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A Craft for Emergent Readers

This week’s craft isn’t a classic Montessori Material, but a craft used to promote emergent reading for ages 4-5 that I use as an extension on the classics.   We love them for car rides and on-the-go activities.  Before introducing these bead strands, use the Sandpaper Letters, Object Box One, and the Movable Alphabet (for consonant-vowel-consonant words or Pink Series reading activities).

bin

 

Materials needed:

  • Strong string or pipe cleaners
  • Wooden block beads
  • Permanent Marker
  • Small stopper beads
  • A child ready to start blending letter sounds into words
Simply brainstorm the word families you want to explore with the children, then string and tuck the ends in!  It is so fun for them to spin the letters to change the initial sound, making a new word!
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. 

Deb @ Living Montessori Now

Tuesday 18th of October 2011

Great activity, Jessie ... but my favorite part is that the child can be involved in creating the reading activity. Definitely adds to the interest! :)

Jessie

Tuesday 18th of October 2011

Thanks, Kayla! I try to make learning materials from things I already have around the house. Plus, she helped assemble them, so I feel that she had more of an intimate tie to the work.

Kayla Arrowood

Monday 17th of October 2011

I have seen this idea before however love how you are doing it with a pipe cleaner and beads, Totally gonna try this with my smaller!