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($19 per class)
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Montessori Reading & Writing: Mastering Digraphs for Emerging Readers 2x/Week

Completed by 280 learners
Ages 5-7
Live Group Class
Improve reading fluency, spelling, vocabulary and conversation. Memorize key digraphs (phonograms) such as /ue/ & /oo/. Guided writing and a sing-along slideshow. Homeschool, kindergarten, first grade, ESL & neurodiverse learners welcome!
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(367 reviews)
Star Educator

Live video meetings
2x per week
2-4 learners per class
45 min

What's included

2 live meetings
1 hrs 30 mins in-class hours per week
Homework
1 hour per week. 💚 Homework is optional but encouraged! 🖨️ I provide 2 PDF dotted-font word lists per session for guided writing and visual copying, posted on Monday ET-US 📝 Complete the lists on an iPad with a stylus pencil, or print the PDFs and complete with a marker, pen or pencil. ✍🏽 Enrolled learners receive my brief video about how to achieve a comfortable and efficient pencil grip.

Class Experience

US Grade Kindergarten - 2
Beginner - Intermediate Level
💚Level 4 Mastering Digraphs is designed for young learners who can read simple phonetic words such as "pumpkin" and "insect." They’re beginning to memorize spellings of letter pairs (digraphs) such as /ai/ & /ay/ in words such as "train" and "play." 

💚 CLASS CONTENT: Each 45-minute session has individual attention, using the mute/unmute button to help learners focus and enjoy full participation! 
Via screen-sharing: 
1️⃣🎶 I sing a letter-sound song with a slideshow of pictures/lowercase print letters. The songs reinforce memorization of digraphs such as 'ai' for 'airport.

2️⃣ 🖼️ I introduce 8 colorful photos for 1 digraph such as /i-e/, focusing on names, spellings and descriptions.

3️⃣ 📝 Using the dotted-font word list provided, I demonstrate writing each word twice while spelling the letter names.

4️⃣ 📖 Learners take turns to read a label, describe the picture or use their word in a sentence, and observe as I match each label with a picture. 

6️⃣ 🖼️ 📝 📖 We repeat the same process with another 8 photos: introduction, writing, reading and discussion. 

6️⃣ 🎉 I guide a fun cooperative BINGO game, emphasizing picture description, conversation and correct spelling. 

😊 My teaching style is warm, attentive and patient. This class is similar to a Montessori classroom experience; a small group of mixed-age learners with a shared enthusiasm for vocabulary, letter sounds, spelling, conversation, and learning to read! We'll end each meeting with a brief goodbye song with live autoharp accompaniment.

💚 Each session focuses on reading 16 words, 8 with each digraph; 32 words per week
📅 Lessons in 2025 
Week of: 
02/03: ee & ea words… ‘tree’ and ‘leaf’ & ie & -y words… ‘pie’ and ‘my’
02/10: oa/ow words… ‘goat’ and ‘bowls’ & oo/ue words… ‘pool’ and ‘glue’
02/17: i-e/-igh words… ‘kite’ and ‘lightbulb’ & o-e/oe words… ‘stones’ and ‘toes’
02/24: u-e/ew words… ‘flute’ and ‘stew’ & aw/au words… ‘draw’ and ‘August’
03/03: sh/ch words such as ‘shop’ and 'chin’ & qu/ck words… ‘quiet' and ‘rocket’
03/10: th/ph words… ‘them,’ ‘thin,’ and ‘elephant’ & ar/or words… ‘farm’ and ‘fork’
03/17: -all/-ng words… ‘ball’ and ‘sing’ & a-e words, including -ce… ‘cupcake’ and ‘race’
03/24: -y/ie words… ‘funny’ and ‘field’ & ou/ow words… ‘cloud’ and ‘cows’
03/31: ch/tch words… ‘bench’ and ‘kitchen’ & oi/oy words… ‘join’ and ‘boys’
04/07: er & ur words… ‘sisters’ and ‘surf’ & ai & ay words… ‘train’ and ‘clay’

💚 Enroll any time - the content is not cumulative. I teach 2 more challenging levels of Montessori Read & Write classes and I’m happy to communicate when your child is ready for the next level!
📝 For learners who already write in cursive, I offer word list PDFs in cursive font

🧑🏽‍💻MONTESSORI READ & WRITE CLASSES:
🤍 Intro Level "Montessori Phonics: Letter Sounds & Easy Handwriting" (self-paced)
🩷 Level 1 "Phonics - CVC Words for Beginners" (group or 1:1) Ages 3 - 6 
❤️ Level 2 "Phonics Fun - Blends for Beginners" (group or 1:1) Ages 3 - 6 
🧡 Level 3 "Phonics & Intro to Digraphs" (group or 1:1) Ages 4 - 6 
💛 Read Books Aloud & Memorize Sight Words (1:1 only) Ages 5 - 7
💚 Level 4 "Mastering Digraphs for Emerging Readers" (group or 1:1) Ages 5 - 7 
💙 Level 5 "Word Study for Emerging Readers" (group or 1:1) Ages 5 - 7 
💜 Level 6 "Vocabulary Enrichment for Emerging Writers" (group or 1:1) Ages 5 - 7

Learning Goals

💚 Learners will: 
🏅 understand the meaning of sixteen vocabulary words per session 
🏅 master 32 digraphs (see list above) 
🏅 improve lowercase print handwriting skills
🏅 improve their phonetic reading fluency and spelling skills

Other Details

Supply List
💚 OPTIONAL PRINTABLES: For each session, learners receive: 
🥇 2 PDFs of dotted-font handwriting list with target digraphs in green
🥈 A colorful BINGO game PDF with 16 photos that match the word lists
 1 file available upon enrollment
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.

Meet the teacher

4.9
367reviews
Star Educator
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Massachusetts Teaching Certificate in Music/Theater/Arts
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of Massachusetts at Amherst, USA
📜 Certified Early Childhood Educator, Lead Montessori Teacher and Music Specialist for 28 years
📜 Bachelor of Music Education
📜 Certified by the most rigorous Montessori training program in North America (Association Montessori Internationale) 
📜 TESOL certified

Reviews

42 total ratings, 20 with reviews

Review summary for this class
The reviews highlight several pros of Ms. Rachael's Montessori reading and phonics class. She is described as an engaging, patient, and kind teacher who makes learning fun through interactive activities like bingo games and songs. Students have shown noticeable progress in their reading, writing, and vocabulary skills. Ms. Rachael provides well-structured lessons and effectively communicates with both students and parents. If you're looking for an enjoyable and effective way to help your child improve their literacy skills, consider enrolling in Ms. Rachael's class.
This summary was AI-generated from parent reviews
Rachael is a top Montessori Teacher, she's is super kind and wants her... 
Pamela R.on Apr 30, 2024
Excellent activities. 
Stella J.on Jul 29, 2022
My daughter loves this engaging class! She is very “picky” shall we say... 
Mary K.on May 28, 2022
Great class! Lots of vocabulary and engaging w kids constantly. Great... 
Rosa E.on Mar 24, 2022
My kid really likes the class. He is practicing and learning without... 
Lourdes S.on Mar 22, 2022
My 5-year-old daughter has been taking classes with Ms. Rachael for a... 
An Outschool parenton Feb 14, 2022
Rachael Gerhard - Montessori Specialist suggests this class next...
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$18 per class
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