Label Making: Classroom and Home

Writing labels for real purposes gives encoding immediate meaning and function, motivating children to write accurately because their words will be read by others.

• Framework: Montessori
• Unit: Language
• Learning area: Writing
• Level: Ages 4-6

Objectives

• Write functional labels for real purposes
• Apply encoding skills meaningfully
• Build environmental print
• Develop practical writing skills

Materials

• Label-sized paper or sticky notes
• Markers and pencils
• Tape for posting
• Classroom objects to label

Instructions

1. 'Our shelves need labels. Can you help?' 2. Child identifies the item. 3. Sounds out the word. 4. Writes on label paper. 5. Posts label on object. 6. Read each other's labels. 7. Make labels for home items too.

Educator tip

Children who label their world are reading and writing simultaneously. This bridges the two processes naturally.

Assessment

Child creates readable labels for classroom objects using phonetic or conventional spelling.

More from Language

• Story Writing with Illustrations
• Letter Writing: Notes and Messages
• Dictation: Sounds to Writing
• Copy Work: Beautiful Sentences
• List Writing: Organizing Information
• Writing Invitations and Cards
• Descriptive Writing: Five Senses
• Phonetic Object Box: Level 1 CVC