Abstract/Notes: The Ontario Human Rights Commission's inquiry into how reading (an essential human right) is taught in Ontario schools revealed that Ontario’s public education system is “failing students...by not using evidence-based approaches to teach them to read.” This thesis aimed to address this failure by proposing Montessori language curriculum as a viable alternative to the current (ineffective) practices. The validity of both the new Ontario language curriculum and the Montessori language curriculum were assessed through the use of The Reading League’s Curriculum Evaluation Guidelines (CEG) and their associated workbook.
The Ontario language curriculum was found to be lacking, particularly in terms of its lack of clarity, and guidance with regards to practical implementation. The Montessori language curriculum on the other hand was found to meet or surpass the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s recommendations, and in a way that can tangibly be understood and implemented.
In light of these findings, Ontario school boards should seriously consider adopting Montessori language curriculum, in whole or in part, to address the systemic reading crisis. All educational stakeholders have a role to play in safeguarding children’s right to read.
Language: English
Published: Tampere, Finland, 2024
Master's Thesis
MuistiMontessorin Muistojen kirja hoivakumppanin kokemana / Care Partners' Experience of the Memory Book Uses in Montessori Philosophy.
Abstract/Notes: The purpose of my thesis was to examine how care partners (elderly care worker, family member or close friend) experience the Memory Book used in Montessori Philosophy.
My aim was to bring forth these experiences and find out the book´s significance in an intensive elderly care home as part of the care. Based on gathered experiences the views can be built on possibilities and usefulness of the Memory Book in everyday care. My Bachelor´s thesis was about the experience of the Book by care partners.
As for methods the thesis was conducted by qualitative research methods and the data was collected by theme intervies. The Memory Book was adopted in the elderly care home only quite recently and because of the short history, the interviews were done by individually. I wanted to interview different care partners which in Montessori Philosophy means either elderly care worker, family member or close friend but in this case care partners consisted of elderly care workers only. The interview material was analyzed by data-oriented content analysis.
The result indicated that the Memory Book used in Montessori Philosophy is useful as it is. One picture on a page with a descriptive sentence is exactly adequate. The Memory Book has increased communication amongst individuals living with dementia. Communication has been an understandable word or words or a sound. Individuals living with dementia had progressed severely. Care partners experienced that the Memory Book brings a lot of joy and pleasure which the creates a pleasant care atmosphere. That atmosphere helps care partners especially during the most challenging care giving situations. Care partners see that the Memory Book brings them closer to the individuals they take care of daily. The time and togetherness that they share with the help of the Book adds safety and trust to the individuals with dementia.
The results lead to the conclusion that the Memory Book according to Montessori Philosophy has its possibilities and is useful in everyday care in an elderly care home. I wish this increased awareness of the Memory Book and interest in the Montessori Memory method in elderly and dementia care. There are still many fields in the Montessori Memory method which would be meaningful to study when working with the elderly and individual within person-centered best practice in nursing homes with elder and individuals with dementia / Opinnäytetyöni aiheena oli MuistiMontessorimenetelmässä käytetty Muistojen kirja. Tavoitteena oli selvittää hoivakumppaneiden (hoitaja, omainen, läheinen) kokemuksia Muistojen kirjan käyttämisestä muistisairaan kanssa. Opinnäytetyön tarkoituksena oli tuoda esille hoivakumppaneiden kokemuksia ja selvittää, millaisena Muistojen kirja nähdään osana muistisairaan ympärivuorokautista hoivaa. Saatujen kokemusten perusteella muodostuu näkemys Muistojen kirjan mahdollisuuksista ja käytettävyydestä hoitotyön arjessa. Tutkimuskysymykseni oli, miten hoivakumppani kokee MuistiMontessorimenetelmässä käytetyn Muistojen kirjan muistisairautta sairastavan kanssa ympärivuorokautisen hoitokodin arjessa.
Opinnäytetyöni toteutin laadullisen tutkimusmenetelmän keinoin ja aineiston keräsin teemahaastatteluna. MuistiMontessorimenetelmässä käytetty Muistojen kirja on otettu hoivakodissa käyttöön aika hiljattain, joten toteutin haastattelut yksilöhaastatteluina lyhyen kokemuksen takia. Tarkoituksena oli haastatella eri hoivakumppaneita (hoitajaa, omaista tai läheistä), mutta hoivakumppanit haastatteluihin muodostuivat hoitajista. Aineiston analysoin sisällönanalyysin mukaan teorialähtöisesti.
Aineistosta esiin tulleiden tulosten mukaan MuistiMontessorin Muistojen kirja oli sellaisenaan käyttökelpoinen. Sivulla yksi kuva ja sitä kuvaava lause oli juuri sopiva, eikä yhtään liikaa. Muistojen kirja oli lisännyt muistisairaan kommunikointia, joko ymmärrettävästi sanan tai sanojen avulla tai äännähdyksinä. Muistisairas on kuitenkin selvästi reagoinut Muistojen kirjaan silloinkin, vaikka muistisairaus oli edennyt jo pitkälle. Hoivakumppanit kokivat, että Muistojen kirja toi muistisairaalle asukkaalle iloa ja mielihyvää, mikä loi miellyttävän hoitoilmapiirin. Se oli avuksi hoitajille etenkin haasteellisten hoitotoimenpiteiden aikana. Hoivakumppanit kokivat, että Muistojen kirja lähensi heitä hoidettaviinsa. Muistojen kirjan avulla yhteisen ajan jakaminen ja yhdessäolo lisäsi hoidettavien turvallisuuden tunnetta ja luottamusta hoitajiinsa.
Saatujen kokemusten perusteella muodostui näkemys Muistojen kirjan mahdollisuuksista ja käytettävyydestä hoitotyön arjessa. Opinnäytetyön toivoisi lisäävän tietoutta MuistiMontessorimenetelmässä käytetystä Muistojen kirjasta ja herättävän uteliaisuuden MuistiMontessori menetelmää kohtaan. Voimavarakeskeistä vanhustyötä toteuttaessa MuistiMontessorissa on monta osa aluetta, mitä olisi mielekästä tutkia muistisairaiden kanssa työskennellessä.
Language: English
Published: Helsinki, Finland, 2024
Book Section
Open Education: Assumptions About Children, Learning and Knowledge
Abstract/Notes: A new framework was developed based on Montessori's pedagogy, Andragogy principles, and Heutagogy principles, to address the challenges of 5IR education. Modern-day Higher Education Institutions must explore innovative approaches to teaching and foster a culture of lifelong learning among students.
A qualitative, thematic structured literature review was conducted to examine Montessori's pedagogy, Andragogy, and Heutagogy. The aim was to create a new framework that can be implemented in higher education institutions (HEIs) to address the educational needs of the 5th Industrial Revolution (5IR). To achieve this, ten articles were selected using pre-defined keywords, and articles older than 10 years and those that didn't answer the research question and sub-question were eliminated. Similarities, concerns, mismatches, and dilemmas were extracted from the selected articles. These were then compared to the 5IR education requirements to create the new framework.
It was found that the combination of Montessori’s pedagogy, Andragogy, and Heutagogy has the potential to address the dilemmas found in 5IR education. Montessori strongly emphasises self-directed, self-determined learning and is guided by individualised instruction that fulfils the principles of Andragogy. Andragogy focuses on the learner’s autonomy and own experiences. Coupled with this is Heutagogy, which focuses on self-determined learning. This could only contribute to the idea of Montessori’s pedagogy in HEI. Montessori’s method should provide a strong philosophical foundation and perspective to the combined approach idea. Future work could look at the practical application to fully explore the potential of the combination to address 5IR educational dilemmas.
Language: English
Published: Helsinki, Finland, 2024
Doctoral Dissertation (Ed.D.)
A Phenomenology of Naturally Embedded Trauma-Informed Practices Within Public Montessori Classroom Environments
Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of 12 classroom teachers in different public Montessori schools in four different geographical regions of the United States. The interview was designed to allow the teachers to describe their Montessorian approach regarding areas of safety, social interaction, and respectful classroom environments to support students who may be experiencing the consequences of childhood trauma. The theories that guided this study were Albert Bandura’s (1977) social cognitive theory and the humanistic or person-centered theory of Carl Rogers (Rogers & Kramer, 1995). These theories facilitated the development of an understanding of fundamental concepts in children’s cognitive, social, and emotional learning and how those are related to classroom behavior concerns. Data were collected via a personal writing prompt and interviews, allowing the teachers to explain how they prepare their classrooms to best support the needs of children who may be dealing with the consequences of childhood trauma. Data were organized into themes to inform teacher preparation programs and ongoing professional development.
Language: English
Published: Lynchburg, Virginia, 2024
Doctoral Dissertation (Ph.D.)
A Comparison of Student Motivation Between Two Ukulele Curricula in a Multi-Age Classroom
Abstract/Notes: Motivation is a topic of high interest to music educators as they attempt to understand what makes their students want to continue learning. The use of the ukulele in the music classroom has grown over the last ten years due to its versatility. Despite its popularity and music educators’ support for its use, very little research exists on students’ motivation while playing it in a general music classroom setting. Therefore, the purpose of this current study is to compare the motivation levels of two groups of multi-age fourth through sixth-grade students learning the ukulele via different curricula in the music classroom. A quantitative MANOVA design method compared the motivation levels of students experiencing two different ukulele curricula. The study collected quantitative data from (N = 175) fourth through sixth-grade students at Maria Montessori School in Rockford, IL through an adapted twenty-two-item Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI). The results indicated that there was a significant difference in motivation between students who experienced the Quaver Music curriculum and students who experienced the Music Will curriculum. The largest contributor to the difference is the Pressure-Tension subcategory, which leads one to conclude that students who experience lower levels of Pressure-Tension experience higher levels of overall motivation. Activities that promote lower levels of Pressure-Tension should be utilized in the classroom.
Language: English
Published: Lynchburg, Virginia, 2024
Book
Maria Montessori, a Relevant Story - Life, Thought, Memories
Abstract/Notes: Maria Montessori non fu certo una donna comune. Capace di destare le più entusiastiche adesioni e le critiche più malevole, fu oggetto al suo tempo di illazioni, maldicenze, pettegolezzi e, ancor oggi, il suo senso di libertà e le scomode novità del suo pensiero suscitano reazioni contrastanti. Si ripercorrono qui le tappe della sua vita: dagli anni della formazione, segnati dalla difficoltà di essere una delle prime donne medico in Italia, all'esperienza dolorosa della maternità nascosta; dalle lotte femministe, che fondano in lei un nuovo senso di giustizia sociale e una nuova consapevolezza del ruolo della donna, all’impegno a favore dei bambini svantaggiati fino al suo innovativo progetto pedagogico, basato sulla valorizzazione delle risorse e della libertà del bambino. La presente edizione, rivista e aggiornata, accoglie numerose aggiunte, modifiche, correzioni e capitoli nuovi, grazie anche al prezioso contributo della bisnipote di Maria, Carolina Montessori.
Language: Italian
Published: Torino, Italy:
Il leone verde Edizioni, 2018
ISBN: 978-88-6580-173-4
Book
Report of Experiment with Montessori Apparatus in the Free Kindergarten, Reid's Court, Canongate
Publication: Educational Research and Reviews,
vol. 10, no. 6
Date: 2015
Pages: 733-738
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Abstract/Notes: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Montessori education which is offered to upskill the attention gathering skill of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. In total fifteen preschooler participants, six girls and nine boys who are diagnosed with ADHD (7 of the children with ADHD, 8 with only AD), joined to this research. This is a research designed with pre-post test design study with a control group of experimental design. In this research with the aim of improving the attention gathering level; eye-hand coordination, development of tactile, visual and auditory senses and for improving their acquired distinctiveness “tactile boards, sound boxes, binomial cubes and color tablets” are used from Montessori materials. FTFK Attention test is applied to children before and after the intervention. After the training, when scores are compared, the significant improvement is seen in their post test scores.
Cynthia F. DiCarlo
(Author) , Sarah H. Pierce (Author)
, Jennifer Baumarnter (Author)
, Mauree E. Harris (Author)
, Carrie Ota (Author)
Publication: Journal of Research in Childhood Education,
vol. 26, no. 2
Date: 2012
Pages: 154-168
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Abstract/Notes: This study developed a typology of recommended teacher practices related to whole-group instruction in preschool classrooms and examined the relationship between teachers' use of the practices and children's attentiveness. Thirty-nine classrooms in 31 schools (15 public and 16 private) were observed during regularly scheduled whole-group instruction sessions. Bivariate correlations indicated a positive relationship between children's attentiveness and number of practices that teachers used, but not between attentiveness and length of activity. Regression analyses suggested a set of eight specific practices that are related, with length of activity, to children's attentiveness.
Parent Enrollment at Model Children's House [Powder Mill Children's House, Beltsville, Maryland]
[unspecified] (Author)
Publication: Montessori Observer,
vol. 11, no. 6
Date: Nov 1990
Pages: 1, 4
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Language: English
ISSN: 0889-5643
Article
Gardening with Children: Children Helping Nature
Musya Meyer
(Author)
Publication: Tomorrow's Child,
vol. 4, no. 3
Date: 1996
Pages: 23
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Language: English
ISSN: 1071-6246
Article
The Effects of Young Children's Team centered Problem-Based Learning Strategies on the Self-Efficacy and Academic Interests in Young Children's Mathematics / 유아 수학에 대한 모둠별 문제중심 학습전략이 유아의 자기효능감과 학습흥미에 미치는 효과
Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of young children's team centered problem-based learning strategies(team centered PBL) on the self-efficacy and academic interests in young children's mathematics. For these purposes, the data were collected by questionnaire from 27 young children living in S-city. They were respectively assigned to experimental group and comparative group. The experimental group was trained four weeks with the 12th sessions through the team centered PBL. Before administrating the experimental procedure, both groups took the pretest for measuring their self-efficacy and academic interests. After the experimental sessions, they also took the posttests to measure both of them. The major results of this study were as follows: First, the experimental group trained through the team centered PBL strategies has got higher scores on the self-efficacy questionnaire than the comparative group. Second, the former which got higher scores on the self-efficacy also gained more scores on academic interests test than the latter. In light of these results, it suggests that young children's self-efficacy in the kindergarten could be acquired through team centered PBL strategies. / 본 연구의 목적은 유아 수학에 대한 모둠별 문제중심 학습전략이 유아의 자기효능감과 학습흥미에 어떤 영향을 미치는지를 밝혀내는 것이다. 이를 수행하기 위해 경기도 S시 소재의 H유치원만 5세반 실험집단 14명에게 4주 동안 총 12차시에 걸쳐 유아 수학 관련 모둠별 문제중심 학습전략을 실시하였다. 모둠별 문제중심 학습전략이 종료된 후에 유아 수학 관련 자기효능감검사와 학습흥미검사의 결과를 비교집단 13명의 결과와 비교 분석하였다. 본 연구에서 밝혀진 주요 결과로는 첫째, 모둠별 문제중심 학습전략을 받은 실험집단이 그렇지 않은 비교집단보다 유아 수학에 대한 자기효능감 점수가 유의미하게 높았다. 둘째, 모둠별 문제중심 학습전략으로 자기효능감이 높아진 실험집단이 그렇지 않은 비교집단보다 유아 수학에 대한 학습흥미에서도 유의미하게 높았다. 이 같은 연구결과는 수업시간에 유아들에게 수학 관련 모둠별 문제중심 학습전략이 제공될 경우, 유아들의 수학 관련 자기효능감과 학습흥미가 향상될 수 있음을 의미한다. 따라서 유아들의 수학 관련 자기효능감과 학습흥미 향상을 위해 모둠별 문제중심 학습전략을 적용해 볼 필요성이 있을 것이다.
Language: Korean
ISSN: 1226-9417
Article
Spaces for Children: Listing to Young Children about Their Early Childhood Environments
Alison Clark
(Author)
Publication: Montessori International,
vol. 84
Date: Jul 2007
Pages: 16–17
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Language: English
ISSN: 1470-8647
Article
Guiding Children 'Back from the Edge' Preparing an Environment to Support Children at Risk
Abstract/Notes: "The children who demand more attention than others, who are disruptive, unmotivated, oppositional, aggressive, or do not give us the positive feedback we get from others…This is where we dig in and find compassion, and understanding, and the knowledge that no child wants to be disruptive, oppositional, or aggressive. They do this because they are hurt, and we are here to help." Sarah Werner Andrews provides an approach to the children who pose a challenge because they themselves are facing challenges. She offers practical tools and approaches that are first based on positive relationships, then on the relationship with the environment, and finally on positive, collaborative interventions. [This talk was presented at the NAMTA conference titled "Children on the Edge: Creating a Path for Happy, Healthy Development," January 12-15, 2017 in New Orleans, LA.]
Language: English
ISSN: 1522-9734
Article
Montessori Elementary Is Different: What Children Study, What Children Do