Sandpaper Letters

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If you have just entered the fascinating world of the Montessori Method, you might have come across the term ‘Montessori Materials’ multiple times.

Dr. Maria Montessori, the pioneer, and founder of the Montessori Method innovative changed the world by storm with help of these wonderful materials. 

Each Montessori Program or subject incorporates its own distinct Montessori materials that facilitate Montessori Activities. 

Montessori Language Activities are a great way of developing your child’s vocabulary and sense of confidence when expressing themselves. 

One such popular Montessori language Material that facilitates education to developing minds is Sandpaper Letters. 

Sandpaper Letters are a fun and exciting way of introducing your cold to the world of language and helping them develop the appropriate vocabulary for future concepts. 

If you are interested in integrating this fun and exciting material into your child’s curriculum, or you are just curious to learn further about Sandpaper Letters, here is everything you should know about these wonderful pieces of Montessori Material. 

What are Montessori Sandpaper Letters Exactly?

Sandpaper Letters are essentially the very first concrete materials that are introduced to toddlers which facilitates the education of sound and symbol association. 

Sandpaper letters fashion lowercase alphabets printed on sandpaper cutouts that are mounted on a square wooden tile. 

The Montessori Sandpaper Letters can be found in two shades, pink/red which represents the consonants, and blue tiles which represent the vowels. 

One fascinating aspect of Montessori Education is that it first develops the child’s writing skills and then enhances their reading skill. 

The Montessori Sandpaper letters are no exception, just like any other quintessential Montessori language material.

This Montessori Language Material first encourage the child to engage their tactile senses by tracing the letters or alphabets which can be later mimicked on a piece of paper when practicing writing. 

What is the Purpose of Montessori Sandpaper Letters?

The chief purpose of Montessori Sandpaper Letters is to facilitate the education of sound-symbol association of the alphabet in a lounge and build their comprehension of the said alphabets, through muscle memory as well as visual memory. 

When performing Sandpaper Letter activities, the child is encouraged to trace the alphabets that are made by sandpaper cutouts to enhance the child’s muscle memory. 

Children when using this wonderful material often engage their tactile, auditory, as well as visual senses, hence, sensory development, can be an evident purpose of the Montessori Sandpaper Letters. 

Another secondary purpose of Montessori Sandpaper Letters is to prepare the child for future lessons that will involve reading and writing. 

What are the benefits of Montessori Sandpaper Letters?

It is safe to say that the Montessori Method encompasses a plethora of innovative ideas, Materials, and philosophies that facilitate the holistic development of the child. 

Sandpaper Letters are one such example of Dr. Maria Montessori’s innovative genius. As an integral part of the Montessori Language Curriculum, Sandpaper letters provide a variety of direct and indirect benefits that aid the development of the child. 

Here is a list of benefits that are provided by the Montessori Sandpaper Letters. 

1. Sensorial Stimulation:

Montessori Sandpaper Letters like several other Montessori Materials, facilitate the stimulation of multiple senses. 

These sandpaper letters engage the child’s following senses:

  • Tactile sense: The child is able to feel the alphabet and letters by tracing the sandpaper letters through the sense of touch. 
  • Auditory Sense: The child is able to hear the sounds of the alphabetic symbols while tracing the sandpaper letters.
  • Visual Sense: The child is able to associate the symbols while tracing the Montessori Sandpaper Letters. 

2. Preparation for Writing:

One of the indirect benefits of Sandpaper letters is that it prepares the child for forthcoming lessons integrating writing. 

When tracing the Sandpaper Letters with their fingers the child is able to effortlessly mimic the actions on a piece of paper. 

3. Building a Vocabulary:

Sandpaper letters encourage children to trace over the textured sandpaper to feel the alphabet. 

The child is able to build the appropriate vocabulary with reference to alphabets and symbols through sound-symbol association. 

4. Comprehending Alphabets:

The child is encouraged to pronounce the letters and alphabet when tracing the Sandpaper letters.

The child develops an intimate knowledge of the precise alphabet and letters with the help of Sandpaper Letters. 

How to introduce the Montessori Sandpaper Letters to the child:

In order to effectively facilitate the Sandpaper Letters activity, It is best to follow the appropriate instructions to achieve optimum results. 

The adult must introduce the child to alphabets and letters in the following order:

  1. m
  2. a
  3. s
  4. o
  5. t
  6. c
  7. e
  8. d
  9. p
  10. u
  11. f
  12. j
  13. g
  14. l
  15. b
  16. i
  17. n
  18. w
  19. r
  20. h
  21. y
  22. z
  23. q
  24. k
  25. v
  26. x

Once the single-letter sandpaper letters have been successfully introduced to the child, it is now time to proceed with Double Sandpaper Letters. 

The Doble Sandapaer letters should be introduced to the child in the following order:

  1. ee
  2. ou
  3. th
  4. oa
  5. oo
  6. qu
  7. ai
  8. er
  9. ar
  10. ie
  11. sh
  12. oy
  13. au
  14. or
  15. ch
  16. ue

Further instructions to effectively introduce Montessori Sandpaper Letters to the child:

  • Pick any three Sandpaper Letters and place them on the left side of the table in a pile
  • Pick the first Sandpaper letter from the pile and place it in front of the child
  • Pronounce the letter out loud using their appropriate phonetic sounds
  • To demonstrate how to trace the letters to the child, use your left and moving from the left side begin to trace the sandpaper letter pronouncing the alphabet out loud. 
  • It is best to associate familiar objects with the phonetic sounds further enhancing the child’s understanding of the letters. 
  • Ask the child if they would like to participate in the activity and instruct them to pronounce the sounds three times. 
  • Place the card away and proceed to introduce the next three letters in the same order. 
  • Continue to further associate the phonetic sounds with their respective objects to further enhance their vocabulary. 
  • Repeat with the same pattern with other Sandpaper letters. 

To further enhance the child’s learning experience you can incorporate several other activities that will expand their vocabulary and help them explore new horizons as well as possibilities. 

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