Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this self-study was to examine the effects of concentrated interaction with anti-bias/anti-racist media on a Montessori guide’s practice. It was conducted over a total of six weeks. The intervention included a pre- and post- survey of understanding, nightly media interactions, daily reflection journaling, daily tallies of anti-bias/anti-racist thoughts during the school day, and a daily confidence scale to measure the participant’s confidence to integrate anti-bias/anti-racist concepts into her teaching practice. The study was completed at a private Montessori school in a medium-sized midwestern town, with an early childhood classroom of fifteen three- to five-year-old students of diverse backgrounds. The findings indicate a slight increase in confidence and efficacy for the participant in discussing anti-bias/anti-racist concepts with students, families and colleagues. The findings also point to the strong need for working with other educators and Montessorians for further integrating anti-bias/anti-racist concepts into classroom practice.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2020

Abstract/Notes: Montessori teachers often enter the teaching field with a strong sense of a Montessori social identity developed through their transformational teacher education experience (AMI, 2018a; Malm, 2004), uniting them around a shared knowledge and belief system (Fairclough, 1992, 2003). While a social identity can connect individuals and provide security and purpose, it can also limit beliefs and behaviors by producing a prescribed way of being (Foucault, 2010). Research (e.g., Sumison, 2002) has shown that when teachers are confronted with instances that challenge their teacher identity and social practice (Fairclough, 1992), they may experience dilemmas and uncertainty (Cuban, 1992; Lampert, 1985) that call their self and social identification as a teacher into question. This post-intentional phenomenological study is an attempt to better understand what is produced and provoked (Vagle, 2018) when Montessori teachers engage in anti-bias and anti-racist (ABAR) teacher self-reflection, a critical first step to implementing antiracist teaching practices in an early childhood classroom (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). Specifically, I explored what is produced and provoked in the Montessori self and social identity as teachers consider ways of being a teacher that possibly differ with the Montessori teacher way of being. Six Montessori early childhood teachers participated in three workshops on ABAR self-reflection which I developed and facilitated over the course of three and a half months. Participant experiences, including my own, and additional phenomenological material (e.g., Montessori's writing, current initiatives in the Montessori social world) offered important insight into the life and evolution of the phenomenon. To guide analysis, I used Jackson and Mazzei's (2012) thinking with theory and Deleuze and Guattari's (1987) notion of the rhizome to conceptualize the life and growth of the phenomenon. Findings revealed elements of the Montessori social identity that provide meaning and purpose for teachers working towards dismantling oppression as well as limitations in the form of a regime of truth (Foucault, 1977/2010) that can challenge the development of a dialogic identity. Implications suggest recommendations for Montessori teacher education programs including strategies of incorporating ABAR reflective practices into Montessori teacher development, reevaluating the words and position of an adored leader for relevance as society evolves, and encouraging social activism by disrupting the notion of objectivity and neutrality in teaching.

Language: English

Published: Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2018

Abstract/Notes: In this study, after executing an anti-biased picture book reading program by parents, we searched for the program's influence on the peers' acceptance of the disabled young children. We set up the experiment group and the control group out of 35 kindergarten children of 7 years old in a kindergarten in Kyungki province. After reading them some anti-biased fairy tales, one of the parents, especially mothers, who were trained as the teacher for the day, proceeded the program as planned. The first result of the study was that children in the experiment group showed more positive attitude change for the acceptance of the children with special needs than those in the control group. Secondly, there was not much difference between boys and girls in the attitude change to disabled children. As picture books illustrate a specific story by using texts and pictures, the true meaning of anti-biased picture books lies in the fact that children can develop their moral judgment and ability to self-examination through listening to the unbiased story and looking at the anti-biased pictures. At the same time, reading anti-biased picture books with parents proved itself effective as a teaching method in helping children correct some negative stereotypes and prejudice against disabled children learned by parents at home. Therefore, the people in charge of the education in the kindergarten need to understand the necessity of parents' participation and education of the parents for the purpose of understanding disabled children. Any kindergarten superintendent will need to try hard to continue the education program for the achievement of this purpose. / 본 연구는 부모참여를 통한 반편견 그림동화 읽어주기 프로그램을 실시하여 이러한 활동이 유아의 장애유아에 대한 수용태도에 미치는 영향을 탐색하였다. 연구대상은 경기도 소재 M 유치원 만 5세 유아 35명으로 실험집단과 통제집단을 구성하였고, 이들을 대상으로 부모교육을 받은 어머니 일일교사가 반편견 그림동화를 읽어준 다음 절차에 따라 프로그램을 진행하였다. 연구결과 첫째, 실험집단 유아가 통제집단 유아보다 장애수용 태도가 긍정적으로 변화되었다. 둘째, 부모참여 반편견 그림동화 읽어주기 프로그램 효과 검증 결과 유아의 성별에 따른 장애 수용태도의 변화에는 큰 차이가 없었다. 결론적으로, 그림동화는 글과 그림을 통해 상황에 대한 구체적인 내용을 전달하는 것으로, 반편견 그림동화의 의의는 그것을 보고 듣는 과정에서 유아의 도덕적 판단력과 자아 성찰적 사고 능력이 증진되는 것에 있다. 그리고 부모가 가정에서 잘못 학습된 장애유아에 대한 고정관념과 편견을 바로잡아 줄 수 있고, 유아의 친사회적 행동 및 반편견적 태도 변화에 긍정적 효과를 줄수 있는 교수매체로서 부모참여 반편견 그림동화 활용이 효과적인 것으로 판단되었다. 따라서 유치원 현장에서 장애유아 이해를 위한 부모참여 및 부모교육 필요성에 대한 관련당사자의 이해 증진이 요구된다. 아울러 이의 실천을 위해 지속적인 교육프로그램 운영을 위한 유치원장의 노력이 뒤따라야 할 것이다.

Language: Korean

ISSN: 1226-9417

Abstract/Notes: This research sought to determine the effect of implementing an anti-bias curriculum on the selfidentity of children in a private primary Montessori classroom. Twenty-two students aged three to six from a highly concentrated urban community in a northeastern coastal city participated in the study. Pre and post discussion questions, a running log of personal observations, visible child-produced artifacts, and an attribute checklists were the four tools used in this study. These tools determined the effect of the anti-bias work on each child’s ability to self-identify. The interactions and artifacts produced specific and traceable data on children’s thoughts and perceptions before and during the implementation of anti-bias work. Data analysis concluded that the study impacted the student’s ability to self-identify positively. To further investigate this work, I will continue to present anti-bias materials, engage in discussions, and provide diverse works for all children to explore in the inclusive environment.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2017

Abstract/Notes: Implementation of an anti-bias education framework is relatively new in the history of cultural competence movements. While some research has been done, sighting positive effects for K-12 students, few studies exist within the Montessori pedagogy. Furthermore, little research has been done in the effects of implementing this type of curriculum within a Montessori adolescent environment. Consequently, there is a need to gather information on effective anti-bias education best practices and how to introduce these strategies in a classroom environment. The purpose of this action research study is to explore how implementing anti-bias activities including literature, journaling, and Socratic discussions affect students’ cultural proficiency in a Montessori Middle School.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2019

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this action research study was to explore how sharing anti-bias children’s books in literature small groups in a lower elementary Montessori class affects children’s perceptions of and ability to communicate about themselves, their families, and others, as well as the classmates with whom they choose to associate. The sample studied in this research was a class of 20 children aged six to nine at a private Montessori school located in a small town adjacent to a large Midwestern city. Data was collected through pre and post oral interviews, written reading reflection worksheets, and daily teacher observations of children’s work and play partners. The study found that anti-bias literature small groups are an effective way to improve children’s perceptions of themselves and their ability to communicate about human difference. More research is needed about how to improve children’s perceptions of their families and their ability to communicate about human similarity. Additionally, a longer intervention period and refined data collection tool are recommended in order to learn more about the impact of anti-bias literature small groups on children’s choice of work and play partners.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2019

Abstract/Notes: This action research project was completed to test the effects of reading and discussing multicultural children’s literature on young children’s positive self-concept and appreciation of human differences. The setting was a Montessori primary (preK-K) classroom of 18 children, ages two years 10 months to five years 10 months. Ten children were White, four were biracial, three were Asian American, and one was Latin American. Data was collected using a tally sheet, picture test, self-concept test, discussion log, and self-assessment journal. Readings took place each day and books centered on topics such as individuality, race, skin color, diversity, inclusion, and activism. The results indicated that children did show a decrease in negative attitudes towards human differences and an increase in positive attitudes towards human differences throughout the intervention. The action plan implications conclude that the study could be conducted with a narrower focus and within an intersectional framework.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2019

Abstract/Notes: This action research was conducted to examine the effects of peer discussion groups on the comfort and confidence of lower-elementary Montessori teachers in conducting literature based anti-bias lessons. The intervention was conducted in a private, urban, Montessori school, serving students from toddler to middle school. The participants of this study were five first-third grade teachers, including the participant researcher. Data was collected through pre- and postintervention surveys, teacher post-lesson self-assessments, transcription coding of discussion groups, and researcher self-reflection rating scale and journal prompts. Three discussion groups were scheduled two weeks apart, with teachers giving literature-based, anti-bias lessons between the first and second discussion groups and the second and third discussion groups. Data indicated that teachers became more comfortable and confident in their anti-bias teaching practice and that the discussion groups created a space for reflective dialogue. The action plan suggests that this intervention could have a farther reach if it were conducted for a longer period of time, across a wider age range, and in multiple schools.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2020

Language: English

ISSN: 1071-6246

Abstract/Notes: The research consisted of a qualitative case study of three urban public Montessori schools with a population of 51% or more of students of color and a commitment of 2 years or more of CRP-ABAR within a Montessori setting. The theoretical framework used for the study was the critical race theory, which is the conceptual foundation for examining inequities in public education. This research dissertation had a focus on gaining an insight into the perceptions of administrators, teachers, and parents toward CRP-ABAR in Montessori schools by examining the practices in three public Montessori schools. The possible connections to student outcomes, such as behavioral referrals, suspension rates, and academic achievement for students of color were explored to determine if any connections exist between CRP-ABAR and outcomes for students of color within a public Montessori setting. Three major themes emerged of the perceptions of administrators, teachers, and parents about the impact of the CRP-ABAR in a Montessori setting. The CRP-ABAR could be delivered through a curriculum-oriented approach or a systemic-oriented approach and the CRP-ABAR connects to Montessori through peace-global education and the prepared teacher-environment. The CRP-ABAR practices impact students of color primarily through social emotional growth with limited academic outcomes. Even with an intentional focus and diversity training, many non-Black teachers’ perceptions of students of color included deficit theory thinking. Some parents believed racism is being dismantled through the curriculum and celebrations of diversity. Other parents identified some teachers-staff with underpinning instances of biases and insensitivity.

Language: English

Published: Boca Raton, Florida, 2020