{"id":782,"date":"2026-09-03T11:07:22","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T01:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/montessoriminds.vic.edu.au\/hoppers-crossing\/curriculum\/sensorial-2\/"},"modified":"2026-09-11T16:54:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T06:54:34","slug":"language","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/montessoriminds.vic.edu.au\/hoppers-crossing\/curriculum\/language\/","title":{"rendered":"Language"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"classroom<\/div><\/div>
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\u2014<\/span> \u2014 Montessori Curriculum Area<\/div>

Language<\/em> <\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Oral language lays the foundation for all later reading and writing. Through everyday conversation, stories, songs and hands-on materials, children are supported to build vocabulary, listening skills and an emerging understanding of sounds, symbols and words.<\/div><\/div>
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Book a centre tour<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>
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What is the Language<\/em> area?<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Dr Maria Montessori observed that oral language lays the foundation for all later reading and writing, and that young children move through a sensitive period for language during which many tend to absorb the sounds, vocabulary and patterns of the language, or languages, spoken around them with particular ease.<\/p>\n

In our program, language learning is understood as a gradual progression \u2014 generally beginning with oral language and vocabulary, moving toward an awareness of phonetic sounds, and extending over time into written symbols, words and simple sentences. The age at which each child moves through this progression, and the pace at which they do so, varies from child to child.<\/p><\/div>

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Ask us about this area<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>
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At a glance<\/em> <\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Curriculum area\n<\/div><\/div>
Language<\/div><\/div>
Age focus\n<\/div><\/div>
Supported from birth, with oral language, phonetic and pre-reading activities generally offered from around 3 to 6 years<\/div><\/div>
Approach\n<\/div><\/div>
Progresses from oral language to phonetic awareness and written symbols<\/div><\/div>
Framework\n<\/div><\/div>
Delivered alongside the EYLF v2.0<\/div><\/div>
Assessed under\n<\/div><\/div>
National Quality Standard (NQS)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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\u2014 A Meaningful Journey of Growth \u2014<\/div>

Oral language lays the foundation to all writing and reading!<\/em><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
In a Montessori environment, there are lot of activities involved to expand the language.<\/div>
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Oral Language<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Enrichment of vocab<\/div>
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Names of<\/p>\n\n

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  • items in the general environment<\/li>\n \t
  • materials in each area<\/li>\n \t
  • parts of an activity<\/li>\n \t
  • different classifications<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3 Practical Life of all sensorial materials<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Classified cards (NO words)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oral definitions<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Given with classified cards,<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
When working with Practical Life materials, working with land and water forms<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Conversations with pictures, including continent\/Geology folders and land and water form folders<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oral preparation for function of word games<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oral preparation for word study<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Question game<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div><\/div>
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Reading<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Reading Classification<\/div>
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Handwritten then introduction to preparatory labels<\/p>\n\n

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  • items in the general environment<\/li>\n \t
  • materials in each area<\/li>\n \t
  • parts of an activity<\/li>\n \t
  • different classifications<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Language of the sensorial materials<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3-part cards (know the picture, read the label, check with the control card)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Definition booklets<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Then definition reading in 3 stages<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sentences under pictures, on the backs of cards in folders<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Function of word games<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Word study<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reading\/Sentence analysis<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Why we place such value<\/em> on it <\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Dr Montessori described a sensitive period for language from birth to around six years of age, during which many children show a strong interest in absorbing the sounds, vocabulary and structure of the language spoken around them. She also observed that many children build a strong foundation in their first language, or mother tongue, by around three years of age \u2014 though, as with all areas of development, the age and pace at which this occurs will vary from child to child and cannot be guaranteed.<\/p>\n

Broadly, this area of the curriculum is associated with:<\/p>\n