Clothing Vocabulary

Interest drives learning. Montessori is a student-centered approach: the teacher observes what each student is curious about and offers materials that match. Young students are fascinated by the real objects they encounter every day. When they are interested in the topic, students will choose these cards again and again. Each time is more practice naming, discussing, and sorting. That practice builds vocabulary, part of the language comprehension side of reading in both Gough and Tunmer's (1986) simple view of reading and Scarborough's (2001) reading rope.

First, spark student curiosity by saying you're going to do some work with clothing. Discuss what students are wearing today and what they wear in different kinds of weather. Then, choose a few cards at a time and use the three-period lesson to name each item. Once students know the names, invite them to match the cards to real clothing. A child-sized suitcase of real clothes works beautifully here, since students can name, fold, and pack each item. Then use the cards for sorting games, such as sorting clothing from our Around the House cards. When students are reading, move on to the Clothing 3-Part Reading Cards.

Typically ages 3 and up. The cards work well for pre-readers and students in intervention settings. They are especially useful for English learners, since they cover everyday words used at home and school.