Abstract/Notes: Little is known about the influence of Montessori methods on children's physical activity (PA). This cross-sectional study compared PA of children attending Montessori and traditional preschools. We enrolled 301 children in 9 Montessori and 8 traditional preschools in Columbia, South Carolina. PA was measured by accelerometry on weekdays during preschool (In-School), non-school (Non-School), and all day (All Day). Minutes/hour of light, moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA), and total PA (light + MVPA) were calculated. Children attending Montessori preschools accumulated more In-School light (7.7 vs. 6.5 minute/hour), MVPA (7.7 versus 6.5 minute/hour), and total PA (15.4 versus 13.0 minute/hour) than children attending traditional preschools, after adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, body mass index, parent education and neighborhood poverty index. For Non-School (8.5 versus 6.2 minute/hour) and All Day (8.5 versus 7.6 minute/hour), children in Montessori preschools accumulated more MVPA than children in traditional preschools. In-School PA was higher for children in private Montessori than public Montessori preschools (8.1 versus 7.0 minute/hour; 8.1 versus 6.7 minute/hour; 16.1 versus 13.6 minute/hour, for light, MVPA, and total PA, respectively). Children attending Montessori preschools were more active than children attending traditional preschools. Adopting the Montessori system may be an important strategy for promoting PA in children.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1111/josh.12207

ISSN: 1746-1561

Abstract/Notes: Background This study aimed to compare the levels of objectively-measured sedentary behavior in children attending Montessori preschools with those attending traditional preschools. Methods The participants in this study were preschool children aged 4 years old who were enrolled in Montessori and traditional preschools. The preschool children wore ActiGraph accelerometers. Accelerometers were initialized using 15-second intervals and sedentary behavior was defined as <200 counts/15-second. The accelerometry data were summarized into the average minutes per hour spent in sedentary behavior during the in-school, the after-school, and the total-day period. Mixed linear regression models were used to determine differences in the average time spent in sedentary behavior between children attending traditional and Montessori preschools, after adjusting for selected potential correlates of preschoolers’ sedentary behavior. Results Children attending Montessori preschools spent less time in sedentary behavior than those attending traditional preschools during the in-school (44.4. min/hr vs. 47.1 min/hr, P = 0.03), after-school (42.8. min/hr vs. 44.7 min/hr, P = 0.04), and total-day (43.7 min/hr vs. 45.5 min/hr, P = 0. 009) periods. School type (Montessori or traditional), preschool setting (private or public), socio-demographic factors (age, gender, and socioeconomic status) were found to be significant predictors of preschoolers’ sedentary behavior. Conclusions Levels of objectively-measured sedentary behavior were significantly lower among children attending Montessori preschools compared to children attending traditional preschools. Future research should examine the specific characteristics of Montessori preschools that predict the lower levels of sedentary behavior among children attending these preschools compared to children attending traditional preschools.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-10-2

ISSN: 1479-5868

Abstract/Notes: The relationship between time in Montessori and Traditional Preschool programs and the preschool child's develoment of [1] personal skills, [2] relationship with teachers, [3] peer relations, [4] behavioral control, and [5] cognitive skills with age controlled was used to compare the relative effectiveness of the programs. This design was necessary since it is likely that parents who select the Montessori program for their child are different from parents selecting traditional preschool programs for their children. Three Montessori programs [n = 108] and three traditional programs [n = 116] provided the subjects for the study. The Pre Kindergarten Scale [PKS], a multiple choice behavioral rating scale was completed by the programs’ teachers on each child. The results revealed that the only variable significant in predicting time in program for the traditional program, relationship with teacher, was the only variable insignificant in predicting length of time in program for the Montessori program. The strongest relationship was for length of time in the Montessori program and relationship with peers [18 percent of variance] with age controlled.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1080/0300443910720111

ISSN: 0300-4430, 1476-8275

Abstract/Notes: The aim of this study is to analyze the peer play behaviors of preschool children according to views of their teachers and their parents by the type of school. The research sample consisted of parents of 36-72 months old children attending Private Montessori Preschools and Private Preschools in Çankaya, Ankara (N = 243) and teachers working in these schools (N = 46). Penn Interactive Peer Play Scale-Parent Form (PIPPS-P) and Penn Interactive Peer Play Scale-Teacher Form (PIPPS-T) that were developed by Fantuzzo, Mendez and Tighe (1998) and were made its adaptation to Turkish by Ahmetoğlu, Acar and Aral (2016, 2017), General Information Form "including sociodemographic characteristics of children and their parents and General Information Form which includes sociodemographic and professional characteristics of teachers were used. The study was designed in quantitative research approach and survey method was used. While analyzing the data, Independent Sample t Test, Paired t Test and descriptive statistical methods were used. In the result of the study; it is seen that the majority of the parents in both groups are between 36 and 40 years of age, they have a job and they work, have a nuclear family, and have one child. It is observed that teachers working in Montessori Private Schools are younger, have higher level education than the teachers working in Private Schools. It was found that all of the teachers allow outdoor time to children in daily routine in both groups. Outdoor time span varies from school to school at Montessori Private Preschools. Outdoor time span varies from school to school besides it varies from teacher to teacher in the same school at Private Preschools. It has seen in the research that Private preschools' teachers didn't take Montessori teacher training and Montessori preschool teacher's took Montessori teacher training. It was determined that the teachers working in the Montessori preschools took Montessori trainings from the school director that they are working for. Factor Analyses showed that there is no significant difference in the scores of "Play Disruption" and "Play Disconnection" factors of Penn Interactive Peer Play Scale-Parent Form (PIPPS-P) and Penn Interactive Peer Play Scale-Teacher Form (PIPPS-T) (p>0,05). There is significant difference in the third factor of both scales: "Play Disconnection" (p<0,05). Teacher scores are higher than parents' scores. In addition, the opinions of the teachers who participated in the research were compared with the opinions of parents. Factor analyes show that there is significant different in all areas (p<0,05). Teacher's scores are higher than parents' scores in tha factors of "Play Disruption" and "Play Disconnection". Parents' scores are higher than teachers' scores in factor of "Play Disconnection". Preschool is a period from three to six years. This age range is a period in which children play with their peers. As a result of playing with peers, positive play behaviors ("Play Interaction") such as sharing his/her toy with a friend, showing positive emotions during the play and negative play behaviors ("Play Disruption") such as usurping his/her friend toys, crying, showing agression are common play behaviors of preschool children. As a result of the study, both the teachers and parents' opinions show that the positive and negative play behaviors of children do not differ according to the type of school. In other words, there is no difference between the positive and negative play behaviors of preschool children who attend Montessori and who attend Non-Montessori schools. According to the result, we can say that wherever there is a child there is play and this situation does not differ according to the type of school. However, according to the type of school, the point that differs is about "Play Disconnection". The scores of the "Play Disconneciton" which includes play behaviors such as wandering outside the play group, refusing to participate in play are high in Montessori group. In other words, "Play Disconnection" behaviors are more common in children who are attending Montessori schools. The reason for the result can be explained by the principles of Montessori education. The principle of free choice and respect to the child. In Montessori schools, children are not forced for anything even play. Therefore, the child participates in the play whenever he/she wants. If he/she doesn't want to participate in the play it is okey for teachers so children are free walking in a classroom, outside the play group. / Bu çalışmada; Montessori eğitimi veren özel okul öncesi eğitim kurumlarına devam eden çocuklar ile MEB programı uygulayan özel okul öncesi eğitim kurumlarına devam eden çocukların oyun davranışlarının, anne-baba ve öğretmen görüşlerine göre incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu, Ankara ili Çankaya ilçesinde bulunan Montessori eğitimi veren özel okul öncesi eğitim kurumları ve MEB programı uygulayan özel okul öncesi eğitim kurumlarına devam eden 36-72 aylık çocukların anne-babaları (n=243) ve öğretmenleri (n=46) oluşturmaktadır. Çalışma grubundaki çocukların akran oyun davranışlarını incelemek amacıyla Fantuzzo, Mendez ve Tighe (1998) tarafından geliştirilen; Ahmetoğlu, Acar ve Aral (2016, 2017) tarafından Türkçeye uyarlaması yapılan "Penn Etkileşimli Akran Oyun Ölçeği Ebeveyn Formu (PEAOÖ-E)", "Penn Etkileşimli Akran Oyun Ölçeği Öğretmen Formu (PEAOÖ-Ö)", çocukların ve anne-babalarının sosyodemografik özelliklerini içeren "Anne-Baba Genel Bilgi Formu" ile öğretmenlerin sosyodemografik ve mesleki özelliklerini içeren "Öğretmen Genel Bilgi Formu" kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde parametrik testlerden Bağımlı Örneklem t Tesi (Independent Samples t Test) ve Bağımsız Örneklem t Testi (Paired Samples t Test), tanımlayıcı istatistiksel metotlar (yüzde, ortalama, maksimum ve minumum değerler) kullanılmıştır. Araştırmada; her iki gruptaki anne-babalarının büyük çoğunluğunun 36-40 yaş aralığında olduğu, çalıştığı, çoğunluğunun çekirdek aileye ve tek çocuğa sahip olduğu görülmektedir. Montessori eğitimi uygulayan ÖOÖEK'da çalışan öğretmenlerin MEB programı uygulayan ÖOÖEK'ndaki öğretmenlere göre daha genç oldukları, lisans/lisansüstü mezuniyet oranının daha yüksek olduğu görülmektedir. Her iki grupta da öğretmenlerin, çocukları her gün açık havaya çıkardıkları, Montessori eğitimi veren okullarda günlük açık hava saatinin sadece okuldan okula değiştiği, okul bazında ise her okulun standart bir açık hava saati uygulamasının bulunduğu tespit edilmiştir. MEB programı uygulayan kuramlarda ise açık hava saatinin kurumdan kuruma ve aynı kurumda çalışan öğretmenden öğretmene değişiklik gösterdiği saptanmıştır. Montessori okullarında çalışan öğretmenlerin Montessori eğitimi almış ya da hali hazırda eğitim alıyor oldukları ve bu eğitimleri kurum müdürlerinin verdiği belirlenmiştir. Hem öğretmen (PEAOÖ-Ö) hem de ebeveyn formunun (PEAOÖ-E) "oyun etkileşimi" ve "oyunun bozulması" alt faktörlerinden alınan puanlar arasındaki farklılık anlamlı değilken (p>0,05), "oyundan kopma" davranışında Montessori eğitimi veren ÖOÖEK devam eden çocuklar yönünde anlamlı farklılık bulunduğu görülmüştür (p<0,05). Araştırmaya alınan çocukların akran oyun davranışlarının anne-baba ve öğretmen görüşleri arasında farklılık bulunup bulunmadığı incelenmiş; "Oyun Ektileşimi, Oyunun Bozulması ve Oyundan Kopma" faktörlerinin tümünde anlamlı farklılık olduğu tespit edilmiştir. "Oyun Etkileşimi ve Oyunun Bozulması" alt faktörlerindeki anlamlılık öğretmen görüşü yönünde farklılık gösteriyor iken "Oyundan Kopma" alt faktörü anne-baba görüşü yönünde anlamlı farklılık göstermektedir. Okul öncesi dönem üç-altı yaş arasını kapsayan bir dönemdir. Bu yaş aralığı çocukların akranları ile yoğun bir şekilde oyun oynadıkları bir dönemdir. Akranları ile oyun oynamanın bir sonucu olarak çocuklarda "Oyun Etkileşimi" alt faktörünün altında bulunan "arkadaşı ile oyuncağını paylaşma, oyun esnasında olumlu duygular gösterme" gibi olumlu oyun davranışları ve "Oyunun Bozulması" alt faktörünün altında bulunan "arkadaşının oyuncağını zorla alma, ağlama, kızgınlık gösterme" gibi olumsuz oyun davranışlarını gösterme durumları olağandır. Araştırma sonucundan da anlaşılacağı üzere hem öğretmen hem de anne-baba görüşlerine bakıldığında çocukların olumlu ve olumsuz oyun davranışları okul türüne göre farklılık göstermemektedir. Diğer bir ifade ile Montessori eğitimi alan ve almayan okul öncesi dönem çocuklarının olumlu ve olumsuz sayılabilecek oyun davranışlarında farklılık bulunmamaktadır. Bu sonuca göre diyebiliriz ki çocuğun bulunduğu her yerde oyun da mevcuttur ve bu durum okul türüne göre farklılık göstermemektedir. Fakat okul türüne göre farklılık gösteren nokta ise "Oyundan Kopma" alt faktöründedir. "Oyun grubunun dışında gezinir, oyuna katılmayı reddetme" gibi davranışları içeren "Oyundan Kopma" alt faktörünün puanları Montessori eğitimi alan çocuklarda yüksek çıkmıştır. Yani oyundan kopma davranışı Montessori eğitimi alan çocuklarda daha sık görülmektedir. Bunun sebebi de Montessori eğtiminin ilkelerinden çocuğa saygı, özgür seçim ilkesi, konsantrasyon ile açıklanabilir. Montessori okullarında çocuklar hiçbirşey için oyun oynamak için dahi zorlanmazlar. Dolayısıyla çocuk istediği zaman oyuna katılır, istemediğinde ise sınıfta serbest gezmede özgürdür.

Language: Turkish

Published: Ankara, Turkey, 2019

Abstract/Notes: This study analyzed intuitive mathematics abilities of preschool children and to ascertain whether there was a difference between children who were educated according to the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) preschool education program and the Montessori approach. It was also examined whether the intuitive mathematics abilities of the children who were educated according to the MoNE program and Montessori approach showed a significant difference according to variables of gender, duration of pre-school education, and educational levels of parents. The study sample of the study consisted of 121 children (56 girls, 65 boys) aged between 60-72 months. The data was collected via “Personal Information Form” and “Intuitive Mathematics Ability Scale” developed by Güven (2001). Intuitive mathematical abilities of children who were educated according to the Montessori program were more developed compared to those of children educated according to MoNE program. There was no significant difference in intuitive mathematical abilities according to duration of preschool education, education levels of parents. As a result of the study, a significant difference was observed in the intuitive math abilities of the children trained according to the MoNE program in favor of the girls, whereas no significant difference was observed trained according to the Montessori approach. The results are discussed in light of the relevant literature.

Language: Turkish

DOI: 10.7176/JSTR/6-06-12

ISSN: 2422-8702

Language: English

ISSN: 0009-3920, 1467-8624

Abstract/Notes: Preschool children were administered the IES Arrow-Dot at the beginning and end of the school year and scores compared with those based on a prior study in a Montessori preschool. Developmental trends of declining Impulsivity and rising Ego scores were corroborated. Superego development remained almost stable in contrast to a significant rise for the Montessori sample. Results support effective use of the test with preschoolers to assess baselines and developmental patterns of personality integration.

Language: English

DOI: 10.2466/pms.1975.40.1.209

ISSN: 1558-688X, 0031-5125

Abstract/Notes: Research on the outcomes of Montessori education is scarce and results are inconsistent. One possible reason for the inconsistency is variations in Montessori implementation fidelity. To test whether outcomes vary according to implementation fidelity, we examined preschool children enrolled in high fidelity classic Montessori programs, lower fidelity Montessori programs that supplemented the program with conventional school activities, and, for comparison, conventional programs. Children were tested at the start and end of the school year on a range of social and academic skills. Although they performed no better in the fall, children in Classic Montessori programs, as compared with children in Supplemented Montessori and Conventional programs, showed significantly greater school-year gains on outcome measures of executive function, reading, math, vocabulary, and social problem-solving, suggesting that high fidelity Montessori implementation is associated with better outcomes than lower fidelity Montessori programs or conventional programs.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1016/j.jsp.2012.01.001

ISSN: 0022-4405

Abstract/Notes: This study investigates the moral development of thirty 5-year-old children in Montessori and traditional preschools. Data for the study were derived from five sources: an intelligence test; a perspective taking task; an altruism/helping task; an altruism/sharing task; and an interview for exploring moral reasoning. Two 30 to 45 minute sessions were used for data gathering. Comparisons were made between school type and across the total sample in regard to altruistic behavior, specifically helping and sharing; moral judgement, specifically positive justice reasoning; and cognitive perspective taking. Positive justice reasoning and altruistic behavior were not found to be affected by exposure to a Montessori or traditional school environment. Rather, results indicated that developmental influences alone determined reasoning and behavior, thus confirming developmental theories of moral growth, and suggesting as well that direct intervention or teaching may be more effective than environment in spurring moral growth.

Language: English

Published: [S.I.]: [s.n.], 1979

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this study was to compare preschool children from classes using the Montessori method and Science-A Process Approach (S-APA) in the process skill of observation. The first stage of the study compared the programs with respect to (1) the sequential presentation, (2) the use of materials to provide sensory training, (3) practice acquired through activities, and (4) the role of the teacher. Conclusions were that because S-APA and Montessori seemed to have common elements and because both had taught the process of observation, there was a reasonable justification to compare student competence in observation. The second part of the study compared the competence on observational tasks of three groups of 25 children, ages 5 and 6. The first group received Montessori training for two years in preschool, the second group used S-APA for one year with background of another type of preschool that excluded Montessori, and the third group which served as a control had neither Montessori nor S-APA training in their two-year preschool experience. Students were tested on a set of observational tasks from the text, the Science Process Instrument. Findings showed no significant differences between the Montessori and the S-APA preschool students in regard to competence in observation. Both the Montessori and the S-APA groups scored higher than the control group. This work is based on the authors doctoral dissertation research.

Language: English

Published: Chicago, Illinois, Apr 1974