A wooden box containing all 26 letters of the English alphabet, each represented in the finest sandpaper and mounted on a smooth wooden board.
- Vowels are mounted on a blue background
- Consonants are mounted on a pink background
This tactile material supports both visual and kinesthetic learning by inviting the child to trace each letter with their fingers, helping to develop muscle memory and sound-symbol association.
Presentation
Invite the child to come to the shelf where the Sandpaper Letters are kept. Choose two letters that are contrasting in sound and shape (for example, “s” and “v”). Invite the child to take the letters to a table.
First Stage
Sit beside the child and place one of the letters in front of them. Trace the shape in the correct formation while clearly enunciating the sound of the letter. For example:
“This is /s/.”
Repeat once more, then invite the child to trace the letter as often as they wish.
Place this letter aside and proceed in the same manner with the second letter.
Second Stage
Place both letters in front of the child and ask them to find a particular one. For example:
“Can you show me ‘s’ and trace it?”
“Can you find ‘v’ and trace it?”
If the child is successful at this stage, proceed to the third stage.
Third Stage
Place one letter in front of the child and ask for the sound of the letter. For example:
“Can you trace this letter and say the sound?”
Final Stage
Introduce a sound game by saying:
“Now I want you to listen very carefully.”
“Can you hear the /s/ sound when I say ‘sip’? ‘mast’? ‘hiss’?”
“Can you think of a word with /s/ in it?”
“Tell me a word with the /s/ sound.”
“What about the /v/ sound? Can you hear /v/ when I say ‘van’? ‘avenue’?”
“When you think of some words with the /v/ sound, tell me.”
Control of Error
Tactile
Approximate Age
3 to 4 years
In Montessori education, children are introduced to cursive letters before print. While this may seem surprising to many parents and educators, there are strong developmental, neurological, and pedagogical reasons for this choice.
👉 Learn more: Why Montessori Uses Cursive Letters First – And Why It Matters
Additional Notes
- All sound games should be played before introducing Sandpaper Letters.
- Sound games should continue in parallel with the use of Sandpaper Letters and the Movable Alphabet.
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There is no fixed order for presenting the letters.
Reviews for Sandpaper Letters - Cursive with Box - Lower Case