Language: Ages Three to Six

Dr Maria Montessori designed an early childhood language programme in which all the elements of spoken and written language are taught in an incremental, yet integrated, way.

In the Children’s House the spoken language children have been developing since birth is further elaborated and refined through a variety of language enrichment activities that include songs, games, poems, stories and sets of classified picture cards. The multi-age grouping of children means younger children have many opportunities to watch and listen to older children reading both story and factual books.

The first, indirect preparation for mastering written language begins with the exercises of practical life and the exercises of the senses. The exercises of practical life develop fine motor skills and the exercises of the senses prepare children to distinguish between the different sounds of the language and the different shapes of the letters.

When children first work with the letters of the alphabet, they use sandpaper letters as part of activities in which they simultaneously hear the sounds of the letters, and see and trace the shape of the letters. When children know enough letters, they are introduced to a movable alphabet made out of wooden or cardboard letters. Children use the letters to compose and write down their own words, phrases, sentences and finally stories. Because children are using their own language to compose with the movable alphabet, they may discover that they can read their own writing, especially when the movable alphabet work is accompanied by activities that provide children with structured opportunities for decoding practice. They soon transfer their skills to reading books, both to themselves and others. They are later introduced to word study materials and materials for exploring spelling patterns. To increase reading fluency and comprehension, children work with materials that draw their attention to the grammar patterns of the language.

All elements of the Montessori language programme provide children with a platform for building self-confidence and using language creatively across a variety of modes of communication. Children also have the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of good quality and varied literature, as well as factual and reference books.

Jump to section:

1.LA.010 Spoken Language: vocabulary enrichment
1.LA.020 Writing and Reading Mechanics: sound-letter correspondence, letter formation, decoding, handwriting
1.LA.030 Written Expression: preparation
1.LA.040 Functions of Words: parts of speech and their work
1.LA.050 Reading: analysis and synthesis. Sentence analysis: words, groups and phrases, clauses and sentences
1.LA.060 Word study
1.LA.070 Spelling
1.LA.080 Reading Commands: interpretive reading
1.LA.090 Reading Across the Subject Areas
1.LA.100 Punctuation
1.LA.110 Musical Notation
1.LA.120 Cultural Extensions: language across the subject areas

Video Resources

Spoken Language: Vocabulary enrichment 1.LA.010

Knowledge, Skills and Understanding

Typically children will:

.01 Experience both non-verbal and verbal communication and consider how language can be explored to gain understandings through the senses (sight, hearing, touch, body language and facial expressions)

.02 Experience a variety of communication modes (spoken and written language, non-verbal communication, visual images, interactive technologies) considering their audience and purpose of the exchange

.03 Expand and extend vocabulary

.04 Understand the spoken language of others and their purposes and to express thoughts and feelings about the world around them

.05 Learn to listen to and use spoken language effectively (age appropriate) and with increasing confidence in a variety of situations for both social interaction and self-expression both in formal and informal social settings

.06 Learn to take turns in a spoken exchange

.07 Learn to appreciate language diversity in others using rich cultural and historical contexts e.g., through experience with sign systems and language of First Nations and languages other than English such as Asia and our Pacific partners

.08 Recognise and generate rhyming words, alliteration patterns, syllables and sounds (phonemes) orally

.09 Articulate the sounds of language effectively

.10 Use the prosodic features of spoken language effectively, e.g., rhythm and intonation

.11 Prepare indirectly for working with written language e.g., informal experience with reading, vocabulary and word study and the grammar of the language e.g., tense, singular/plural, collective nouns

＋ Materials and Activity

Activities include:

a variety of real-life experiences to talk about e.g., grace and courtesy, excursions, visitors to the classroom from the community, animals in the classroom, likes and dislikes
a variety of opportunities for communication e.g., conversations, retelling real-life events, describing, expressing opinions, explaining, questioning, responding, presenting
opportunities to enjoy and share quality literature, and to tell and read stories including poems, rhymes and songs
opportunities to use age-appropriate factual and reference books
singing and playing music
activities involving rhyme and poetry
finger plays
sorting and matching sets of objects and pictures cards
the spoken question game, a spoken presentation scaffolded by an adult.
memory distance games
listen and do games
bring me games
names of objects in environment activities
the picture tray to inspire story telling
topic specific word bank

Resources include:

adults and other children in the environment
vocabulary enrichment picture cards
sets of classified picture cards.
Sound pouches
I Spy game

＋ Links to Australian Curriculum (ACv9)

AC9EFLA01
AC9E1LA01
AC9EFLA02
AC9EFLA08

AC9EFLA01
AC9E1LA01
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AC9EFLA08
AC9EFLE05

Writing and Reading Mechanics 1.LA.020

Knowledge, Skills and Understanding

Typically children will:

.01 Learn the correspondence between sounds of the language and the letters of the alphabet

.02 Arrange the letters of the alphabet to make words, phrases, sentences and paragraphs

.03 Decode written words using knowledge of letter-sound correspondence (single letters, digraphs)

.04 Recognise and read puzzle words (sight words with non-phonetic spelling) and high frequency words

.05 Develop pencil grip, adaptation of space, lightness of touch and muscular control of the hand

.06 Develop handwriting skills to form lower-case and upper-case letters

.07 Use a variety of writing implements and surfaces

＋ Materials and Activity

Activities include:

precise and engaging demonstrations offered by the adult
scribbling, painting, cutting and gluing
designing with the metal insets
the sound game
matching labels to objects in the environment, miniature objects or pictures in card sets
modelling by adults, or other children
phonetic reading (objects and labels, labels without objects, cards)
blends/digraphs (moveable alphabet, booklets, charts, labels to match objects)
sight words/puzzle words.

Resources include:

sandpaper letters, moveable alphabets, metal insets
printing and sound booklets
a variety of writing surfaces, including sand, chalkboards, different types and colours of paper
a variety of writing implements, including chalk, crayon, pencil, brush.

＋ Links to Australian Curriculum (ACv9)

AC9EFLY04
AC9EFLY10
AC9EFLY11
AC9EFLY13

AC9EFLY10
AC9E1LY10

AC9EFLY04
AC9EFLY05
AC9EFLY09
AC9EFLY10
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AC9E1LY05

AC9EFLY14

AC9EFLY08

Written Expression: preparation 1.LA.030

Knowledge, Skills and Understanding

Typically children will:

.01 Gain an appreciation of written language in all its forms e.g. literary, factual, reference

.02 Build confidence in ability to engage with written expression

.03 Express themselves in writing

.04 Become familiar with the patterns of written language in preparation for written composition and reading comprehension

＋ Materials and Activity

Activities include:

reading aloud by adults or other children
experience a variety of texts, including signs, books, digital texts, poems, rhymes and songs
share ideas and preferences for texts, including type of texts, events and characters
identifying texts and their purposes and differences
writing with the moveable alphabet
vocabulary building across the curriculum

Resources include:

quality children’s literature, factual books and a range of other appropriate written material, including from global and First Nations Australian authors and illustrators
sandpaper letters, moveable alphabets.

＋ Links to Australian Curriculum (ACv9)

AC9EFLA03
AC9EFLE01
AC9EFLE03
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AC9EFLY01
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Functions of Words: parts of speech and their work 1.LA.040

Knowledge, Skills and Understanding

Typically children will:

01. Experience and gain an understanding of the grammar patterns used to organise words into text

02. Experience and understand that word order affects the meaning of written language

03. Enhance and extend reading skills and reading for meaning

＋ Materials and Activity

Activities include:

precise and engaging demonstrations offered by the adult
functions of words games and exercises
Parts of speech activities, and follow-up with naming the farm
Word bank activity

Resources include:

a ‘mini’ environment, e.g., house, farm, zoo, streetscape, and labels
grammar symbols.

＋ Links to Australian Curriculum (ACv9)

AC9EFLA03
AC9EFLY06
AC9EFLY10
AC9EFLY15

AC9EFLA04
AC9EFLY10

AC9EFLA03
AC9EFLY04

  Reading: analysis and synthesis. 
Sentence analysis: words, groups and phrases, clauses and sentences
 1.LA.050 

Knowledge, Skills and Understanding

Typically children will:

.01 Build knowledge and understanding of the grammatical patterns of language

.02 Explore and understand the importance of verbs

.03 Explore the structure of a sentence

.04 Enhance and extend reading skills and reading for meaning

.05 Explore the importance of images in texts to add meaning

＋ Materials and Activity

Activities include:

precise and engaging demonstrations offered by the adult
phonetic reading (objects and labels, labels without objects, cards)
blends/diagraphs (moveable alphabet, booklets, charts, labels to match objects)
sight words/puzzle words
reading/sentence analysis games and exercises.

Resources include:

sentence analysis part 1 & part 2 set including charts and moveable material
prepared sentences in increasing order of complexity
objects in the environment
labels
phonetic object box and cards
phonetic action words
quality literature and factual books
opportunity to compose sentences independently.

＋ Links to Australian Curriculum (ACv9)

AC9EFLA06
AC9EFLY10

AC9EFLA05
AC9EFLA06
AC9EFLY06

AC9EFLA07
AC9EFLE01

AC9EFLY03
AC9EFLY04
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AC9E1LY04
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AC9EFLA07
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Word Study 1.LA.060

Knowledge, Skills and Understanding

Typically children will:

.01 Extend their knowledge and understanding of English vocabulary

.02 Build words using knowledge of, for example:

CVC words
blends
prefixes and suffixes
compound words
singular and plural

.03 Build families of words

＋ Materials and Activity

Activities include:

precise and engaging demonstrations offered by the adult
word study games and exercises

Resources include:

moveable alphabets in two or more colours
sight words on cards
puzzle words
word lists and charts.

＋ Links to Australian Curriculum (ACv9)

AC9EFLA08
AC9EFLE04

AC9EFLY10

AC9EFLY06
AC9EFLY12
AC9EFLY15

AC9EFLY10

Spelling 1.LA.070

Knowledge, Skills and Understanding

Typically children will:

01. Explore and refine spelling

02. Begin making the transition from invented spelling to correct spelling

＋ Materials and Activity

Activities include:

precise and engaging demonstrations offered by the adult
isolate blend and manipulate phonemes

Resources include:

moveable alphabet
phonogram cards and booklets
word study
personal word lists
dictionaries
books.

＋ Links to Australian Curriculum (ACv9)

AC9EFLY06
AC9EFLY13

AC9EFLY09
AC9EFLY15
AC9EFLY10
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AC9EFLY06
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AC9EFLY09
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Reading Commands: interpretive reading 1.LA.080

Knowledge, Skills and Understanding

Typically children will:

.01 Read for meaning with increasing fluency

.02 Use comprehension strategies, including:

visualising
predicting
connecting
summarising
questioning

.03 Prepare for drama activities including emotional content of literature

.04 Experience and understand the effect on meaning of mood and style in literature

＋ Materials and Activity

Activities include:

talking about what is factual and imagined in texts
high frequency sight word bingo
acting out increasingly complex written commands
acting out extracts from children’s literature.

Resources include:

command cards
extracts from quality children’s literature
quality literature and factual books
poetry
Who am I? riddles.

AC9EFLY05

AC9EFLE01
AC9EFLE02
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AC9EFLE02

Reading Across the Subject Areas 1.LA.090

Knowledge, Skills and Understanding

Typically children will:

.01 Practice and consolidate reading skills in a variety of print and screen, understanding directionality feature of print in various cultures, and how print is organised by title, content, page numbers or navigation buttons, bars and links

.02 Use reading skills to gain information and to research topics of interest

.03 Extend their vocabulary

.04 Discover and use accurate terminology for phenomena in the world around them

＋ Materials and Activity

Activities include:

a range of opportunities to enjoy and practise reading and to extend reading skills across all areas of the curriculum.
Identify features of First Nations language, signs, symbols, songs and stories from a variety of sources
Connect to student’s social and cultural groups and others through engaging stories, songs and labelling of artefacts

Resources include:

visiting experts
objects, labels, picture cards, jumbled definitions and control booklets
quality age-appropriate reference books.
Phonetic alphabet scrapbook
Refreshed books in varied reading levels in class library
Film, digital texts

＋ Links to Australian Curriculum (ACv9)

AC9EFLE01
AC9EFLE03
AC9EFLE04

AC9EFLY04

AC9EFLY01
AC9EFLY04

AC9EFLA08

AC9EFLE02

AC9EFLA08

AC9EFLE01
AC9EFLE03
AC9EFLE04

Punctuation 1.LA.100

Knowledge, Skills and Understanding

Typically children will:

.01 Explore the conventions of punctuation, including use of capital letters, full stop, question marks and commas signalling sentence statements, purpose and parts

＋ Materials and Activity

Activities include:

precise and engaging demonstrations offered by the adult
punctuation games and exercises.

Resources include:

moveable alphabet
punctuation cards.

＋ Links to Australian Curriculum (ACv9)

AC9EFLA09
AC9EFLY06

AC9E1LA10

Musical Notation 1.LA.110

Knowledge, Skills and Understanding

Typically children will:

.01 Experience and discover musical notation as a means of recording sounds

.02 Use musical notation for composition

.03 Read notes in order to play back another person’s musical ideas

＋ Materials and Activity

Activities include:

precise and engaging demonstrations offered by the adult
musical notation games and exercises.

Resources include:

moveable music notation symbols (e.g., treble and bass clefs, notes, rests, dynamics, tempo) and wooden board with painted staff
rhythm charts
card material.

＋ Links to Australian Curriculum (ACv9)

AC9EFLA03

AC9EFLA04

AC9EFLA06

Cultural Extensions: language across the subject areas 1.LA.120

Knowledge, Skills and Understanding

Typically children will:

.01 Respect and recognise differences across families, the community and the world

.02 Explore social relations in a range of contexts

.03 Experience other cultures

.04 Appreciate the natural world and share stories

.05 Respect all life forms

.06 Develop the aesthetic sense of cultural language arts

＋ Materials and Activity

Activities include:

linking language to pictoral drawings and pictograms
talking about and preparing food from around the world.
caring for plants e.g., dusting, planting, potting, harvesting
caring for animals
caring for the environment and discussing sustainability of their natural world
grace and courtesy

Resources include:

artefacts from a range of cultures, including, for example photographs, art works and wall hangings; songs, poetry and stories; tools and musical instruments; food and clothing
geography and history folders of classified pictures i.e. sets of picture cards, labels and booklets representing different types of clothing, food, shelter, transportation, defence, animals and plants, in different cultures and countries.
land and water form models, picture cards, labels, definitions and booklets
globes, maps and flags