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Article
Montessori and the Development of Executive Functions
Available from: White Paper Press
Publication: Montessori White Papers, vol. 1
Date: 2015
Executive function, Montessori method of education - Evaluation
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Language: English
Article
Beyond Executive Functions, Creativity Skills Benefit Academic Outcomes: Insights from Montessori Education
Available from: PLoS Journals
Publication: PLoS ONE, vol. 14, no. 11
Date: Nov 2019
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Abstract/Notes: Studies have shown scholastic, creative, and social benefits of Montessori education, benefits that were hypothesized to result from better executive functioning on the part of those so educated. As these previous studies have not reported consistent outcomes supporting this idea, we therefore evaluated scholastic development in a cross-sectional study of kindergarten and elementary school-age students, with an emphasis on the three core executive measures of cognitive flexibility, working memory update, and selective attention (inhibition). Two hundred and one (201) children underwent a complete assessment: half of the participants were from Montessori settings, while the other half were controls from traditional schools. The results confirmed that Montessori participants outperformed peers from traditional schools both in academic outcomes and in creativity skills across age groups and in self-reported well-being at school at kindergarten age. No differences were found in global executive functions, except working memory. Moreover, a multiple mediations model revealed a significant impact of creative skills on academic outcomes influenced by the school experience. These results shed light on the possibly overestimated contribution of executive functions as the main contributor to scholastic success of Montessori students and call for further investigation. Here, we propose that Montessori school-age children benefit instead from a more balanced development stemming from self-directed creative execution.
Language: English
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225319
ISSN: 1932-6203
Article
Shaping Executive Function in Pre-School: The Role of Early Educational Practice
Available from: ScienceDirect
Publication: Cognitive Development, vol. 67
Date: 2023
Pages: Article 101344
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Abstract/Notes: Recent approaches to the development of Executive Function (EF) claim that it is trainable. Purpose-designed programs have proved successful in training EF skills in young children. If the EF is permeable to training from an early age, then the type of educational practice in the first years may as well have an effect. Despite the important implications of this thesis, there is limited evidence of the role of early educational practice in shaping the EF. Previous studies suggest that children in Montessori schools, which promote autonomy and self-regulation, often perform better on EF tasks than children in conventional schools. Evidence to date, however, is not unequivocal across the studies due to a number of factors, including the heterogeneity of the tasks used to assess EF and/or possible baseline differences in the groups that are compared. Here we compare the EF skills of fifty-eight, 4- to 6-year-olds of a similar socio-economic background who had been attending either a Montessori preschool or a conventional preschool for the same period of time. Their performance was assessed with different tasks involving a range of EF processes, such as working memory, cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, and self-regulation. Results show an advantage of Montessori preschoolers in all EF tasks. More broadly, findings suggest that even when EF skills are not purposely trained, they can be enhanced by specific educational practices.
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.cogdev.2023.101344
ISSN: 0885-2014
Book Section
Executive Functions in Montessori Education
Book Title: The Bloomsbury Handbook of Montessori Education
Pages: 252-260
Cognitive development, Executive function, Maria Montessori - Philosophy, Montessori method of education - Criticism, interpretation, etc., Montessori method of education - Evaluation
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Abstract/Notes: Executive functions are cognitive processes involved in the brain’s governing and self-regulation. Having strong executive functions can be a predictor of school readiness, literacy skills, and even life success. This chapter connects Montessori education practices, such as differentiated instruction, scaffolding, self-directed learning, and active learning, to practices believed to enhance development of executive functions. The chapter also examines empirical evidence related to the effects of Montessori education on executive functions. The chapter concludes that Montessori practices align with strategies for enhancing executive functions, but research on Montessori education’s impact has yielded both positive and conflicting results.
Language: English
Published: New York, New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-350-27561-4 978-1-350-27560-7 978-1-350-27562-1
Series: Bloomsbury Handbooks
Master's Thesis (Action Research Report)
The Effects of Cognitively Engaging Exercise on Children’s Executive Functioning
Available from: St. Catherine University
Action research, Executive function, Montessori method of education
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Abstract/Notes: This study examines the effect of combining vigorous exercise with cognitively engaging games on children’s executive functioning skills such as self-direction, engagement, and focus. Over four weeks, the research took place in a Montessori early childhood classroom with 17 children ages 2.6 to 6. The four-week study included a one-week baseline week to collect initial data on the capabilities of self-direction and comprehensive data on energy levels and engagement. The children participated in a 14-minute movement activity with 7 minutes of vigorous exercise and 7 minutes of cognitive-engaging games. The researcher used both quantitative and qualitative data tools to examine the effects on children’s ability to independently choose an activity, engage, and focus during the morning. The increased movement and cognitive exercise positively impacted children’s executive functioning skills. Future recommendations would include extending the intervention to study further if productivity continued to increase as the children had more days to engage in the exercises. Based on the data gathered in this action research, I recommend that teachers provide an opportunity for children aged three to six to participate in a short morning gathering where they can engage in vigorous movement and a cognitively engaging game.
Language: English
Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2022
Article
Interventions Shown to Aid Executive Function Development in Children 4 to 12 Years Old
Available from: AAAS - Science
Publication: Science, vol. 333, no. 6045
Date: Aug 19, 2011
Pages: 959–964
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Abstract/Notes: To be successful takes creativity, flexibility, self-control, and discipline. Central to all those are executive functions, including mentally playing with ideas, giving a considered rather than an impulsive response, and staying focused. Diverse activities have been shown to improve children’s executive functions: computerized training, noncomputerized games, aerobics, martial arts, yoga, mindfulness, and school curricula. All successful programs involve repeated practice and progressively increase the challenge to executive functions. Children with worse executive functions benefit most from these activities; thus, early executive-function training may avert widening achievement gaps later. To improve executive functions, focusing narrowly on them may not be as effective as also addressing emotional and social development (as do curricula that improve executive functions) and physical development (shown by positive effects of aerobics, martial arts, and yoga).
Language: English
ISSN: 0036-8075, 1095-9203
Article
Executive Functions in Children of 9 and 12 Years Old in Montessori Method
Available from: RA Journals
Publication: RA Journal of Applied Research, vol. 2, no. 12
Date: Dec 2016
Pages: 763-770
Elementary education, Elementary school students, Executive function, Montessori method of education - Evaluation
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Abstract/Notes: We emphasize the importance of the executive functions from an early age and how they keep developing throughout childhood.The study’s main objective is to study the correlation between the time students have been in a Montessori school and sexes, with the executive functions. As for the more specific objectives, we consider the assessment of the executive functions in a Montessori school and to determine the level of the executive functions in students. This work, outlines the evaluation of neuropsycological development and the executive functions in a group of boys and girls from CCE Montessori Palau Girona school. To this end, the administration of the test ENFEN (Portellano et al. 2009) and CUMANES (Portellano et al. 2012) has been conducted and we have focused on two sub-tests from each one. Together, we have evaluated a total of 30 primary school pupils aged 9 and 12. From the results, we have analyzed the strong and weak points, and a proposal for intervention from them has been made so they can serve as a basis for the future. No differences in the results of the executive functions evaluated have been observed between the sexes but within the different ages there have been differences. It was observed that for most of the executive functions a positive slope, although not significant, between the time the students enrolled in the Montessori methodology and a higher positive score in the executive functions, being more significant with the youngest, 9 year olds. A greater significance in males versus females was also observed. In conclusion, no differences were found in the executive functions of students respect to sexes but a higher score in the executive functions related to a longer period of time enrolled in the Montessori methodology was observed.
Language: English
ISSN: 2394-6709
Article
Executive Function and Tools of the Mind
Publication: Communications: Journal of the Association Montessori Internationale (2009-2012), vol. 2010, no. 1
Date: 2010
Pages: 12–28
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Abstract/Notes: Prof. Diamond is a neuropsychologist and this lecture was delivered as the keynote address following AMI's Annual General Meeting on April 10, 2010, Amsterdam. Her presentation focused on early development of the cognitive control functions - collectively called Executive Functions - dependent on prefrontal cortex. She touched upon many aspects that are controlled from prefrontal cortex, such as planning and problem solving, self-control, creativity, inhibiting impulsive actions, etc. She also discusses at length The Tools of the Mind Programme which she has assessed.
Language: English
ISSN: 1877-539X
Article
The Effects of Environment on Children's Executive Function: A Study of Three Private Schools
Available from: Taylor and Francis Online
Publication: Journal of Research in Childhood Education, vol. 26, no. 4
Date: 2012
Pages: 418-426
Americas, Executive function, Montessori method of education - Criticism, interpretation, etc., Montessori method of education - Evaluation, North America, United States of America
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Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this study was to examine the executive function of 4th- to 6th-grade students in three distinctively different private school environments: a Montessori school, a classical school, and a Catholic school. Using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, parent-teacher dyads rated the executive function of 112 students. Results indicated differences in executive function ratings according to school environment, as well as by the source of the rating, with parents tending to rate their children higher as compared to the teacher ratings.
Language: English
DOI: 10.1080/02568543.2012.711431
ISSN: 0256-8543, 2150-2641
Article
Enhancement of Executive Function in the Prepared Environment
Publication: Communications: Journal of the Association Montessori Internationale (2009-2012), vol. 2012, no. 1-2
Date: 2012
Pages: 42–53
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Abstract/Notes: Mr Quade, AMI trainer at the primary level, gives a very concise and enlightening overview of how Executive Functions relate and respond to the Montessori prepared environment. He takes in all aspects and of fers insightful observations on the recognition of sensitive periods—for order, movement, language, sensory refinement, sensitivity for small objects, and social behaviour. All these enable Montessori teachers to provide opportunities for learning at the optimal moment of receptivity.
Language: English
ISSN: 1877-539X