I understand the reasoning behind learning the sounds first. But, can someone explain to me when kids in Montessori learn the names of letters, and not just the sounds. Don't they need to eventually for spelling?

Sometime in the second year of preschool (4 y.o.) my kids started using the letter names. Well, one of them did. The other one hadn't finished learning the sounds so it took a bit longer for him.

Once you're reading and writing, they tend to learn it, but it is just usually something they pick up naturally anyway.

Once you're reading and writing, they tend to learn it, but it is just usually something they pick up naturally anyway.

That's what I was going to say. I think all my kids just naturally figured it out. I have a really cute story to share. The other day a little boy in DD's class was spelling out his name for me and he said the letter names mixed with the letter sounds. Like, John came out, "Jay, oh, huhhhhh, en". I was asking the teacher about that and she said that a lot of kids will do that because they work more with sounds than names.

Funny, I think a lot of Montessori kids pick up the letter names from their families, LOL. My ODD picked up her letter names before her first year of primary from her babysitter, who was a former regular daycare teacher. DD's always intermixed them, though she definitely uses sounds more than letters when she is writing sentences now. My YDD has just picked up letter names randomly. We've been working with her lately on sounds because she's so oriented to print media, but she will just look at me and tell me I'm wrong. "No, Mommy. Not 'er'. It's a "ARE." :rotflmao Oops.

Eventually they hear the ABC song somewhere. ;) I was a fluent reader before I learned the alphabet, and occasionally if I'm doing something involving alphabetically order I have to count on my fingers (metaphorically). It's not a lifeskill I worry about much.

Eventually they hear the ABC song somewhere. ;) I was a fluent reader before I learned the alphabet, and occasionally if I'm doing something involving alphabetically order I have to count on my fingers (metaphorically). It's not a lifeskill I worry about much.

This reminds me of a friend of mine. I used to take care of her dd and when she was singing the ABC's at 18 months she was gloating about it. Her dad is a musician, so I just chuckled and thought it was more cool that her dd inherited his musical talent.

Letter naming is used with the puzzle words spelling activity but they seldom need to be taught. There is also an activity for alphabetizing the puzzle words and reading classification labels that involve practicing alphabetical order. The puzzle word lessons begin after the child is comfortable with the phonetic reading activities and are parallel to the phonogram work.