Abstract/Notes: Die Montessori-Pädagogik ist ein Klassiker der Reformpädagogik – und heute aktueller denn je. Denn im Mittelpunkt stehen Individualisierung, Freiarbeit und selbstbestimmtes Lernen. Eva Schumacher präsentiert in dieser Einführung anschaulich das Erziehungskonzept Maria Montessoris mit besonderem Fokus auf die pädagogische Praxis und die dafür erforderlichen Materialien. So werden neben den theoretischen Grundlagen alle Materialbereiche vorgestellt – von den Sinnes- und Dimensionsmaterialien über die Mathematikmaterialien bis hin zur Kosmischen Erziehung (Kosmisches Material) – und ihre Anwendung wird anhand ausgewählter Beispiele und Farbfotos erläutert. Die Verankerung der Montessori-Didaktik in der aktuellen Entwicklungs- und Lernpsychologie sowie in der empirischen Schulforschung und Schulreform zeigen zudem die Aktualität der Montessori-Pädagogik auf. Literaturempfehlungen, nützliche Adressen und Überblickstabellen vervollständigen das Buch. [Montessori education is a classic of reform education - and today more relevant than ever. The focus is on individualization, free work and self-determined learning. In this introduction, Eva Schumacher clearly presents Maria Montessori's educational concept with a particular focus on pedagogical practice and the materials required for it. In addition to the theoretical basics, all material areas are presented - from sensory and dimensional materials to mathematics materials to cosmic education (cosmic material) - and their application is explained using selected examples and color photos. The anchoring of Montessori didactics in current development and learning psychology as well as in empirical school research and school reform also show the topicality of Montessori pedagogy. Literature recommendations, useful addresses and overview tables complete the book.]
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
Abstract/Notes: The most common reason for a person to partake in reading and writing is enjoyment which also provides intrinsic motivation. Students who have intrinsic motivation are more likely to be engaged and interact deeply in the literacy activity, which has shown to increase comprehension and higher reading achievement. Intrinsic motivation and engagement are vital in creating life-long readers and writers. Engaged literacy activities are both a goal of instruction and a pathway to achieve success. The purpose of this research project was to study the effects of engagement strategies and the use of social justice literature on literacy development. This study took place at a public Montessori school located in the Midwest. There was a total of twelve students which consisted of first and second graders aged six through eight years old. Over the span of the twelve-week study, the engagement strategies of experiential learning, interactive read-aloud, and interactive writing were implemented. Student behaviors, knowledge, and skills were assessed to place students on the Reading Developmental Continuum through observation and miscue analysis before and after the strategies were implemented to determine literacy growth in engagement, comprehension, and language-to-print connections. The results indicated growth in all three reading components. It also revealed an increase in students’ social justice awareness and sense of agency. This suggests that engagement strategies rooted in rich meaningful literature positively impact students’ literacy development.
Abstract/Notes: Includes the following sections: Man and Animals; The Function of the Child; The Spiritual Embryo; The Absorbent Mind; Adaptation; Contact with the World; Conclusions
Language: English
Published: Amsterdam, The Netherlands:
Montessori-Pierson Publishing Company, 2007
ISBN: 978-90-79506-15-6
Series: The Montessori Series , 3
Master's Thesis (Action Research Report)
Literacy Approaches in Montessori 3-6: An Action Research Project
Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this research study was to examine connections between the early introduction of Montessori phonograms and increased student-led writing with the Movable Alphabet. This paper discusses the politics of literacy instruction and common literacy approaches used in Montessori early childhood settings, and examines best literacy practices for early childhood students. The study gathered data from Montessori early childhood educators and 19 students in a Montessori early childhood classroom. The classroom data was collected over four weeks, introducing phonograms alongside individual Sandpaper Letters. Children were then given the choice between using objects to guide their writing with the Movable Alphabet and writing their own words without object prompts. The findings indicate that when given the choice, children choose to write their own words. Based on the conclusions from this study, the Montessori education community could benefit from further study on literacy instruction and high-fidelity Montessori practice.
Language: English
Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2020
Book
The acquisition of written narrative discourse competence: the emergent literacy of young children writing to read in Montessori and kindergarten classrooms
V. Olsen
(Author)
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Language: English
Published: [S.I.]:
University of California, 1992
Book
Montessori Read and Write: A Parents' Guide to Literacy for Children
Lynne Lawrence
(Author)
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Language: English
Published: New York, New York:
Crown, 1998
Book
Montessori Read and Write: A Parents' Guide to Literacy for Children
Lynne Lawrence
(Author)
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Language: English
Published: New York, New York:
Three Rivers Press, 1998
Edition: 1. pbk. ed
ISBN: 0-609-80335-2
Article
From Ecological Literacy to Ecological Design Intelligence
Abstract/Notes: Traces the richness of oral forms of expression used in nonliterate societies from ancient times to the present. Discusses the implications of research on orality for the early childhood curriculum and for methods of teaching young children. (BC)
Abstract/Notes: Discusses the literacy program of a charter school in Denver, Colorado, which focuses on the basic literacy of reading and writing spoken, computer, and mathematical languages, along with the languages of music, dance, and the visual arts. The curriculum also emphasizes higher-level scientific, civic, and cultural literacy.