we still use our moveable alphabet and my daughter is well into her reading and writing. its a nice way to reinforce spelling lessons and (don't tell the montessori police) we use them as stamps with ink pads.

not to mention that they are just beautiful on a counter or tabletop.

love it! but then i saw the price. why is it so expensive?

brooklynstar, because this is meant for a classroom, so it has to survive being handled daily by many many kids. This is not a cheap product in any sense.
ps: my daughter is in Montessory preschool.

these are available on ebay for less than half the price. same product. that retailer just happens to be on the higher end of the price range. but yes, they are more expensive than you might think because they're very durable.

I can not stress enough how this is NOT a toy but an educational material that should only be used by Montessori-trained teachers. If you want your child to benefit by this, then leave it in the classroom where it belongs.

It is so expensive because it is actual didactic apparatus for the classroom -- not cutesie decor for mom and dad to mess around with.

Oh, PankySnow, you must be the Montessori Police. Welcome.

And may I quote your response to the post, "Knit Globe", as my response to your comment.

"sheesh! whatever it is, it's cute."

http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/toys-infant/knit-globe-by-i-golfini-della-nonna-039857#comments

Also why we WON'T send the boy to Montessori anymore. Heaven forbid anyone think outside the box.

Heaven forbid parents and children interact with a... wooden alphabet at home! It could completely ruin their future literacy!

(I think) this is still a design blog. This is a well designed... [set of letters]

panky--

Um, what harm (other than choking hazard) could this POSSIBLY represent in "civilian" hands?

am i the only once-was Montessori teacher reading this?? it is a beautiful thing when parents attempt to bring home what children are learning in the classroom. The movable alphabet is a GLORIOUS tool that should be used in ALL elementary classrooms!!!! parents, if you have a chance, purchase this, make it, carve it... WHATEVER YOU DO, however your means, it is a good thing :) Be creative, if you are visiting this site, I would like to think that you 'think out of the box' anyway...

Read all the time, never posted, but that earlier comment makes me boil!! As an educator for 12 years and someone who's very good friend has their Master's in Montessori (but who left teaching after 3 years when he realized that there really is more than ONE way to do something), give me a break!
If I had extra money I'd buy them just to "decorate" with and then let my daughter "play" with them- no teaching, just playing. I forgot that Montessori owns the alphabet.

our son goes to a Montessori Preschool... and I can't imagine them NOT encouraging us to do this at home...
i'm all over this (on ebay) now... and i would love to find the letter TRACING tool that he loves...

forgive my content about the montessori police. i meant no disrespect. we love montessori and have a daughter that is still in a montessori program (flexible one admittedly), but have found that it is possible to use materials in different ways sometimes. it is done so with respect and its new use originates from the 6yo's head in ways that is astonishingly connected to its original intent with a love for its potential as more.

P.S. she stopped using this particular material for the intended work long ago and i now just want to extend its life in our home.

"comment" not content

Montessorians can be a bit sensitive a times. Brief explanation:

Dr. Montessori failed to trademark her name, so anyone can open a "Montessori" school without the necessary training, materials, etc. As a result 98% of the Montessori programs in existence are not accredited and offer a watered down, compromised version more akin to "Montessomething". If you read a bit about authentic Montessori practice, it helps to understand why this is such a big deal to us. Good place to start: Facebook.com/MariaMontessori.

FYI, Bruins offers good quality materials that will last for decades (as does Neinhuis and Gonzagaretti). The knock off stuff on Ebay is made is China and is usually of very poor quality and breaks easily.

I am a public school literacy teacher who also happens to be Montessori trained and I have seen many versions of a "moveable alphabet" in all types of classrooms (traditional and Montessori and special education). If you want to have an alphabet that is accessible and moveable there are many versions - magnetic, felt and/or wood. I think it is important to reflect on the purpose of the moveable alphabet in your house: is it decor? is it a way to have text that is accessible to your child? is it something your child has access to in school?

If you want a moveable alphabet go for it and use it in a way that supports your child's literacy development.

Is there a big difference between things like this and magnetic letters for use as a moveable alphabet?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JTOLCE/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

I'm totally with magdalainn. I do not need to spend my whole month's spending money for these (though so well designed) letters when magnetic letters serve the same purpose.

The two differences between the moveable alphabet and traditional magnet alphabets are that most magnetic alphabets are uppercase and not "true" in proportion and shape. Here's a good comparison:

http://www.ssww.com/product/image.php?sku=LR745&idx=1

When introducing very young children to the alphabet, it's nice to do it with one wherein the letters are very distinct from one another. Lowercase is introduced first as most of the written language we encounter is lowercase. I am a former Montessori teacher, and I did buy the magnetic set for my fridge for my toddler. I put up a few letters at a time, we explore them, and then I switch them out. For me, this is just a bit of environmental language, not actual alphabet-teaching.

I suppose Alphabet Soup is best left to the professional educator as well.

carriejeaux--great point about the lowercase letters, I've never thought of that. I will definitely think about that when looking for something for my 14 month old.

A sort of funny Montessori letter story...I used to be a live in nanny for a family with 4 children, one of whom was in a Montessori school. Her mom (my boss) decided to replicate the sandpaper letters for her at home. She spent weeks spreading glue on cards and sprinkling them with sand and the sand was always getting on everything. She was very proud of them. You should have seen her face when I quietly asked--it was a real question, not a criticism--why she didn't just cut up sandpaper and glue it to the cards?

I think everyone should have one, and use it however the child sees fit! And yes, I'm a trained teacher....