How to adapt a classic Montessori language lesson to your daily life
The Montessori 3 period lesson is, in short, a way to introduce and strengthen new language in three gradual steps. It is a classic tool for building language that begins in infancy, and continues through toddlerhood and beyond.
Originally developed by French physician Edouard Seguin, this strategy quickly got Maria Montessori’s attention and became a hallmark tool to promote cognitive and language development in the classroom. In Montessori learning environments, this lesson is presented with the help of language baskets filled with common objects or replicas (we can’t exactly bring an elephant home!)
The good news? You can do it at home, and by using anything that you already have. Here are the 3 periods:
First period - introducing new vocabulary
Think outside the basket: introduce new language by simply naming objects with accurate vocabulary—we do this all day long!
Even without language baskets and replicas, you can name objects in your kitchen sink, different type of clothing as you place items into the washer, labeling groceries as you unload them, or name findings along your walks.
“Oh! I see you found the pepper mill!”
“Yes, these looks a lot like spoons. They are measuring cups”
“You hear the bird sing! That is a blue jay”
“Do you feel that in your toes? That is sand"
Second period - recognizing vocabulary
Help your child recognize objects associated with words they are familiar with. This step gives your child an interactive way to practice associating words with the environment.
We stay in this stage for a while (some would say until age 3), since the goal is to promote repetition BEFORE we ask the child to recall words and name objects on their own. This step offers your child lots of exposure to vocabulary and opportunities to recognize what words each object it is associated. At home, this is where we pause a bit so we get creative as we go about our day.
“Time to get dressed! Where is your shirt? Which ones are your pants?—I forget!”
“Which of these is blue?”
“Would you hand me the spoon from that drawer?”
“Time to put this dishes away! Here is a fork, can you find another fork?”
“So happy you came to the store with me, I need some help: which ones are the oranges?”
Third period - recalling words freely
This final step is the opportunity for your child to remember words independently. Children are able to recall words on their own when they’re ready—when this happens, it brings immense joy and pride within your child. For this reason, it is important that we focus on the previous 2 periods before “quizzing” the child about their knowledge, once we are absolutely sure they know the word.
Even if the point of this step is to encourage free-recall by asking them to “label” objects and findings around he environment, I do not love to make it seem like a test and put the child on the spot. Instead, I integrate it to everyday scenarios playfully and with curiosity:
“Oh goodness what did I just pull from the drawer? What is this?”
“Look at the leaves! They’re changing color… what color are they now?”
“Our bird friend is back in the yard, I forget, what type of bird is it? I want to tell grandma about it when we call her tonight.”
Do we only do practice the 3 period Montessori lesson with babies and young toddlers? Absolutely not!
The opportunities for introducing new language are never ending. From sights along a long car ride and discoveries at a museum, to uncommon objects in your kitchen utensil drawer—you are already applying this principle, even without noticing.
Our children are constantly absorbing new vocabulary as they grow. The key elements remain, even as they grow: introduction, practicing through continued reading and exposure, and respecting their pace for learning this vocabulary before we begin to quiz them about it.
Have fun!
