Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this paper, through a review of current research, is to compare and contrast the Montessori Method and traditional programs and to identify the extent of the social and academic benefit from each. Researchers have found that there are some academic advantages to both programs. However, the academic gains that a child makes in traditional prekindergarten programs appear to diminish as the child gets older. Socially, children who have attended Montessori programs appear to enjoy school and have better relationships with peers and teachers than those in traditional program. An important thing to note is much of this research is inconclusive because of sampling bias due to study design. It is my recommendation that some of the aspects of Montessori education be incorporated into the traditional programs and that this continue as a supplement to the regular school day. Perhaps if students continue to be provided with additional support as they are in prekindergarten, the academic gains experienced as a result could be longer lasting.

Language: English

Published: Marquette, Michigan, 2009

Language: German

Published: Münster, Germany: LIT, 2008

ISBN: 978-3-8258-0850-1

Series: Impulse der Reformpädagogik , 19

Language: German

Published: Innsbruck, Germany: Studien Verlag, 2009

Edition: 1st ed.

ISBN: 978-3-7065-4721-5 3-7065-4721-X

Series: Initiative neues Lernen

Abstract/Notes: The study aims to evaluate the early childhood education curriculum developed in 2013 using Demirel’s analytical curriculum evaluation model through preschool teachers’ views. The mixed research method was utilized in this study. The participants of the study consist of preschool teachers working in independent public pre-school affiliated with the Ministry of National Education Ankara/ Turkey. The quantitative data consisted of 203 preschool teachers’ responses selected from all districts of Ankara using a stratified sampling method, while the qualitative data consisted of 10 preschool teachers’ responses who volunteered to participate interview. The data of the study were collected through a questionnaire and semi-structured interview form. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics while qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis. After analyzing the quantitative and qualitative data separately, they were reported in the results section in line with the research questions. The findings of this study revealed that preschool teachers have both positive and negative views about the early childhood education curriculum. As a result of the study, preschool teachers expressed positive views regarding the clarity, comprehensibility, and flexibility of the 2013 early childhood education curriculum they applied, while negative views arose about the existence of a single curriculum for different age groups, lack of resources, limited applicability for all environment, and inadequacy addressing 21st-century skills and new education trends in today's conditions. Additionally, views have been expressed advocating for a longer duration of early childhood education for 5-year-old children.

Language: English

Published: Ankara, Turkey, 2023

Abstract/Notes: The Portland Chapter 1 Early Childhood Education Program is one of three arrangements in the district to offer education for preschool children. Together, the programs enrolled 1,500 students during 1986-87. Although there are some differences among programs, the one located at Kenton School is typical of most. It consists of 3 classrooms, each holding a morning and an afternoon session of 2.5 hours each, with each session having the capacity for 20 students. Each classroom is staffed with a certified teacher and an aide. Other professional staff who were involved included the principal, program coordinator, speech therapist, and community agent. Program costs amounted to approximately 2,000 dollars per year per child. The curriculum covered language, math, small and large motor functions, art and music, and personal and social development. Program activities alternated between large and small group contexts, with student movement around the classroom quite unrestricted except during direct instruction. Many of the techniques replicated those of the Headstart Program and the Montessori method. Data obtained via a rating form containing a large sample of the skills taught in the seven skill areas and via follow-up of children who completed the program indicate that the program helps children master skills and that replication of the program across years has been consistent. Evaluation instruments are appended. (TJH)

Language: English

Published: Portland, Oregon, Aug 1987

Abstract/Notes: Oriented toward a direct instructional routine in preparation for regular school, the Philadelphia Prekindergarten Head Start Program (PKHS) provides experiences to counter-balance effects of social and economic disadvantagement; parent involvement; staff development; and special supportive services. It employs five instructional models: Bank Street, Behavioral Analysis, Montessori, open classroom, and responsive learning. Observations indicate that children's activities usually emphasized language and social developmental skill areas, while adults were primarily observed in group leader or direct teacher roles. When tested against the Developmental Behavior Checklist, PKHS children accomplished approximately the same number of items as the total prekindergarten population. During the course of the program the number of children identified as developmentally "delayed" or "suspicious" decreased by 50 percent. It also appears that the program has a positive lasting effect on children's scores on standardized tests through grade 5. Children enrolled in the program received extensive psychological, nutritional and social services during 1979-80. Parent involvement in the program was high in both classroom participation and policy or planning meetings. Staff development was also a major component of the program. Over 70 percent of staff attended more than five workshops during the year. (Author/AEF)

Language: English

Published: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jan 1981

Abstract/Notes: Research shows that early childhood interventions with fidelity to Montessori model generate learner’s outcomes that outperform the traditional model. The evidence is confirmed in developed and in developing countries. This formative evaluation reports the results of a Montessori model in implementation in township of Mfuleni, located in Cape Town, South Africa. Providing insights into the functioning of the programme, the evaluation confirms that the roll out of the Montessori model is still underway which may explain the reason of the learners not outperforming the comparison group.

Language: English

Published: Cape Town, South Africa, 2019

Abstract/Notes: This study describes and evalutes the first year of a bilingual Montessori early childhood program implemented at two sites in central Texas. In-depth descriptions are provided of two program components--oral language development and classroom management. Hypotheses related to changes in students' language proficiency and classroom behavior were tested, using the James Language Dominance Test to measure comprehension and production of Spanish and English, and the Coping Analysis Schedule for Educational Settings to assess changes in students' behavior. The description of the oral language development component of the program includes instructional activities for vocabulary enrichment, isolating the sounds of language, and clarifying the functions of words. Adaptations of the Montessori method for implementation in a bilingual setting are presented, along with the discussion of two unexpected findings--the inhibition of the use of Spanish by many Mexican American children, and the association of one language or the other with a particular set of materials. The description of the classroom management component of the program includes the preparation of the environment, observation and record-keeping practices, the basic techniques for presenting materials, and "grace and courtesy lessons." Maria Montessori's views on the nature of education, the role of the teacher, and the concept of discipline and behavior change are discussed and compared to more modern theorists. The results of the formative evaluation reveal that children made significant improvements in English and Spanish comprehension and production. Behavior changes observed included positive shifts in percentage of time spent in self-directed activity, in paying attention to the task at hand, and in positive social interaction. The results of the study are basically descriptive, since only the children in this program were tested and observed. The results indicate that the program goals for the first year were met, and point to a number of possible changes for program improvement, including the use of more Spanish, the recruitment of more Spanish-dominant students, the development of separate sets of materials for Spanish and English instruction, and the sharing by teachers of their particular classroom management strategies.

Language: English

Published: Austin, Texas, 1980

Abstract/Notes: During the past ten years, a total of 3,642 teachers and administrators have attended the Korean Montessori Teacher Training Program (KMTTP). A sample of Montessori teachers (n = 261) and Korean parents (n = 375) from 32 Korean Montessori schools located in the major cities of Korea were surveyed in order to evaluate the effectiveness of this teacher preparation program. The EXPECTATIONS AND GOAL ATTAINMENT QUESTIONNAIRE (EGAQ), designed by the researcher, was the instrumentation used to conduct this study. Major findings demonstrated that 74.5 percent of the teachers surveyed indicated that their main reasons for attending the KMTTP were to increase their professional competency and their knowledge of child development through Montessori philosophy. The correlation between teachers' levels of satisfaction with their preparation and perceived effectiveness of the training program was higher (r =.29, p $<$.05) than between their levels of satisfaction with the program and their perceptions of their preparedness after completion of training (r =.18, p $<$.05). Significant differences existed between perceived effectiveness of the KMTTP and teachers' ages, positions, and years of experience. Older teachers and those with more advanced teaching positions expressed greater satisfaction with the program. Teachers indicated that, upon completion of the KMTTP, they felt more prepared in, than knowledgeable of, Montessori educational methodology. From the parent perspective, the most frequently cited reason (74.3%) for sending their child to a Montessori School was to provide a learning environment that nurtured their child's interpersonal growth. A majority of the parents (58.5%) were very satisfied with the Montessori experience; no parents were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. In correlating the effectiveness of Montessori education with specific outcomes, parents indicated highest levels of satisfaction in the areas of "concentration" and "academic achievement." A majority of the teachers surveyed (52.8%) encouraged the implementation of the Montessori Teacher Training Program in neighboring countries, with 42.1 percent strongly encouraging implementation. This study demonstrated the need for further development and improvement in the area of Montessori teacher training in Korea.

Language: English

Published: San Francisco, California, 1994

Abstract/Notes: It is quite clear that there is considerable disagreement as to the ways children learn and the ways teachers should teach. There is very little conclusive data comparing the major efforts in this field particularly with respect to any one factor being the sole contributor to the superiority of any one effort. The recent literature on learning and teaching almost invariably returns to some form of curriculum reform. However, there is widespread agreement that teachers teach more effectively and children learn more efficiently if they are in environments conducive to their preferred styles. Magnet Schools are vehicles that require different arrangements for teaching and learning. This study explores the attitudes of teachers, parents, and students in such an environment. Additionally, it examines the academic performance of students when parents or the students themselves select their learning environment and teaching method. The data will permit comparisons among the various groups of Magnet and non-Magnet parents, teachers, and students. The primary method for data collection is academic testing and structural surveys of the populations relative to Magnet and non-Magnet participants. The data will also indicate how individuals view programs and curriculum when they are involved in them. Because the population surveyed and tested involved a cross-section of academic abilities, the data will be especially useful to local school district officials interested in providing for individual differences in teaching and learning. The control model of Magnet School programs provides an ongoing testing ground for fine-tuning educational theories which may be essential for productive learning in the broader system as well.

Language: English

Published: Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, 1984