Every child learns to read in their own unique way. They all learn at a different pace and timing. Our job, as parents and educators, is to create an environment where they are immersed in literacy and to create experiences for using their literacy learning. Children can begin learning sounds with Montessori alphabet objects.
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Alphabet objects provide a unique tactile element to beginning literacy work. We are currently using the Language Object Starter Set from Montessori Services as a part of our home preschool alphabet learning. These little objects can be used in countless ways. The high quality of these little miniatures is what makes me highly recommend them for any educator teaching beginning sounds to their child or student. These are not toys, they are learning tools. Children will feel honored to be trusted with the little cherished objects as they learn to use them for learning work.
I was given a set to review and one lucky reader will win a Language Object Starter Set from Montessori Services. Make sure to enter to win at the Rafflecopter below!! {Giveaway is closed.}
What is included?
The Language Object Starter Set from Montessori Services includes over 100 little objects to aid in learning sounds for children. Beginning sounds, rhyming sounds, ending sounds, vowel and consonant digraphs, the list goes on. This high quality set can be used in countless ways. It includes many animals, which children love, as well as realistic “doll house” parts such as pots, pans, a lamp, a wash board, a muffin tin, and a vacuum. The uniqueness and detail in these little objects is remarkable. There is a free printable version of the object list here. The objects include:
Aa : alligator, ant, ax
Bb : block, bowl, box, bag, broom, banana, bucket, basket, bug, bat, bee, bell, bird
Cc : clip, clock, cork, cow, crab, can, car, card, cat, church
Dd : dog, drum, duck
Ee : egg, elephant
Ff : fan, flag, frog
Gg : gift, glasses, gorilla, golf club
Hh : horn, hen, horse, hat
Ii : infant
Jj : jar, jug
Kk : koala, key, kettle, kangaroo
Ll : lamp, letter, lid,
Mm : mop, mug, melon, milk, muffin
Nn : newspaper
Oo : octopus
Pp : pad, pan, pig, pot, pumpkin, panda, panther, pear, peg
Qq : quarter
Rr : rabbit, racket, rat, rug
Ss : sack, skate, sled, stamp, starfish
Tt : tag, tiger, top, tray, tree, trunk, tub
Uu : umbrella
Vv : vacuum, vase, violin,
Ww : wagon, washboard
Xx : {none}
Yy : yarn
Zz : zipper, zebra
How do I store it?
The Language Object Starter Set from Montessori Services is very small, and therefore, very portable. You could simply put the objects in a small bag. If you want the objects separated by letter, you could create a Montessori Alphabet Box, similar to the one we created below. You could also separate them into envelopes or into little separate ziploc baggies — it need not be complicated — what matters is that your child benefits and is learning using these wonderful little objects!!
How can I use it?
There are many way to use the Language Object Starter Set — here are just a few that we have tried so far….
Sorting objects into letter baskets, boxes, or trays.
Place letters into two or three baskets on a table. {We use our sandpaper letters.}
Have your child say the name of the object, “ssssled! ssss!” “ddddog! dddd!” And then let them sort the objects. My son loves these little objects and treats them with the utmost care. He can’t believe that he gets to work with them and is so excited when we bring them out!!
Give your child a bag full of items with those beginning sounds. Have your child pick them out one by one and categorize them as they say the object name out loud. As the child becomes more confident, you can practice more letters at a time.
Put the objects of two letters in a tray and have your child separate them by beginning letter sound. We used this three part tray to work on our letter sounds earlier this month — you can read more, and see more pictures, at How to use the Montessori Alphabet Box.
Next, we played a game on the floor. I set some objects of very differing sounds on the floor {tennis, tree, lamp, plate, glasses, gorilla, mouse, milk, zebra}. Then I asked him, “Can you find an object that begins with a ggg sound?” “How about a zzz sound?” You can extend this for more advanced learners by asking about ending sounds, “Can you find an object that ends with the sound ttt?”
Many of the objects are spelled with only three letters. Box, bag, pot, bug, bat, can, bag, cup, mug, tin, pan, mop. This can aid in sounding words out, or spelling.
Another activity using the Language Object Starter Set is spelling objects with moveable letters. There are many three-letter-words in this set. This set will can also introduce vowel and consonant digraphs to your child too. Montessori Services sells an economical moveable alphabet that contains 10 of each letter. Right now, I only have the Lauri alphabet pieces, which only includes one letter each, but I plan to get the moveable alphabet when my son is ready!! Here is an example set up.
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Giveaway!
Montessori Services is graciously gifting one of our readers with a Language Object Starter Set {Item L850B, valued at $62.95}!! Enter at the Rafflecopter below. This giveaway opens Sunday, September 13th at 6am EST and closes Tuesday, September 23 at 11:59pm EST. See terms and conditions.
{Giveaway is closed. The winner has been notified!}
I was provided a Language Object Starter Set from Montessori Services in exchange for an honest review, opinions are always my own. Read my full disclosure policy here.
This would be great use for my clasroom and my children will benifit from this
This would be a great addition to our hands on learning area in the library.
I love the pieces that are included.
I would love this for my son! It is perfect for him right now. I could use it in my classroom but I’ll let my son use it first!! :-)
Hello,
I am trying to register to win the object starter set.
What do I need to do?
Please advise
Thank you
Amy Scott
This would be awesome for my little kinder! I also liked the phonetic object boxes.
I would love to win this for my daughter & she would probably love the “Things that Go” book on the Montessori Services website!
My children would most benefit from The Red Letter Alphabet Book in addition to the alphabet objects. This looks like a fantastic set!
I think we would love the Barefoot Book of Classic Poems! Thanks for the chance to win!
My Pre-K son would love something hands on like this!
Oh what a generous giveaway! This would be perfect for my little daughter. She is just in the right spot for these right now! Little things are so fascinating for them!
These look really cool! The photo rhymes cards would also be fun.
I have some kiddos in my early literacy group who this would be perfect for!
The ‘Make a Story’ journal and or the ‘Story/Drawing Book’ would be beneficial product for my daughter. She is learning to read but loves to draw. It would encourage her to be a story teller as well as develop her communication and critical thinking skills!
I love this! I started putting my own together, but it is difficult to find the right kind and size of things to go in it~
I think we could use the simplest phoneetic cards the most~ We work with 3 and 4 year olds!
I love this idea. The teacher I worked with during my student teaching used these all the time!
I actually think the language objects would benefit her the most right now as we’re working on recognition of the phonetic sounds. I love that I can use them for both English & Spanish since we’re learning both. I also like that they’re sold individually so we could add to our collection slowly if necessary.
I would love to use the pouring variations in my classroom to help my 3 & 4 year olds learn this important skill.
This would be so cool to use in my classroom with the three year olds.
Either the language objects or the Things that Go board book or the color paddles. Too many choices!
I have a new classroom of preschoolers with special needs….this would be an awesome addition. I love this idea!
I found your website while surfing the web last night. I’ve been homeschooling 12 years but I’m new to the Montessori method. I have some little ones who would greatly benefit from this tactile approach. My 7 year old in particular has a hard time learning unless it’s hands on. He still struggles remembering the letter sounds. I’m having to learn new ways of educating for his sake. I hope I win this set, but I’ll be back even if I don’t. Keep up the good work!
I also liked the phonetic object boxes from the Montessori Services website. My favorite “kits” to use always include objects. I love that this set and the phonetic object boxes have various objects included.
This is a great product and my students would have so much fun with these.
The First Picture Dictionary would be very welcomed and useful in our home. We love visual books.
This alphabet starter set would be so helpful for my daughter and son. I think that the tactile nature of it would help them tremendously. Thank you.
This is such a wonderful tool. I would love to use this at home. :)
What a fun creative way to learn the alphabet. Always nice to discover new fun ways. I just the catalog of Montessori Services as well as For Small Hands. There are so many things I would get… I just got a pink tower but did not try it out yet.
OOps pink tower is not from their catalog but saw their life cycle stacking blocks really like it. We have the small pitcher, my daughter uses it almost everyday, still a bit heavy.
http://www.montessoriservices.com/glass-pitcher-with-lid
The photo rhyming cards would be great for my 3-year-old son. Thank you for this opportunity!
The Language Object Starter Set is awesome! my little kinders would benefit from using these objects to learn and practice the sounds of our alphabet letters. Those letters can be so tricky!