Movement and Sandpaper Letters

"When mental development is under discussion, there are many who say, 'How does movement come into it? We are talking about the mind.' And when we think of intellectual activity, we always imagine people sitting still, motionless. But mental development must be connected with movement and be dependent on it. It is vital that educational theory and practice should be informed by that idea."- Maria Montessori wrote in The Absorbent Mind

This idea of movement is so vital.  In the classroom where I work, every sandpaper letter is on a shelf available for use at any time.  All the letters of the alphabet are visible and each have their own place.  So when I do sandpaper letter lessons with a child, I ask him or her, "Please bring the /c/ to the table".  The child then walks across the classroom, eager to find the /c/ sound and bring it back.  I've placed a tiny control of error below the sandpaper letter on the shelf.  It's a picture that starts with the sound of the letter (for example, there is a tiny picture of a cat below the sandpaper /c/).  If the child cannot find the /c/, I will tell them what the picture is.  Then the child is able to successfully find the sound.  So, the child must MOVE to find the sound.  Then the child practices tracing the sandpaper letter (MOVING his/ her fingers and hand), and I say the sound, "/c/". 

All this movement and sensory integration (touch, sight and sound together) helps to create a stronger memory.  It helps the child internalize this new knowledge.  Plus the child is happy to do it.  Children LOVE to move!  They physically feel active and more attentive to this new knowledge because of it.