A Montessori moveable alphabet is a wonderful tool for kids who are starting to read and spell, and you can make your own at home. Here is how I put ours together.
How can I make my own Montessori moveable alphabet and how do I use it?
A Montessori moveable alphabet is a great tool for homeschoolers and even just for children who are beginning to read and spell. There are so many things you can do with a moveable alphabet and all of them are great for learning. In case you’ve never heard of a moveable alphabet, here are a few ways you can use it:
- Make sight words (we use our moveable alphabet with a few activities in our Pre-Primer Sight Word Curriculum)
- Make your name
- Make sentences
- Make words for things you see around you
Here are some awesome ideas for using a moveable alphabet.
- Sample Moveable Alphabet Lesson
- Moveable Alphabet Description and Lessons
- More Moveable Alphabet Lesson Ideas
These moveable alphabets are so fun for kids, but you may not want to spend a lot of money on one. This post will teach you how to create your own moveable outfit. The project total should be around $12 total and that includes the storage boxes.
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What You Need
- Small glass gems
- red and blue construction paper
- Mod podge
- some kind of storage container.
- ½ inch circle puncher or scissors
Directions
You can make your DIY Montessori moveable alphabet using the exact same method you can use to make the flat marble alphabet. The only difference is using small glass gems rather than the big ones and make several sets of each letter in both uppercase and lowercase.
Ready to start sight words? Here’s the whole plan.
The Pre-Primer Sight Word Curriculum covers all 40 Dolch pre-primer words across 10 simple sets — that’s 300+ printable worksheets, plus an emergent reader, flashcards, and a week-by-week schedule so you always know what’s next. Includes 2 free bonuses: a step-by-step teaching guide and a moveable alphabet package.
So far, we have loved our moveable alphabet. We hope you enjoy using yours as well!
Ready for more? Explore our whole how to teach letters collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age should I start teaching my toddler letters?
Around age 3 is typical, but there is a wide range of normal. Some kids show interest earlier, and plenty learn their letters closer to 4. Please don’t pressure your little one before they are ready.
Should I teach uppercase or lowercase letters first?
Start with uppercase. Capital letters are easier to tell apart, so they are less confusing for toddlers. Add lowercase once the uppercase letters feel familiar.
My toddler isn’t interested in letters. What should I do?
Take a break and try again in a few weeks. Forcing it usually backfires. Keep reading books together in the meantime, since that builds letter familiarity with no pressure.