Wooden Grammar Boxes (Parts of Speech)

Grammar boxes belong to the second stage of Montessori language work, when a child is already reading and writing and begins to grow curious about how words actually work. In each box, the child sorts words into different parts of speech — nouns, articles, adjectives, verbs, and so on — discovering the building blocks of language with their hands, not just from a book. The material is a natural complement to the grammar symbols: the child lays out word cards, forms sentences, and notices for themselves what role each word plays. The work is hands-on and invites self-correction through control cards as well as playful exploration of language.

What to look for:

• Material: choose boxes made of wood with clearly colour-coded compartments, rather than thin plastic that wears out quickly.
• Size: the compartments and word cards should be easy for small hands to pick up and sort.
• Completeness: check that the set covers several parts of speech and includes enough cards.
• Language: the cards should be in your child's language — many imported sets are in English, so read the product description carefully.
• Quality: a smooth, splinter-free surface and cards made of sturdy paper or laminate will hold up to many little hands.

At home, the boxes work beautifully at a small table: let your child take one box at a time, sort at a relaxed pace, and perhaps read the sentences aloud.