Children take charge of their language skills to become eloquent and independent  the arts of language: reading, speaking, listening and writing.  

Reading and writing seem simple enough to an adult who has mastered the skill, but they are achievements that require significant cognitive and physiological abilities. Identifying and decoding symbols, letter sound recognition, fine motor control in letter formation, left-right orientation in reading, are just a few.   

At Lighthouse Montessori we teach phonics, proper letter formation, and fluency kills through a number of fun games and activities that engage the child's attention and motivate them to break the code. 

Each child advances at their own pace, in a loving, caring environment which provides challenges in a positive environment of personal improvement. It's not uncommon to have little preschool children who begin their journey into reading. 

The Montessori approach uses a distinct set of practices that nurture a positive, natural learning experience to teach reading and writing. The Montessori curriculum is thoughtfully built around teaching children the many elements of reading and writing one by one, in a way accessible to and enjoyable by a child.

Learning to read and write at an early age empowers children to take charge of their own education. Parents should keep reading books to their readers even when the children can read due to the multiple benefits it provides, but when a child is empowered with the ability to read, the world opens up to them.  Additionally, a young child who can read and write will be at an emotional advantage when moving on to elementary school where other preoccupations take priority in the child's mind, such as understanding the new system, and navigating the social structure.