Ayanna Lewis, Librarian, Montessorian, and Lifelong Learner
In this episode, I speak with Ayanna Lewis, a librarian, a Montessorian, and a lifelong learner. Ayanna went to Montessori school as a child from ages 3 to 11, and…
Why do we recite poetry with children?
Poems are a wonderful way to enrich children’s language skills and teach them about their culture, routine, and the world around them. Poems can also be useful to expose children…
5 Ways to Support Literacy During the Summer
1. Visit the Library Create a library ritual: go to the library on the same day each week, or attend a weekly storytime with a friend. Many public libraries have…
What is “Total Reading”?
In order to help children become fluent readers with a love for the written word, we can guide them through the Montessori progression of Total Reading. In the Montessori classroom,…
Do Montessori children learn spelling?
A common stereotype about Montessori children is that they’re bad spellers! While we eventually do encourage proper spelling, it’s true that when we first teach children to write in non-phonetic…
Why do we refer to letters by the sounds they make?
In Montessori classrooms, you’ll hear letters being called by the sounds they make instead of by their names. For example, the letter “b” is called “buh,” not “bee.” This might…
How can we support reading and writing at home?
Value spoken language. Engaging your child in rich conversations will help develop their confidence, ideas, vocabulary, and grasp of language structure. Model writing by hand. Let your child see you…
Why do we teach writing before reading in Montessori?
Writing begins within oneself, with one’s own thoughts. The writer thinks of what they want to say, drawing on words they already know. They listen for the sounds in each…