Discovering the Magic of Letters at Evviva Montessori

Walk into Evviva Montessori and you won't find toddlers completing alphabet worksheets or being asked to memorize the ABCs. Instead, you'll find children tracing textured letters with their fingertips, listening carefully to the sounds in words, singing songs, sharing stories, and building the strong foundation that makes reading a joyful adventure.

At Evviva, we believe literacy begins long before a child reads their first book. It begins with conversation, curiosity, rich vocabulary, and hands-on exploration.

Dr. Maria Montessori wrote in The Absorbent Mind that young children naturally absorb language from the world around them. That's why our guides intentionally fill each day with meaningful conversations, beautiful books, songs, poems, and precise vocabulary.

Whether we're naming the parts of a flower, describing the weather, or talking through a practical life activity, every interaction becomes an opportunity to strengthen language.

One of the most beloved materials in our classroom is the Sandpaper Letters. These carefully crafted wooden tablets allow children to trace each letter with two fingers while saying its sound aloud. They are seeing the symbol, feeling its shape, hearing its sound, and preparing the same hand movements they will later use for writing.

Unlike traditional approaches that often begin by memorizing letter names, Montessori introduces letter sounds first. This gives children the building blocks they need to eventually blend sounds into words naturally. There is no pressure to rush. Every child explores the materials when they are developmentally ready, and repetition is always encouraged.

Dr. Angeline Lillard, author of Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius, notes that Montessori materials are intentionally designed to engage multiple senses, helping children develop a deeper and more lasting understanding. The Sandpaper Letters are a wonderful example of this philosophy in action.

At Evviva, pre-literacy extends well beyond learning individual letters. Our children hear stories every day, enjoy songs and fingerplays, learn new vocabulary through real-life experiences, and play games that help them notice rhyming words and beginning sounds. These joyful experiences strengthen listening skills, concentration, memory, and phonemic awareness—the ability to hear and manipulate the sounds within language.

The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages families to talk, read, sing, and play with young children every day because these interactions are among the most powerful ways to support healthy language and brain development. We couldn't agree more.

These simple moments, repeated consistently, help children develop both confidence and a genuine love of language.

At Evviva Montessori, we honor each child's unique pace. Some children become fascinated with letters almost immediately. Others spend months soaking up language through stories and conversation before eagerly reaching for the Sandpaper Letters. Both journeys are celebrated because we know that strong readers are built on strong foundations!

Every new word learned, every story shared, every traced letter, and every joyful conversation is another step toward literacy. Our goal isn't simply to teach children how to read. It's to help them fall in love with language itself.

Learn More

• Montessori, M. (1949). The Absorbent Mind.

• Montessori, M. (1967). The Discovery of the Child.

• Lillard, A. S. (2017). Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.

• American Academy of Pediatrics. (2014). Literacy Promotion: An Essential Component of Primary Care Pediatric Practice.