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Becky Parker
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| Posted: Feb 16 2006 at 9:41am | IP Logged
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How important do you think is the "movable alphabet? I have sandpaper letters (actually felt) and a printed alphabet - on cardstock, cut into individual letters. The moveable alphabet is something that I would have to purchase and I am wondering if it is worth the money. Are there activities that are to be done with the moveable alphabet that can't be done with the printed alphabet?
Becky
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Rebecca
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| Posted: Feb 16 2006 at 10:02am | IP Logged
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Hi Becky,
I have used my moveable alphabet more often than the sandpaper letters. I think that the size of the letters makes it easier for the little hands to use. My children never seemed to gravitate toward my moveable alphabet on their own though. We mainly used it when I was with them, as substitution for writing out spelling words or something.
The other plus to the moveable alphabet is that there is more than one of each letter whereas the sandpaper letters only have one of each. I am not certain what you are describing as the "printed alphabet" that you have but it sounds a whole lot like my moveable alphabet as mine is just really heavy cardstock (with box). Do you have several of each letter in your printed alphabet set? If so, I don't see any reason to purchase a moveable alphabet unless you like the organization that the box provides (I do). I think the boxes can be purchased seperately.
If you are looking for a little less expensive materials, I have used Montessori-n-Such with satisfaction.
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: Feb 17 2006 at 6:26am | IP Logged
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Thanks Rebecca,
I have purchased from Montessori-n-Such and I like the quality of the items. That is probably the company from which I will buy the moveable alphabet. I'm just wondering if the one they sell, (on p. 57 of the 05-06 catalog), with the blue consonants and red vowels is worth buying since I already have an alphabet, several of each letter, but instead of being cut out they are printed onto cardstock and each is a little card with the letter on it. (Boy, this is hard to describe!  ) The one I have I made on my computer and just cut out. I could not make the ones in the catalog because the cutting would be so intricate...well, I guess I could, but not if I wanted them in something like wood or plastic. Is this making any sense at all? I know I would like the one from Montessori n Such, especially if I get the box to go with it...I just am not sure if it's really necessary, or if I just like the way it would look . Thanks for your patience with this question!! 
Becky
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Rebecca
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| Posted: Feb 17 2006 at 10:04am | IP Logged
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Becky Parker wrote:
I just am not sure if it's really necessary, or if I just like the way it would look . Thanks for your patience with this question!!
Becky |
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To buy or not to buy? That is my problem!
I love Montessori materials...love love LOVE them! I have to ask myself whether I am just drawn to the beauty and organization of it all or whether we are really going to USE it. Unfortunately, I have had to make myself get rid of some of my Montessori materials due to lack of use.
I do think the small cut-out letters are easy for little hands to manipulate but I don't know how big your stockcard letters are to compare or how you store/present them to the children. I am a proponent of having the materials accesible to the children and well organized.
IMO, the moveble alphabet got more use than our sandpaper letters did.
I'm afraid I am not much help...just rambling.
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: Feb 17 2006 at 10:52am | IP Logged
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You are a help Rebecca. Thanks for taking the time. I love Montessori Materials too and need more discipline when it comes to only buying what I need.  You should see my Montessori n Such catalog! Almost every page is dog-eared or has pen markings on it!! Unfortunately, my budget does not fit my passion for stuff! (For next year I really would like to get the metal insets - I do think my dc would benefit from them - but they are so expensive! I would also like some things to add to my atrium... I'm really going to have to cut back on other things - hence my question about the moveable alphabet).
I agree that things need to be stored in a way that is accessible and well organized. I have my letters in a plastic bead case (actually 2). The little squares used to organize beads are the perfect size for my letters. I had to buy 2 such cases in order to fit the whole alphabet with each letter having it's own space, but they work great.
Thanks for your help!
Becky
P.S. I grew up in Dayton Ohio and know some people there that homeschool. Are you near Dayton?
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Rebecca
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| Posted: Feb 17 2006 at 11:49am | IP Logged
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Hi Becky,
We live about 20 minutes east of Downtown Cleveland. So, no, we're nowhere near Dayton although I have a sailor friend who lives there.
I know those bead boxes you are talking about. I have thought they would be halpful for my son's rosary making supplies. He has so many beads and they are all in one big bin which makes the over-organized part of me feel anxious...
I used to do that to my Montessori catalogs also...esp. Montessori-n-Such and Michael Olaf. Great bathtub reading material. Am I the only one who reads in the bathtub?!?  It seems to be the only time and place that I have any privacy!
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Karen T
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| Posted: Feb 17 2006 at 10:37pm | IP Logged
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Becky Parker wrote:
The one I have I made on my computer and just cut out. I could not make the ones in the catalog because the cutting would be so intricate...well, I guess I could, but not if I wanted them in something like wood or plastic.
Becky |
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I have not gotten around to doing this, but my plan is to cut letters out of foamboard, the 1/4 inch stuff you can buy at Hobby Lobby, etc. in the art dept. I actually have the foamcore and an exacto knife for it, somewhere! Anyway, that might be an option.
Karen T
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Donna Marie
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| Posted: Feb 18 2006 at 8:21am | IP Logged
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I eneded up using stiffened felt and they came out great and hold up well. Yes, it was a little bit of work, but I think it was well worth it. I used a templet from JMJ Publishing and traced each letter onto the felt. I store the whole thing in a tackle box and for the most part it has always stayed together! My kids like the feel of them and use them often, more often than the ones I made from cardstock with the printed letters on them..
HTH!
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God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 9dc!!
Finding Elegant Simplicity
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Katie
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| Posted: Feb 18 2006 at 8:51am | IP Logged
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Becky,
I was fortunate enough to be able to buy some Montessori materials for our homeschool this year, and the Moveable Alphabet is one of the most-used items. I like the sandpaper letters, but once letter recognition is mastered, their use is somewhat limited.
The Moveable Alphabet, on the other hand, has been a fantastic bridge between learning letter sounds and actually reading. It was a real eye-opener to me how true the Montessori method of spell, write, read really is. My dd (just turned 6 end of January) knew all her letters, but really couldn't "sound out" words. But lo and behold, she can spell words!! Who knew?!! We use the MA most days spelling out words, and now she is writing more and really is beginning to read all by herself without the agonizing days spent "sounding it out" (which I did with ds). My younger dd 4 also loves the moveable alphabet - it has a great feel to it.
I can see that it will continue to grow as we get into more complex words (beyond the cvc model) and into sentence and story writing, too. A set of capitals would be nice for that, wouldn't it?
All this gushing to say that I think it is worth it, but I also think other things (like a printed cardstock alphabet, or the felt version mentioned above) serve the same purpose. I knew I had at least 2 more dd's waiting in the sidelines to use the Montessori materials I bought, so that helped me make the plunge, too.
Happy shopping (and I'm glad I'm not the only one who loes those catalogs!).
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Mother of 5 in South America. No 6 due in April.
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Mari
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| Posted: March 17 2006 at 8:12am | IP Logged
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Hi, we have the Montessori sandpaper letters and alphabets. I am convinced that there is no way that my dds would be so enthralled with reading and writing than if they had done without them.
We used the sand paper letters from a very early age and the kids have grown with them in their environment. I sometimes see the eldest dd still holding one from time to time and she started writing way back just before her 2nd birthday.
As for the alphabets, we used the larger blue and red to spell letters phonetically (never correcting). Both of them went quickly through this phase - I suppose that ways their style of learning - other children like to use them longer. Then we used 2 sets of smaller alphabets (containing with several letters), one yellow, one green set. They used this to help with the discovery of phonograms eg "sh", "ee", "oo", etc. by doing them in one colour and the rest of the word with the other colour alphabet.
I think it did make it meaningful for them to feel the cut out shape (rather than on a card) especially as at this age they are in motor-sensorial learning mode.
However they were so quick to burst into writing that it was more interesting and quicker for them to put the pencil on paper than continue with the fiddly letters. However, I do feel that even though short lived the letters were are necessary stepping stone or link between sandpaper (which they loved) to pencil and paper.
Hope this helps someone will relate to our experience!
And good luck with the cutting out!
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Mari, mother of 2 loving daughters aged 8 and 10
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: movable alphabet
