Montessori Phonics - Introduction To Single Letter Sound /f/

*NOTE : In all these lessons, letters of the alphabet are not introduced.*


FOR 18MTHS - 3YRS OLD


Introduction To Single Letter Sounds > Lesson 2

Recap : "Last week, we learnt the sound of this letter."

Show sandpaper letter card...



"This letter makes the sound..... ?"

(Pause..... and wait if there is any
response from the child(ren)?

If not, then continue....
"This letter makes the sound /c/."

You may show the past objects that
have been introduced to the child(ren).
*One at a time.. ie. show in isolation*
"/c/ as in cap, /c/ as in cat and
/c/ as in crayon."

Introduction to the sound /f/

"Today, we're going to learn a new sound."
"This letter makes the sound /f/."

Click here to hear the /f/ sound.

This is how I write/trace /f/.

Would you like to try?
Invite child to trace the sandpaper letter.

Tracing of the sandpaper letter also exposes
young children as young as 18 months old to
early print (small caps). The act of tracing itself
indirectly teaches the children to unconsciously
learn that alphabets are written from top to
bottom and from left to right... A future preparation
of reading text as well. ie. The sweeping glance for
reading text is also from left to right. (For English
at least.

Trace the letter again and say to the child... /f/ as
in fan. *As in refers to
>as in the beginning letter sound of... in the
above case, fan.*





Sorry, my fan a bit the fancy kind.
Couldn't find the normal fan when i
need it..

"Would you like to touch the fan?"
Place emphasis on the sound /f/
when introducing the objects...

Pass the fan to the child. During
this time, you may engage them
in discussion.

For example, do you have a fan?
What colour is it? Do you know
how to make a paper fan? (etc)

As mentioned earlier in Lesson 1,
this small talk stage helps the child
remember the lesson better & also
engage the child in conversation...

Trace the letter again and say to the child...
/f/ as in fish. Show the child
the object and invite him/her to touch it &
talk about fish for abit.. But try to
keep it to a safe time limit to avoid any
distraction away from the lesson proper.





Engage in the usual mini discussion and for
this object, you can also introduce the word
fin. Allow child(ren) to touch the fish.
If you have real uncooked fish, you can also
show them the real thing. In our classes, we
even do real fish printing... with cheap fish tt
markets sell darn cheap.

Trace the letter again and say to the
child... /f/ as in flower.





"Do you like flowers?"
"Does your mummy grow flowers in her garden?"
"How can we grow flowers in a pot?"

If you have real flowers to show, even better..
If not articificial flowers work fine too.. In my
case, we aren't green thumbed people & neither
do we like artificial flower decorations that collect'
dust, so i had to settle for this sequined flower..

End of 1st period.

Do you remember what's the presentation for 2nd period
in the Montessori Method's 3-period lesson? Its the "show
me" lesson. Those who remembered, well done!

Place all objects on a mat and ask the child to show/point
to the object that you ask for.

"Can you show me the flower?"





"Can you show me the fish?





"Can you show me the fan?




Remember to place emphasis on the /f/ sound when
asking the chid(ren) to point/show to the objects that
were introduced.

RECAP :
For Period 2 in the 3-Period Lesson, show
all the three objects you've introduced all
at the same time. In this period, you are
to observe how much of Period 1 has
been retained in your child's mind..

In this period, the child is not required to say
out the names of the objects. He/She is simply
encouraged to point to them upon being prompted.

Also make a mental note that if the child did not get
this 2nd lesson right, you should carry out the lesson
again another time/day. Do not push the child to get
any part of the lesson right. Maintain an encouraging
tone of voice and also choice of words.. As much
as possible, try NOT TO use the word, "WRONG!".

Now for the last period in the 3-period lesson...

In this period, the child is now tasked to show that
he/she can verbalize the words introduced and also
the letter sound that begins with the objects shown.

Show each object in isolation in Period 3.
ie. show objects one at a time.

You : Can you tell me what this is...?
Child : fish

You: Can you tell me what this is...?
Child : flower

You: Can you tell me what this is...?
Child : fan

Then, conclude the lesson before putting the stuff away.

Today, we have learnt...
(Simultaneously showing the child the sandpaper letter)

... /f/ as in fan.... /f/ as in fish... and /f/ as in flower.

Tomorrow/On another day, we'll learn more sounds.
I will place this material on this shelf, so you may
work with it when you feel like it. (Show child the plc)
Now, can you help me put the things away and put it
on that shelf... and next, can you help me roll the mat?
Thank you, i appreciate it.

Don't be surprised if you see your child picking up the
mat and the material and working with it on their own..
This is when we know that the child is learning through
repetition.

If your child did not get any of the steps right at any
point of the 3-Period lesson, please do not despair...
Always come back to it again another time..

3-Period Lesson Recap!

1st Period : Introduce letter sound & show objects in
isolation. ie. one at a time.

2nd Period : Display all the objects all at once and ask
child to show you, one at a time..

3rd Period : Ask the child to tell you the names of the
objects that you in isolation.. Then recap all the names
and the letter sound taught for the day.

"What goes through the hand, goes to the mind..."
[Dr Maria Montessori]