Phonetic Teaching

**Phonetic teaching** is considered very important in the Montessori Method. First of all, the child is introduced to the **sound** each letter makes. Then, they are shown the **letter shape** that corresponds to that sound. This method is entirely different from the traditional approach in which adults name these letters ("ay", "bee", "see"). The Montessori Method stresses teaching the **phonetics** of the alphabet rather than the names of these symbols. But how are these letters and their sounds introduced to the child? In Montessori teaching, the emphasis is placed on **writing first, then reading**. **A String of Ideas — Complex Physical Skills** For adults, reading and writing are not challenging — these skills were mastered long ago. For a child, the scenario is entirely different. Their brain is busy rewiring itself, accepting new information about literacy, symbols, sounds, words, and their associations. The child's brain must learn to put all this new information into a coherent **string of ideas**.