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Object Box: Montessori Early Reading Activity

This week’s activity is for those children who are just about to start reading, emergent readers. It’s called the Object Box One.   All of the objects are consonant-vowel-consonant words, and can be sounded out. Words with blends or double vowels will be in Object Boxes 2 & 3.  Many of the object shown below are parts to toys or nik naks from my house.  In addition to objects, you’ll need a pencil and tiny papers.  This is an easy activity to throw together without spending a fortune on Montessori materials, I bet some things can be found in any home.

object box 1

The idea is for adult and child (or child and child) to pass little written notes back and forth, reading them and matching with the object.  At first, it’s helpful for the adult to be the writer, later I invite an older child.  I fold the papers up teeny tiny to add more suspense.  The child opens it and sounds out the word….”fan”  Does it say fan?  Yes!  “box” Does it say box? Yes!

I love this activity for children who are just about to read since I find encourages new readers to choose more language work and try reading in books.  It’s a great message that written words have meaning.   Plus, tiny hands are attracted to tiny things!

 

Jessie is a Primary Montessori Teacher and Mom to twin three year olds and a five year old.  Jessie has a Montessori blog at The Education Of Ours, and can be found on Twitter.  See her other Mommy Moment posts here.

Jennifer Altman

Wednesday 31st of August 2011

Great idea! I'm a new follower, found from Living Montessori Now! Hope you'll visit me and follow back!

Deb @ Living Montessori Now

Wednesday 31st of August 2011

Great post, Jessie! I think object boxes are brilliant ... and I love the idea of passing written notes back and forth! Thanks so much for linking up with Montessori Monday. I featured your post at the Living Montessori Now Facebook page.

Lori@montessori MOMents

Monday 29th of August 2011

I love your twist on the Object Box. It will help me extend the material even further as JR reads more and more. It might be time to try it because he's breezing through our version of the object box which focuses on the first letter in the object's name rather than the entire name. Thanks Jessie!

Kim Rempel

Monday 29th of August 2011

Great idea! Totally gonna try that :))