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On 2026-05-10 Hannah Ward (@HannahWardEdu), a former Montessori classroom teacher…

2026-05-10 · 05:22 UTC ·@HannahWardEdu ·1 min read

Brief

Hannah Ward (@HannahWardEdu) explains that after teaching in Montessori classrooms she switched from a letter-sounds-first method to a letter-names-first approach and created a free curriculum that teaches the alphabet first, then phonics. She says sound-first gave early gains that collapsed with complex words, requiring reteaching of letter names, and cites corroborating classroom research and higher success when names precede formal phonics.

Why it matters

On 2026-05-10 Hannah Ward (@HannahWardEdu), a former Montessori classroom teacher and learning designer, announced she converted from a letter-sounds-first approach to a letter-names-first approach and published a free curriculum that teaches the alphabet first, then phonics.

Key details

  • Ward reports that letter-sounds-first produced early gains in Montessori classrooms that fell off as words grew more complex, forcing teachers to pause and teach letter names; she cites classroom observations and external research and claims children who know letter names before formal phonics have higher success rates.
Source evidence

My story of converting from a letter sound first Montessori classroom teacher to a 👉🏻 letter name first learning designer.
This is why my free curriculum is...
🍏 FIRST: Teach your child the alphabet.
🍎 THEN: Teach your child phonics.

Hannah Ward 👩🏻‍🏫 Mom (x3) | Learning Designer (@HannahWardEdu)

I think that there are a bunch of different sounds that each letter makes, that letter names are consistent - letter sounds are not. When I taught in Montessori classrooms we had early gains with the letter sound first method that quickly fell off once more complex words were introduced. So we would have to pause, teach letter names, then start again. It was a silly process. Research conducted in other classrooms has confirmed my own observations in classroom settings and teaching my own children. Kids knowing their letter names confidently before formal phonics lessons have higher success rates. I'm now a letter name first convert.

— https://nitter.net/HannahWardEdu/status/2053343896655024554#m