Language Curriculum

   Our language program begins with enrichment of vocabulary. For example, it is not unusual for a child attending our school to understand such words as:

  • "curvilinear"
  • "parallelgrammed"
  • "continent"
  • "obtuse"
  • "conjunction"

   Children love beautiful language, and we give them exact terms like these to name their environment and convey their thoughts.

 

Natural Learning with Language Materials

   Reading and writing come naturally to the children after they have worked for some time with two special materials:

  • sandpaper letters (which the children trace and sound phonetically)
  • the movable alphabet (the formation of words by combining phonetic sounds).
  • sandwriting (the children practice the writing of letters in sand)

 

Working with the Movable Alphabet
   The most important preparation of the environment for successful development of spoken and written language in the child is the language environment of the home. It is never too early to speak clearly and precisely to the child. In fact the language of the caregivers in the first six years of life will literally form the spoken language of the child. Reading aloud to the child gives the message that reading is fun for everyone, and concepts and vocabulary words will be experienced which would never come up in spoken language.

    Reading and writing should not be taught to a child before age six or seven, but, given the sensorial experiences of appropriate materials to a child of normal intelligence will quite naturally teach herself to read and write sometimes as early as three or four years of age.
(taken from Michael Olaf's Child of the World 2004 - 2005 edition)