Comments on: What Kind of Reading Program Belongs in Montessori?

By: Lori Bourne

Lori Bourne — Fri, 27 May 2011 21:25:58 +0000

Hi, Shirley! That would be fine, with a link back to our site. Thanks!

By: Shirley Delaney

Shirley Delaney — Fri, 27 May 2011 20:50:46 +0000

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By: Peggy Broadbent

Peggy Broadbent — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:31:55 +0000

In my combined first and second grade there was a literature study for the first semester, using basal readers. All second graders took part, and every year a few first graders were included who were beyond the beginning reading programs. People often asked why basal readers were used with the controlled vocabulary that eliminated the style of the author – and call it a literature study. Well, first of all, the fiction, non-fiction, plays, and poems in the basal series that were used were excellent.*

A few, such as poems, did not have a controlled vocabulary. But even those that did were well-written in an interesting manner. We talked about the style of the author in the afternoons when literature was read to them, sometimes comparing a current piece with a story in a basal reader. But the major reason might well be that keeping track of so many different books for a semester might not be manageable. Also, in those beginning years there wasn’t much money for new books, prohibiting the collection of multiple copies of various pieces of literature. The final reason, but not the least important, is that although many children could read various children’s literature comfortably, some could not, usually because of perceptual problems.

The program included questions that combined components of literature with cognitive processes. Children interacted orally with a peer and then a large group, sandwiched between reading and writing at their own ability level. My hope was that the knowledge gained transferred into each child’s own reading in selected books of interest.

Learn more about this literature study and how to design your own, in my book, Early Childhood Programs: Opportunities for Academic, Cognitive, and Personal Success. Included is a web site where programs and activities can be downloaded for use in a classroom.

*Early, Margaret, Senior Author. 1979. “The World of Giants and Monsters”, People and Places, 7-57. New York, NY: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. (It has long been out of print but there are used book stores on the web that still carry the series.)

By: Lori Bourne

Lori Bourne — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 04:12:37 +0000

Hi, Michelle! The order in which words are presented in Pink, Blue, and Green Series and Orton-Gillingham is similar, but after that the methods diverge. Orton-Gillingham is a multi-sensory approach (more so even than Montessori) and I think it does a better job of teacher spelling rules (and the reasons behind them) for a child who is struggling to read because of dyslexia or other learning disability.

I honestly don’t know where you could find out about what other schools do, short of visiting and observing other Montessori schools, or asking friends who work at other Montessori schools.

By: michelle

michelle — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 03:16:43 +0000

I enjoyed reading through these posts on the teaching of reading in the Montessori classroom. It does appear vague to me. Our school supplements Montessori works with guided reading, Orton-Gillingham and writers’ workshop (we are a charter school and must abide by state standards.)
I have a couple of questions:
1. I read a post referring to Orton-Gillingham. While this is a thorough program, doesn’t the Montessori primary program sufficiently cover phonics, sight word, and phonemic awareness in a “multisensory” manner?
2. How do I find out more about how other schools incorporate “guided reading” or “6 traits of writing” in the Montessori environment?
Thank you for any advice.

By: Lori Bourne

Lori Bourne — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:40:14 +0000

Hi, MaryAnn! Thanks for stopping by. I mentioned the Flyleaf books in my post about phonics readers. I ordered some based on others' recommendations and was a bit disappointed - I didn't find the stories very well written (some sentences were grammatically incorrect) and my children didn't find them interesting at all. Kind of sad since they are super expensive. I guess the word cards and teacher's guide have to be ordered separately, since I did not receive those. Flyleaf books also did not match the Pink, Blue, and Green Series very well. For phonics readers with gorgeous illustrations and well-written stories that perfectly match the Pink, Blue, and Green Series, my highest recommendation is Miss Rhonda's Readers.

By: MaryAnn

MaryAnn — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 04:58:32 +0000

I recently found the Flyleaf series – charming stories beautiful illustrations matched to the Pink, Blue and Green Series. Actually in the Orton Gillingham order.

They come with word cards, other activities, and a teacher’s guide. I ordered 3 of each title, so kids could have little book clubs for discussions, but they work well as independent choices, too.

They are great for early elementary students. http://www.flyleafpublishing.com

By: Susie

Susie — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 05:41:05 +0000

Thanks Lori – you are right. The teacher is a really lovely person but I think she is at a loss when it comes to expanding the program and still keeping it true to Montessori principles. There is not really a director of the school per se, but I will have to share my concerns with the de facto head as I think you are correct that this won’t get better on it’s own. As I learn more and more about what happens at other Montessori schools, I have come to see that the program at this school is severely lacking. Wish me luck and thanks for all your input!!

By: Lori Bourne

Lori Bourne — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:21:30 +0000

Actually, I suggest sharing your concerns with the director…this doesn’t sound like what Montessori elementary is supposed to be. I don’t think it will improve on its own. Montessori elementary is actually very difficult to do correctly, so this teacher may need some additional help or instruction to do it successfully.

By: Susie

Susie — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 05:09:35 +0000

Work is not really shared at the school. I could ask to see what she is working on but to tell you the truth, I am concerned about what I might find. She has definitely regressed in her spelling and writing skills since being at this school. All I hear is that they are working on things and it’s a 3 year cycle and they will all catch up but the students are producing very little. I think there is some journal writing going on and then they work on the language cards and that is it. Luckily my child can read well (she read before coming to this school) but I know many of the children in the class aren’t reading. I hope it improves.