I hope you take the time to read this beautiful journey through the process of language development of the Montessori child. Susan Mayclen Stephenson is the author. She graciously agrees to share it with all Montessori educators. You are welcome to add comments or ask questions. MONTESSORI LANGUAGE, Speaking, Writing, and Reading, Birth to Age 12+ The child can only develop fully by means of experience in his environment. We call such experience 'work.' Such Experience is not just play . . . it is work he must do in order to grow up. — Maria Montessori, M The First Year: the Senses We can feed the child's intense interest in language and prepare for later spoken language, by speaking clearly, by not raising our voice to the unnatural pitch often reserved for speaking to pets, and not oversimplifying language in the presence of the child. We can tell funny and interesting stories of our lives, recite favorite poems, talk about what we are doing, "Now I ...