1. Montessori and Speech Therapy
The Best of Both Worlds

2. A Peace Lesson
When I Make Silence
By Donna Brown

3. When I make silence I think of the
soft sound of the ocean rolling in
and out. I put a conch shell to my
ear to listen and feel peace.

4. I hold the conch shell to my ear
and I breathe deeply as I listen to
the beautiful sound.

5. When I make silence I am very quiet
like a feather falling from a bird flying
high in the blue sky.

6. When I make silence I think of a
candle flickering in a deep golden
light.

7. While I make silence I think of
the stillness of a smooth rock
lying on the ground.

8. Maria Montessori Born in Italy in 1870
At the age of 13 went to an all boys school for engineering
Decided to go to medical school to become a doctor, first being rejected
Finally excepted to an all men’s field of medicine
1896 was Italy’s first female doctor in psychiatrics
Was interested in educational theory and started taking classes
1900 became director of Special Education
1907 opened Casa dei Bambini
1910 The Montessori Method was being used world wide

9. Robert W. West At the age of 17 he taught high school
1920 Became an assistant professor of speech
1921 Became an associate professor of speech
1925 Became first President of American Academy of Speech Correction
1927 Received Ph.d in speech pathology
director of a speech clinic at University of Wisconsin
1943 Became President of Speech Association of America
Went to Brooklyn College and became clinic director
Moved to California to become a professor at the College of the Pacific

10. Foundations/Philosophy of Montessori
A child-centered educational approach based on scientific observations of children from birth to adulthood. It is a view of the child as one who is naturally eager for knowledge and capable of initiating learning in a supportive, thoughtfully prepared learning environment. It is an approach that values the human spirit and the development of the whole child—physical, social, emotional, cognitive.

11. Montessori in SC Public Schools
*State Dept. of Ed reports approximately 44 public schools in 22 districts offer Montessori
programs /

12. Lexington 4 Early Childhood Center
*Over 600 students ages 3,4,5 (kindergarten)
*166 students in Speech/Language therapy
*Full day 3K and 4K (not a lottery)
*All 3 and 4 year olds are in Montessori, multi-age classes. 3, 4 and kindergarten are in the same room
*One traditional kindergarten class is offered as a choice
*Breakfast and lunch in classroom. Students eat “family style”

13. Montessori Terminology
*Walk the line
*Roll a rug
*Taking Care of the Environment (examples)
*Taking Care of Oneself (examples)
*Control of Error
*Points of Interest
*Natural Elements and Pleasing Aesthetics

14. Montessori Principles
*Everything is taught left to right orientation because this is how we read/write
*Sounds are taught first before letters(example letter baskets)
*Moveable Alphabet is used for pre-writing skills
*Lowercase letters are taught first since these are the ones used most in writing rather than capital letters
*Order, Concentration, Coordination, Independence (OCCI)
*Montessori believed you should never do for a child what they can do for themselves

15. Montessori Quotes
“The education of even a small child, therefore, does not aim at preparing him for school, but for life.”
“The child is capable of developing and giving us tangible proof of the possibility of a better humanity. He has shown us the true process of construction of the human being. We have seen children totally change as they acquire a love for things and as their sense of order, discipline, and self-control develops within them.... The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.”
“The senses, being the explorers of the world, open the way to knowledge”
“Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.”

16. Prepared Environment *Explicit lessons which enhance oral language
*Offer an organized and accessible environment to explore
*Language permeates all areas of the classroom

17. Rich Oral Language Experiences
*Repeat new words when they are introduced (e.g this is a spoon, a spoon)
*Articulate carefully and speak slowly, a the child’s pace
*Allow the child to sense your breath as you speak (i.e. the child’s face or hands are near enough to your mouth that they have a tactile sensation of the air as it leaves your mouth)
*Use the 3 period lesson to teach specific terms

18. Phonetic awareness
*Help children learns sounds by articulating slowly and carefully
*Encourage children to speak and pronounce words
*Repeat New Words
*Singing Songs
*Reading Books
*Reciting Poetry
*I Spy game

19. Practical Life and Language Intervention
*What is “practical life” area of the Montessori classroom? (Examples of lessons: window washing, table washing, hand washing, baby washing, spooning, tonging, hand transfer, finger transfer, pouring)
*Sample of a practical life lesson used in a speech therapy session

20. Language *”I Spy” Lesson (Video Example)

21. Sandpaper Letters and Moveable Alphabet
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22. Contact Kerry Hershey, MCD, CCC-SLP Lexington 4 Early Childhood Center
Donna Brown, Montessori Teacher