Key Sounds
There are 40 key sounds, or phonemes, taught in the Montessori early childhood classroom. 24 are represented by one symbol and 16 by a double symbol.
The three period lesson is used to introduce and practice these sounds with the sandpaper letters.
| Graphic Symbol | Sound |
|---|---|
| a | apple |
| b | bear |
| c | cookie |
| d | dog |
| e | egg |
| f | fish |
| g | gum |
| h | hug |
| i | in |
| j | jump |
| k | kick |
| l | leg |
| m | man |
| n | net |
| o | otter |
| p | pig |
| r | run |
| s | sit |
| t | tub |
| u | up |
| v | van |
| w | wag |
| y | yell |
| z | zip |
| ai | rain |
| ee | see |
| ie | pie |
| oa | boat |
| ue | cue |
| qu | quit |
| sh | ship |
| ch | chin |
| th | thumb |
| oy | boy |
| ar | car |
| or | fork |
| er | her |
| ou | out |
| oo | book |
| au | August |