolate the individual sounds that make up words. A classic example is the "I Spy" game. You might say, “I spy with my little eye something beginning with the sound /p/,” prompting the child to identify an object like a pig. Once they master initial sounds, the game can expand to identifying ending sounds and even all the sounds in a word.
Step Two: Introduce Phonics
Phonics connects written letters to the sounds they represent. This skill is essential for decoding words and reading fluently.
Sandpaper Letters: A Multi-Sensory Approach
In Montessori education, children learn letter sounds using sandpaper letters—textured letters that engage the senses of sight, touch, and hearing. As children trace each letter with their fingers while saying its sound, they reinforce their learning in a tactile and memorable way.
Introducing Phonograms
Once children have mastered single-letter sounds, they are introduced to phonograms—combinations of letters that create new sounds (such as "sh" in ship or "ch" in chat). These phonograms help children move from simple words to more complex reading skills.
Step Three: Time to Read
This is when children begin blending sounds together to form words and build confidence in their reading abilities.
Phonetic Object Box
A phonetic object box contains small objects and matching labels with their names written on them. Children read the labels and match them to the correct object, starting with simple CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words like cat, hat, and sun. As they progress, more challenging words are introduced to encourage continued growth.
Step Four: Introduce Sight Words
Sight words are commonly used words that do not follow regular phonetic patterns, such as the, our, said, and who. Because these words cannot always be sounded out, they are taught through repeated exposure, helping children recognize them quickly and read fluently.
The Montessori Advantages in Learning to Read
The Montessori approach to reading fosters independence, confidence, and a love for language. We feel some of the most beneficial components of the approach include:
Strong Phonemic Awareness: Focus on sounds first builds a solid literacy foundation.
Hands-On Learning: Tactile materials like sandpaper letters make abstract concepts concrete.
Individualized Pace: Children progress when they are ready, avoiding frustration.
Joyful Exploration: Reading is introduced in an engaging and meaningful way.
Increased Confidence: Children take ownership of their learning, leading to capable and enthusiastic readers.
At Montessori School of Franklin, we celebrate the joy of reading and the confidence it builds in children. If you would like to see the Montessori approach in action, we invite you to visit our classrooms and witness the magic of learning to read the Montessori way!
Mrs. Bunmi
Mrs. Bunmi began her Montessori teaching career in Nigeria in 2006. She joined MSF in 2008 and has been a cornerstone of the Montessori School of Franklin for more than 17 years. With an Association Montessori International (AMI) Certification and a BSC in Microbiology, Mrs. Bunmi's expertise is both vast and profound. Her unwavering dedication to the Montessori philosophy is a testament to her belief that "Montessori is not a trend; it is a philosophy and it works. The method is consistent, and the materials are beautiful; the materials are the same in any Montessori classroom around the world." Beyond her professional accolades, including being named The Nashville Scene's best private school teacher as well as Teacher of the Month by WKRN and TN Lottery, Mrs. Bunmi’s life is enriched by her love for cooking and cherishing moments with her husband and two daughters. Her passion for nurturing relationships is as profound as her impact in the classroom, making her a truly exceptional educator.
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