Phonics in Action: Real Lessons, Real Children, Real Joy

Walk into a Montessori classroom during phonics work, and you’ll notice something unusual right away. There is no stack of worksheets, no chorus of choral drills, no forced repetition. Instead, there is movement, concentration, and—most striking of all—joy.

Phonics in Montessori isn’t abstract rules; it’s living, breathing discovery. It’s children using their hands, their voices, their whole bodies to crack open the code of language. It’s an environment where letters aren’t simply symbols—they’re keys. And once a child picks up the key, the world of reading begins to unlock.

A Morning with the Pink Series

In one Primary classroom, a child carefully lifts a small wooden tray with miniature objects: cat, cup, fan. She lays them out on her rug and begins matching each to a simple word card. At first, her pace is slow. She sounds out each letter—“c–a–t”—then blends them, eyes darting between object and card. Suddenly, recognition dawns. She looks up, triumphant, and whispers: cat. The pride radiates from her entire body.

This is not rote learning. This is identity building. In that moment, she is not just decoding letters—she is becoming a reader.

The Moveable Alphabet Comes Alive

Later, across the room, a child stretches out with the Moveable Alphabet. Letters scatter across the rug like puzzle pieces waiting for a story. He arranges ship, then adds sails and sea. A classmate joins in, offering words for fish and net. Soon, the rug is full of a story built entirely from sounds they know.

No one told them what to write. No one dictated the lesson. The alphabet became a playground, and phonics became a tool for self-expression.

Why Montessori Phonics Feels Different

Montessori phonics has a distinct character because it’s rooted in the child’s development, not in adult timelines.

• From Concrete to Abstract Children begin with real, tangible objects, then match them to written symbols. Over time, they move to abstract words and eventually sentences.

• Choice and Agency Children don’t just practice the words the teacher assigns—they choose words that matter to them. This autonomy builds motivation and joy.

• Integration Across the Curriculum Phonics isn’t confined to a reading block. It flows into writing, cultural work, storytelling, and even math vocabulary.

• Joy as the Marker of Success The goal isn’t “getting it right” but delighting in the discovery. Each “aha!” moment builds confidence for the next.

A Hidden Gift: Building Confidence

For many children, phonics can be intimidating. But in Montessori, it feels safe because it’s individualized. Children are not compared to each other, nor rushed along a rigid pace. Instead, they move at their own rhythm, celebrating every sound they master.

We have known many teachers who had children who struggled for weeks with blending sounds. Then one morning, they string together the letters m–a–t. When they realize that they have read their very first word, they often shout with joy. The whole class claps for them. In that moment, their confidence as a reader is born.

More Than Reading: Liberation Through Literacy

Maria Montessori believed that reading and writing are acts of liberation. To give a child the tools of phonics is not only to open books—it is to open doors. Phonics allows children to write letters to their families, label their world, and tell their own stories. It transforms them from passive receivers of language to active creators.

When a child discovers the power of reading, you can see it: the sparkle, the grin, the almost physical lift in their body. Real lessons. Real children. Real joy.

At Montessori Makers Learning, we celebrate this joy. Phonics in action is not just about learning sounds—it’s about children discovering their power.