Techniques, Tips, and Strategies for Teaching Children How to Write

In the Montessori approach, teaching children how to write is not only about teaching them to form letters and words but also about fostering a love for writing and developing their communication skills. We will dive into techniques, tips, and strategies to teach children how to write the Montessori way, emphasizing hands-on activities, promoting creativity, providing a prepared environment, and encouraging independent exploration that empowers children to become confident writers.

As parents and educators, we constantly strive to provide the most effective learning experiences for our children. The Montessori education approach, with its emphasis on child-directed learning and hands-on activities, has garnered immense popularity for its empowering methodology. We will explore how this approach nurtures their language development and critical thinking skills, all while fostering a love for writing.

The Montessori approach emphasizes a child-centered, self-directed learning environment that encourages independence, freedom within limits, and respect for the child’s natural development.

According to the Montessori perspective, children can start learning to write as early as three or four years old. Montessori education encourages children to explore their interests and develop their skills at their own pace. To teach writing, Montessori classrooms typically provide various materials like sandpaper letters, moveable alphabets, and specially designed writing tools. The focus is on introducing phonetic sounds, letter formation, and building vocabulary through a hands-on and sensorial approach. However, it’s important to note that children develop at different rates, so readiness for writing can vary. Teachers and parents should observe a child’s cognitive and physical readiness and adapt their approach accordingly.

YOU CAN FIND RECOMMENDED BOOKS, TOOLS, AND RESOURCES FOR TEACHING HOW TO WRITE AND READ THE MONTESSORI WAY HERE

When it comes to teaching children to write, here are some principles and strategies you may like to follow:

Prepare the environment:

Montessori classrooms are carefully arranged to promote learning and independence. Provide child-sized writing materials such as pencils, paper, and child-safe scissors in an orderly and accessible manner. Arrange a dedicated writing area where children can work comfortably.

Start with pre-writing activities

Before introducing formal writing, engage children in activities that develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and dexterity. Activities like cylinder blocks and working with materials that have knobs, using playdough, threading beads, picking up small objects with tweezers, and pouring water can help children strengthen their fingers and develop the necessary skills for writing.

playdough art montessori nature hands on activities (1)

“Holding the knob of the cylinders with the first two fingers and thumb is a preparation of the coordination of the hand for writing. At a later age the intelligence of the child will urge him to write. He will be impeded if the organs are not prepared. ”
Maria Montessori The 1946 London Lectures

Drawing helps children in their writing development by strengthening their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness. When children engage in drawing, they have the opportunity to practice the foundational skills required for writing, such as holding and controlling a writing tool, making intentional marks, and developing an understanding of shapes and lines. Additionally, drawing allows children to express their creativity, imagination, and ideas visually, providing them with a sense of accomplishment and confidence that can ultimately support and prepare them for the writing process.

Introduce the sandpaper letters

Montessori uses a multisensory approach to teaching writing. Once the child has developed basic pre-writing skills, introduce the formation of individual letters. Begin by introducing tools like sandpaper letters or texture letters you can make using our free printable. These are tactile representations of each letter.

When using Montessori sandpaper letters to teach children how to write, it is important to introduce one letter at a time. Demonstrate the correct formation of each letter, emphasizing the starting point, direction, and sequence of strokes. Encourage the child to trace the letter with their finger, saying the corresponding sound aloud. Then, provide the child with sand on a tray to practice writing the letter with the index finger or a tool like a paintbrush.

Start with lowercase letters and gradually progress to uppercase. This tactile approach helps children develop muscle memory and connection between letter shapes and sounds, fostering their writing skills.

Invite children to trace the letters with their fingers while saying the letter sounds:

A – apple, B – ball, C – cat, D – dog, E – elephant, F – fish, G – gorilla, H – hippo, I – igloo, J – jellyfish, K – kangaroo, L – lion, M – monkey, N – nurse, O – octopus, P – penguin, Q – queen, R – rabbit, S – snake, T – tiger, U – umbrella, V – violin, W – whale, X – x-ray, Y – yak, Z – zebra.

This activity helps develop muscle memory and letter recognition.

“Summing up, we may say that the two mechanical factors of writing are resolved into two independent exercises, that is, drawing, which gives the hand the ability to handle the writing instrument, and touch the letters of the alphabet, which serves to establish a motor memory along with a visual memory of the letters. ”
Maria Montessori “The Discovery of the Child”

Instead of purchasing sandpaper letters, you are welcome to use our free printable to make DIY textured letters. This printable includes two sets.

How to make DIY textured letters using the hollow letter printable

Materials:

Cardstock paper
Scissors
Fabric paint in the desired colors – I recommend using Montessori’s preferred colors pink for consonants and blue for vowels.
Plastic squeeze bottle with fine tip nozzle

Instructions:

Begin by downloading the letter printables.
Print on cardstock and cut cards
Squeeze the fabric paint onto cards following letter strokes
Or use the paintbrush to apply a thick layer of fabric paint onto the cardstock letters. Be sure to spread the paint evenly and cover all areas of the letters.
Allow the fabric paint to dry completely. This may take several hours or overnight.
Once dry, gently test the paint with your fingers
Use the textured letters in Montessori activities and learning exercises.

Use this printable for practicing letter formation with a pencil or marker. Print and cut cards and laminate them if you wish to reuse them with a dry-erase marker.

How to make DIY textured letters using printable with the correct letter formation alphabet

Prepare index cards.

Print alphabet downloads and laminate the pages. Cut individual letter outlines. Glue each onto the center of an index card.

Now you can use the cards to teach children correct letter formation by encouraging them to trace letters with their fingers or dry-erase markers.

You may also like to check out our cursive alphabet freebie with DIY textured letters here.

Provide phonetic sounds

Once children are familiar with the sandpaper letters, continue to reinforce recognition of the phonetic sounds of each letter. Avoid teaching the traditional letter names initially, as Montessori focuses on the sounds letters make in words.

Phonics Initial Sound Cards

Use the “I Spy” game to reinforce phonetic sounds. Invite children to find objects in the classroom or environment that start with the phonetic sound being taught. For example, if you are teaching the /m/ sound, children can find objects like “moon,” “map,” or “milk.”

Incorporate songs, chants, or rhymes that emphasize the phonetic sound being taught. This helps to reinforce the sound and make it memorable for the children.

Provide hands-on activities and games that focus on the phonetic sounds. For example, you can create sorting activities where children sort objects or picture cards based on their initial phonetic sounds. This helps children understand the connection between the sound and its representation in words.

Continuously review and practice the phonetic sounds with the children. Use flashcards and sound exercises to reinforce their understanding of the sounds and their ability to identify them in words.

Word Building

After mastering letter formation and phonetic letter recognition, introduce word building. Provide materials like the moveable alphabet and word cards that allow children to manipulate and build words independently. Encourage them to sound out the letters and blend them to form words.

CVC Phonics Cards and Word Building Mats Pink Series

In Montessori, teachers use the Pink, Blue, and Green Series to teach phonetic reading and writing. These series are designed to help children develop their reading, writing, and initial language skills in a sequential and organized manner.

The Pink Series consists of various materials used progressively, from the simplest to more complex concepts. The materials include:

Sandpaper Letters: These are letters of the alphabet cut out of sandpaper and mounted on wooden boards. Children trace their fingers over the textured letters while saying the corresponding sound. This activity helps them associate letter shapes with sounds.
Object Box: The object box contains small objects that have names starting with a specific letter sound. For example, the box for the letter ‘a’ may include objects like an apple, ant, and airplane. Children practice matching the objects with the corresponding sandpaper letter.
Phonetic Reading Cards: These cards feature a picture and word that correspond to a specific letter sound. Children sound out the word and match it with the correct picture. This activity helps develop their reading skills and phonemic awareness.
Picture Cards and Labels: Children learn to identify and label objects using picture cards and corresponding labels. This activity expands their vocabulary and reinforces the connection between words and their representations.

The Blue Language Series is the next step after the Pink Language Series and focuses on building on the phonemic awareness and reading skills developed in the Pink Series. It introduces more complex 4-letter words.

The Blue Language Series builds upon the foundation established in the Pink Series and prepares children for more advanced language skills in the Green Series.

The Green Series is typically introduced after the Blue Series and is aimed at children who have mastered decoding simple three-letter phonetic words.

The Green Series introduces children to more complex phonetic concepts such as consonant blends, long vowels, digraphs, and silent letters. It helps children expand their phonemic awareness and further develop their reading and spelling skills.

The materials used in the Green Series include various word-building and reading exercises.

Sentence Writing

Once children are comfortable with forming individual words, progress to sentence writing. Encourage them to write simple sentences using a combination of sight words, phonetic words, and words they have learned through reading and spelling activities.

To help children progress from forming individual words to writing sentences, here are some steps to follow:

Review sight words: Ensure that children have a good grasp of common sight words such as “the,” “and,” “is,” “are,” “a,” and so on. Sight words are important because they are frequently used in sentences and can be recognized instantly without phonetic decoding.
Begin sentence writing: Guide children in starting to form sentences. Encourage them to write simple sentences by using a combination of sight words, phonetic words, and words they have learned through reading and spelling activities. For example, they could write a sentence like, “The cat is on the mat.”
Provide sentence writing prompts: Ask children to complete sentences using the words they know. For example, give them a sentence starter like “I like to…” and have them finish the sentence with words that they have learned. This helps them to express themselves creatively while using their vocabulary.
Practice sentence formation: Have regular writing practice sessions where children can freely write sentences. Encourage them to experiment with sentence structure, and provide constructive feedback to help them improve. This can be done through activities such as journaling, story writing, or writing short paragraphs.
Expand sentence complexity: As children gain confidence in writing simple sentences, encourage them to make their sentences more detailed and complex. Teach them how to use adjectives, adverbs, and conjunctions to enhance their sentence structure. Expand their vocabulary by presenting them with new words to incorporate into their sentences.
Provide continuous support: Continue to provide ongoing support and guidance as children progress in sentence writing. Give them opportunities to practice and reinforce what they have learned through reading activities, spelling practice, and writing assignments.

Remember, each child progresses at their own pace, so be patient and provide them with ample practice opportunities to reinforce their sentence writing skills.

Independent Writing

As children gain confidence in their writing skills, provide opportunities for independent writing. Please encourage them to write short stories, journal entries, or letters. Offer guidance and support as needed, but allow them to express their ideas and thoughts freely.

When teaching children to write the Montessori way, it is important to create a conducive learning environment. Provide a variety of materials, such as sandpaper letters, moveable alphabets, and writing trays, to engage their senses. Encourage them to trace and feel the letters before writing, promoting muscle memory. Start with phonetic sounds and words, progressing gradually. Foster a love for writing by allowing creative expression and incorporating fun activities. Lastly, giving children the freedom to explore at their own pace and providing gentle guidance will lead to successful Montessori writing experiences.