I’m working with families to mirror the classroom’s lowercase set (3.5-inch, print, green consonants/pink vowels) so children get consistent tactile input; which brands or DIY sources have held up and feel closest to yours? Also, how are you coordinating with teachers on presentation and storage so the same three-period lesson language carries over on Monday?
Alison’s Montessori’s 3.5" lowercase set has held up for our home kits; the grit feels closest to Nienhuis and the green/pink is a near match — think paint swatches. If you DIY, use 100–120‑grit wet/dry with spray adhesive on 1/8" MDF and seal edges with matte Mod Podge so nothing lifts; for carryover, I ask the guide for a 30‑sec voice memo with the exact “three‑period” phrasing plus a shelf photo — could your teachers send that on Fridays?
If you’re set on 3.5-inch, use 1/8-inch MDF with 100–120 grit, stick it down with 3M Super 77, then run a thin line of matte Mod Podge along the letter edges — ours haven’t lifted and the feel’s close to Nienhuis. For Monday carryover, we share a 30‑sec “This is m…” clip and the exact three‑period script, and store sets in a shallow A6 photo box with C/V dividers so green/pink stay grouped and the sequence matches. @elizabeth44 have you tried a tiny baseline notch on the lower left to cue orientation?