I’ve already written about inexpensive and DIY sandpaper letters and a DIY alphabet box. Today, I’m writing about the movable alphabet, an important Montessori preparation for spelling, writing, and reading.
The traditional Montessori movable alphabet uses wooden lowercase letters with blue vowels and red consonants. The classic wooden Montessori movable alphabet is beautiful, but an attractive inexpensive version can be prepared using printables for home use. There are also other inexpensive options for homeschools and schools outside of traditional Montessori schools.
Inexpensive and DIY Movable Alphabets
Movable Alphabet (Photo from Montessori Print Shop)
Montessori Print Shop has a number of inexpensive moveable alphabet materials, including Movable Alphabet with Lesson Instructions (which also has a word list and picture cards). In addition, Montessori Print Shop has a page with preparation instructions (Make a Montessori Moveable Alphabet), information on Moveable Alphabet and Extension Lessons, and Moveable Alphabet Colors.
Simply Montessori has The Moveable Alphabet: Lots of wallet friendly alternatives for your home (and links to make it simple!).
Preschool Universe has ideas for inexpensive alternatives to the traditional Montessori movable alphabet.
Movable Alphabet Work (Photo from Counting Coconuts)
My Free Montessori Materials Online post has links to lots of inexpensive Montessori material suppliers with movable alphabets. (Counting Coconuts often shows materials purchased from one of the less expensive Montessori material suppliers. (Photo from Counting Coconuts).
Pipe Cleaner Moveable Alphabet Used for Suffix Work (Photo from Homeschool Escapade)
HomeschoolEscapade made a pipe cleaner moveable alphabet.
Montessori Mom has ideas for preparing and presenting a moveable alphabet and Exercises for the Moveable Alphabet.
Montessori Materials has free movable alphabet printables.
The Little House on the Prairie made a cardboard movable alphabet.
Phonogram Rocks (Photo from Little Schoolhouse in the Suburbs)
Little House in the Suburbs has Movable Alphabet for Word Building and Phonogram Rocks.
Criss-Cross Applesauce has a lima bean movable alphabet.
Maybe Montessori tells how to create a movable alphabet carrying case.
Directions for Presenting the Movable Alphabet
Montessori Primary Guide has moveable alphabet presentations.
Montessori World has movable alphabet presentations.
eHow has a post on How to Use the Montessori Small Movable Alphabet.
Movable Alphabet Words (Photo from To the Lesson!)
To the Lesson! shows the movable alphabet in use.
Jessie from The Education of Ours has posts at Mommy Moment on First Experiences with the Moveable Alphabet and First Exposures to the Movable Alphabet.
Movable Alphabet Work (Photo from Montessori MOMents)
Montessori MOMents has links to lots of resources for using the movable alphabet.
Advanced Movable Alphabet Work (Photo from We Don’t Need No Education)
We Don’t Need No Education has elementary-level movable alphabet work for renewing interest in spelling.
Montessori Monday Link-Up
If you have some Montessori activity trays/lessons to share, please link up below. It’s fine to link up a post from your archives – and you may link up anytime during the week! Please place the Montessori Monday button (using the code from the right sidebar) in your post or put a link back to this post.
My co-host, Nicole at One Hook Wonder, is taking a 1-2 month Montessori break right now while she decides on the direction for her family’s homeschooling. She has a lot of Montessori activities in her archives!
Thanks for participating! (Note: If you have a giveaway on your blog, please add it to my Family-Friendly Giveaway Linky Page!)
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I'm Deb Chitwood. My header photo models are my children, Christina, at 1 1/2, my son, Will, at 3, and Christina again at 16. Christina is now 22, and Will is 27. Please see the 
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I love the ideas of using rocks! What a fun way to incorporate use of the Moveable Alphabet!!! Thanks for sharing (and for using my picture too).
Sasha
Sasha recently posted..Best Blog Award!!!
Thanks, Sasha! I thought the rocks were a great idea, too! It’s my pleasure to feature your post and photo … your blog posts are always wonderful!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – DIY Alphabet Box
These are great! I’m really surprised by how good the pipe cleaner alphabet looks – I never would have thought of that! I love the idea of using stones as well.
Melissa recently posted..Vibrant Wanderings, 2012 Edition
Thanks, Melissa! I agree … the pipe cleaner and rock alphabets are definitely cool! It’s always so much fun finding all these creative ideas online.
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – DIY Alphabet Box
This is something I haven’t done yet but absolutely need too! I especially love the rock letters and know my son would as well. I have just started my blog, but I would like to start linking up to the montessori monday although we are not truely only “montessori”. Would that be alright?
Thanks for your comment, Moriah! We’d love to have you link up … any activity trays or Montessori-inspired ideas are great!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Inexpensive and DIY Movable Alphabets
I love how you keep your letters so organized with the trays with dividers. I’ll have to get me some of those. Thanks for the inspiration.
Veronica recently posted..Light Table
Thanks, Veronica! Those aren’t actually my trays in the photos, but I always used something similar. They definitely work well.
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Inexpensive and DIY Movable Alphabets
Cool! I have just been looking into the moveable alphabet, so this is perfect timing! No linking up for me this week, my brain has been on vacation.
Thanks, Maureen! I’m glad the timing’s right! You can always link up an activity from your archives if you wish. I always love to see you link up whenever you can!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Inexpensive and DIY Movable Alphabets
Love all of these! I was immidiately drawn to the rock alphabet (just pinned owl rocks the other day – so I must be in a rock mood) and was thinking about how I can make them accesible to the kids outdoor play!
Amanda recently posted..For the LOVE of BOOKS!
Thanks for your comment, Amanda! I love the thought of making the rock alphabet accessible for outdoor play!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – DIY Alphabet Box
I just love all these moveable alphabet ideas! I’ve also heard of using Wikki Stix or Bendaroos, but have never actually tried them.
Ginny Marie recently posted..Beauty in Brown
Thanks so much for your comment, Ginny Marie! Wikki Stix or Bendaroos sound like great ideas, too!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Inexpensive and DIY Movable Alphabets
Thanks for mentioning my movable alphabet posts. I love the pipe cleaner letters – lots of other good montessori activities on here, too.
Kristin recently posted..Word Family Bingo (Free Printable!)
[...] gives wonderful options for purchasing and creating your own set. Living Montessori Now has a great round up of inexpensive and DIY Moveable Alphabets including links on how to present the activity to your [...]
My kids (Four and Three) love this. We often spell out words on a piece of paper and have them mimic the words with the alphabet pieces. It didn’t take too long before my four-year-old was spelling out her own words. The theory behind Montessori materials is sound–when kids are able to touch and feel the shapes of the letters, they are able to learn the letters more quickly, and it sticks with them better.
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[...] Moveable Alphabet [...]
[...] a print rich home with lots of “moveable alphabets” for your kids to manipulate and create the words on [...]