Montessori Literacy in the Early Childhood Classroom

The purpose of this study was to see how the integration of the two major literacy programs in the Montessori school affects early childhood students' learning of reading and writing. In particular, can Muriel Dwyer's approach to teaching reading and writing fill in gaps in the area of acquiring the key sounds of the English language found in the widely used Pink Blue and Green literacy program? The data collection methods employed in this study were observations, journal entries, audio recordings, photography and student artifacts. The constant-comparative method was used in analyzing the collected data. Based on collected data it was found that Muriel Dwyer's approach to reading and writing enhances the Pink Blue and Green literacy program. Frequent playing of the I Spy game promotes development of phonemic awareness. Exercises with the Movable Alphabet promote development of writing skills. Continual writing in journals strengthens the students' hand muscles and improves the speed and accuracy of their writing in the Workbooks. The most important outcome of this research is that the students gained all necessary reading skills almost effortlessly so the reading came naturally. The joy of reading contributed to the increase in their reading fluency as well as boosted their self-esteem.