Montessori/Dwyer approach to early language learning: Exploration is the key!

Have you ever been in Montessori preschool environments where the language materials are overwhelming? Where movable alphabet work is an assigned task often viewed as a chore by the children? Where children struggle with missing the ending and middle sounds in words? Here's an alternative approach that might help.

The Dwyer approach is founded in the traditional AMI language approach but has a few key adjustments. Here are the key learning strategies and activities that you want to know about:

- The sound game includes four distinct levels that help children hear all of the sounds in words.
- Phonograms (green sandpaper letters) are introduced at the same time as vowels and consonants (blue and pink sandpaper letters).
- The movable alphabet is not introduced until the child can bring you any sandpaper letter you ask for (phonogram, vowel, or consonant); this means they know the sounds at the second period.
- The movable alphabet is 100% about the child's expression; we do not assign lists or give them objects but instead inspire them to write about things important to their lives.
- Spelling variations (like ea and ie for the ee sound) are explicitly taught via phonogram spelling booklets.

You can read the specifics of her approach in her wonderful little booklet called A Path to the Exploration of Any Language Leading to Writing and Reading (https://www.maitrilearning.com/produc....

Julia prepared this video for her workshop about the Dwyer approach for the University of Wisconsin La Crosse's annual Montessori conference. In this video, Julia connects the Dwyer specifics with the traditional AMI approach to early language learning.