I have been working three times a week with my 4-year-old since September, and my child is also working on the letter sounds in Montessori School. He knows all of his letter sounds, including the ones that have more than one sound, but I just can’t get him to blend the sounds to make a word. He continues to sound each letter separately and can’t go any faster. Montessori School is not “there yet.” We’ve gone through the entire lesson and still are not blending. Please help.

Sometimes the concept of blending letters together to form a word can be a bit of a tricky concept for some children. Some children grasp the idea right away, and some children can’t quite make the transfer from knowing the letters to applying the letters.

Here are few ideas that might help. I like to think of as many blending games as I can using a set of cards that have the letters that they know on them. I hold them in my hand and let them pick three cards and lay them out. Then we sound out what they picked. Sometimes they’re nonsense words, but they get the idea that I want them to read what they picked. Then I reverse it and I pick three cards. We play this game back and forth several times and they hear and see me read what I picked. Seeing me do it often helps them understand what I’m trying to get them to do.

Another blending trick I use that often helps them hear the difference between sounding out each letter and blending them into words is to read a very familiar book to them (or at least a page of it) sounding out each letter as I go. This has to be a very familiar book that they know and can instantly recognize that this is not how the book should be read. They can hear the difference between sounding out each letter and blending those letters into words.

Repetition is the key here. Playing and inventing lots of games blending games will help him here and understand the difference. Keeping it fun will make him want to “play” again. Good luck and enjoy the process of working with your child. Good job.