# 88. Montessori Storytelling: The History of English Spelling with Zil Jaeger

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/literacy-in-color-a-science-of-reading-aligned-podcast-for-educators-7060627/88-montessori-storytelling-the-history-of-english-spelling-with-zil-jaeger
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/literacy-in-color-a-science-of-reading-aligned-podcast-for-educators-7060627/88-montessori-storytelling-the-history-of-english-spelling-with-zil-jaeger.md
Podcast: [Literacy in Color: A Science of Reading Aligned Podcast for Educators](https://stenobird.com/podcast/literacy-in-color-a-science-of-reading-aligned-podcast-for-educators-7060627)
Published: 2026-04-07T08:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.com/podcast/88
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/57a7bea9-a7e4-4d2e-b82e-fadc2256c56a.mp3
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Duration seconds: 2445

## Resource

In this episode of Literacy in Color, Michelle chats with Montessori educator and literacy advocate Zil Jaeger to explore a powerful instructional tool: storytelling. Zil shares how Montessori storytelling goes far beyond engagement; it’s a structured, intentional approach to building background knowledge, activating imagination, and anchoring learning in meaningful ways. Key Takeaways: Why storytelling is foundational to Montessori education The concept of cosmic education and helping students see the interconnectedness of knowledge The “whole-to-parts” approach and how it supports schema-building and retrieval How storytelling strengthens memory through curiosity, imagery, and repetition Zil’s “Story of English Spelling” & why English spelling is not random and how history lives inside words - Through timelines, maps, and multisensory storytelling, students begin to understand why words are spelled the way they are. Zil also shares how Montessori & Structured Literacy can align with intention, bringing research-based practices into a Montessori framework in thoughtful, systematic ways. Resources Mentioned: Zil’s Story of English Spelling: https://www.ziljaeger.com/shop/p/englishspelling Etymonline (Etymology Dictionary) Book: The High Frequency Word Project by Rebecca Loveless & Fiona Hamilton Book: Dictionary of Word Origins by John Ayto Book: Oxford School Dictionary of Word Origins by John Ayto Book: Spell It Out by David Crystal Book: Language Visible by David Sacks This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast! Connect with Zil Jaeger: Website: www.ziljaeger.com Instagram: @ziljaeger Connect with Michelle:…

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