Samantha Westmoreland is a former public school teacher and is currently the writer-in-residence at Guidepost Montessori. She possesses deep knowledge of the Montessori pedagogy and approach.
In this episode, you'll learn about the Montessori approach to literacy, its effectiveness in teaching reading, and why Montessori students often surpass average reading levels. We discuss the engaging reading and sound games that make learning fun, and how Montessori capitalizes on the critical window when children are most receptive to language acquisition. We also explore practical tips for parents interested in adopting a Montessori approach to teaching literacy at home.
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
2:50 - The Montessori Approach to Literacy
4:04 - Samantha's Career as a Public School Teacher
8:17 - The Draw to Montessori
11:35 - Montessori vs. Public School in Stages of Development
13:14 - Literacy in Montessori
17:23 - The Sweet Spot of Language
21:56 - How Does Montessori Introduce Children to Language?
24:22 - Sound Games & Learning to Read
32:06 - Writing Before Reading
36:45 - How Public Schools Teach Literacy
39:40 - Is Formal Instruction Necessary to Learn How to Read?
44:36 - Why Do Montessori Students Love to Read?
47:45 - Preparing Toddlers to Read
49:48 - Helping Children Who are Resistant to Reading
52:36 - Teaching Older Children to Read
55:27 - Top Advice for Taking a Montessori Approach as a Parent
59:53 - The Power of Phonetics
1:01:28 - Where to Connect & Learn More
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Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Dr. Montessori’s Own Handbook - Maria Montessori
Montessori From the Start - Paula Polk Lillard & Lynn Lillard Jessen
Connect with Samantha Westmoreland:
Twitter | https://x.com/_samantha_joy
Substack | https://higherground.substack.com
Connect with Hannah Frankman:
Twitter | https://twitter.com/HannahFrankman
RebelEducator | https://twitter.com/rebelEducator
Website | http://hannahfrankman.com
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