1. Universal Nature of Language
1.1. Children all over the world acquire language no matter how simple or complex the language they are exposed to as infants is. Our brains are specifically adapted to hear the human voices and begin assimilating the language of our culture. We even follow the same patterns of learning the language and vocalizations
2. Influences on Language Development
2.1. Human Tendencies, Absorbent Mind and Sensitive Period (communication, language acquisition of the mother tongue and the S.P. For Language)
3. Overview of the Language Area
3.1. One of the Four Main Areas but language is present in every area of the Casa. The guide is the Spoken Language material
3.1.1. Language is especially used during the Collective Stage
3.1.2. Materials are often homemade to reflect the specific classroom community and to garner child interest
4. Four Discoveries in Language
4.1. There are more words than I already know
4.2. I can make my language visible to others (writing)
4.3. I can interpret the thoughts of others(reading)
4.4. Words, both spoken and written, carry out a particular function and work in a particular order
5. History of Writing
5.1. Not a singular event, but a progression over time beginning in 7th century bce
6. The Explosion into Writing
6.1. Dr. Montessori oft describes the explosion into writing she witnessed in children who had met the preparation of the hand for writing and associated all the sounds of spoken language with their written symbols
6.1.1. Authorship
6.1.1.1. Expressing ones self through writing
6.1.2. Reading
6.1.2.1. Reading is a two part mechanical process that often occurs after writing. Decoding the word, interpreting and synthesizing until they understand the word they see
7. General Guidelines for Reading Activities
7.1. The F.P. Child loves to read what they already know
7.2. Movement connected to reading
7.3. Progressive pacing
7.4. Repetition
7.5. Exploration of relationships
7.6. We use cursive
7.7. Presentations are kept lively and entertaining
8. Conclusion
8.1. We are not teaching the child how to read and write, we are offering them support in the creation of their personality-reading and writing are tools to this act of self-creation
9. The Power of Language
9.1. Language is about connection and it is a massive driving force of human nature to connect with other things. We have developed language and literacy with the specific goal of connecting deeply to the people and things around us.
10. The Origins of Language
10.1. Language left no fossils for us to follow, but if two or more people wish to communicate, they must utter and understand vocalizations.
11. Three Interweaving Streams
11.1. Spoken Language
11.2. Writing
11.3. Reading
12. Two Basic Principles
12.1. Experience precedes language
12.2. Spoken Language is the foundation for everything the child experiences in literacy
12.2.1. Songs, poetry, sound/command/question game, quality books, true stories, enrichment of vocabulary the Casa is rich with experiences for literacy
13. Two Paths of Preparation for Writing
13.1. The Mind
13.1.1. Logical and orderly mind from practice following increasingly complex series of actions
13.1.1.1. The question and command games
13.1.2. Wide and varied repertoire of words
13.1.3. Ability to break down a word into all of its components
13.1.4. Link the sound to visual symbol
13.2. The Hand
13.2.1. Indirect preparation through practical life and Sensorial materials
13.2.1.1. Three finger grip(cylinder blocks, bead stringing, puzzle maps)
13.2.1.2. The light hand(touch tablets, rough and smooth boards)
13.2.1.3. The firm hand(geometry and leaf cabinets)
13.2.2. Direct preparation
13.2.2.1. Metal Insets
13.2.2.2. Sandpaper Letters
14. Preparations for Reading
14.1. Preparation of the eye
14.1.1. Left to right tracking in every aspect of movement the child will follow with their eyes such as washing a table
14.1.2. Visual discrimination developed through use of the Sensorial materials