Here again it is a great Montessori classic that we will address. Indeed, rough letters allow the learning of reading and writing. They are the continuation of the verses and drawing forms.
Letters to see and hear
Rough letters allow us above all to make the link between what is represented, a symbol, and the pronounced phonetic sound (the sound of the letter not the name). So we make the connection between what is seen and what is said. Thanks to this material, children become aware of all the sounds they emit to speak and that these sounds can be represented with a small amount of symbols. We propose this activity after the verses and drawing forms which are the preambles of writing.
The graphic design of the letters
Rough letters have an amazing peculiarity. We teach children to write to read. Although it may seem confusing at first, learning to write is inseparable from reading. We teach children gestures to "draw" letters, so that they remember their graphics and sounds. The goal is to involve the most senses (sight, touch, hearing) to better memorize. Eventually, children will be able to decipher words.
Presentation
We carry out the presentation of rough letters on a carpet or desk. The child takes the equipment for the activity and settles in. The educator carries out the demonstration by taking a letter and performing, using the attached index and middle finger, the tracing of the letter and then pronouncing its sound. As always, the child will put away the material at the end of the activity.
Technical side
Our rough letters are wooden squares of 20 cm side. The letters are only tiny cursives with blue consonants and red vowels. The shade is made with pigmented wax. We cut the letters out of emery paper.
Note that there are also the rough ivory-colored numbers on a leaf green background that are the same size as the letters. Although there are low-case digits (called Elzevirian digits), only capital letters are used here.
Registrations for 2018 still possible
It should be noted that places are still available for registration during 2018. If you want to pre-register for next year you can also do so via the form on the website. Applications for 2019 are numerous and current registrants will be given priority. So don't hesitate to start early.
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