The Language materials are rich in our classrooms and at the earlier levels, use a phonetic approach, highlighting the sounds of the letters. This allows the child to move effortlessly into reading as the child is ready. In the Montessori classroom children also experience writing before reading, gaining an ability to create words as they develop reading skills. This strategy is a whole language approach that helps children to become independent readers.  Often when you ask a Montessori child who taught her to read, you will hear the joyful response “No one. I learned myself!”