Abstract/Notes: An innovative trend in pedagogy, known as "new education", which appeared in many European countries in the first half of the 20th century, aimed at the renewal of the school, learning conditions and the learning process, assigned a new role to the teacher, and emphasized a new approach to the child. One of the many representatives of the "new upbringing" was Maria Montessori (1870–1952), an Italian doctor and educator. The knowledge of M. Montessori's pedagogical theory in Poland was facilitated by her book publications and the pedagogical and psychological literature of Polish educators, which referred to the concept of Montessori education. The aim of the article is to present the reception of M. Montessori's pedagogical theory in preschool education in the years 1918–1939.

Language: English

DOI: 10.18778/2450-4491.11.09

ISSN: 2450-4491

Language: English

Abstract/Notes: Early childhood education has been shown to positively impact future academic performance, as well as social and emotional development. With ever-increasing demands being placed on children's academic performances, school readiness has become a key component of academic success. The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to examine the effectiveness of different early childhood curriculum models in preparing children for kindergarten, and to investigate whether one early childhood curriculum model better prepares students than another. The theoretical framework for the study is based on the developmental constructivist theories of Piaget, Vygotsky, Erikson, and Dewey. Kindergarten teachers assessed school readiness by administering the Kindergarten Observation Form. Each student had matriculated from either Montessori, High/Scope, or Reggio Emilia programs or early childhood programs without an identified curriculum model. Kindergarten teachers rated students on 24 items related to areas of cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical development. ANOVA and post-hoc tests revealed that students matriculating from programs without an identified curriculum model scored significantly better than their counterparts, F (3,122) = 5.33, p = .002. Implications for social change include improved kindergarten readiness on the part of students, increased awareness by educators as to best practices in early childhood education, and, a move towards understanding the types of environments in which children learn best.

Language: English

Published: Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2012

Language: English

Abstract/Notes: This article presents and analyses a didactic proposal based on manipulative material (Knobless Cylinders) used in a Montessori classroom of 3-6-year-old pre-schoolers. Choosing this material is justified in relation to the competencies/strategies/skills used during the development of mathematical patterning. Numerous studies emphasise the importance of patterns in mathematics and experimental sciences instruction from early childhood onward. However, there are several educational factors that have not yet been clarified, such as meaningful learning, the overuse of abstract visual patterns that are distant from the student’s previous life experience, etc. This article discusses the sequence of proposed activities and certain critical issues.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1080/03004279.2022.2032786

ISSN: 0300-4279, 1475-7575

Language: Dutch

Abstract/Notes: Although the Montessori Method of education is more than 100 years old, the number of Montessori schools in the United States has exponentially increased since 1990. Montessori methods and practices can be complex and difficult for parents to understand, even among parents whose child attends Montessori schools. Moreover, it is unclear why parents decide to enroll their child in Montessori schools. This study presents the results of a survey administered to 124 parents whose children were enrolled in 3 Montessori schools in Massachusetts. Findings indicate that 4 reasons motivated parents’ choice of Montessori education: attraction to Montessori principles, perceived fit with the Montessori philosophy or school, anticipated outcomes, and attraction to the Montessori classroom. These findings indicate that, to support parents’ decision-making, Montessori administrators should invest in parental and public awareness about Montessori education and provide prospective families with specific information related to school fit, classroom environment, and long-term student outcomes.

Language: English

DOI: 10.17161/jomr.v4i1.6714

ISSN: 2378-3923

Abstract/Notes: After completing her training in 1913, Margaret Naumburg, in her lectures and articles, portrayed a highly emotional and romanticized image of Maria Montessori. Naumburg established several Montessori schools in New York City: at the Henry Street Settlement in 1913; at the Leete School from 1914 to 1916; and in the New York public school system in 1915. Stymied by bureaucracy and inadequate funding, she abandoned her public school experiment. Moving from Montessorian principles, Naumburg identified increasingly with child-centered Progressive education but added a dimension from Jung’s Analytic Psychology which emphasized children’s need to free their emotions through imaginative, creative self-expression through art. She founded her own “Children’s School” in 1916 in New York City, subsequently renamed the Walden School. She is also famous for developing dynamically oriented Art Therapy.

Language: English

Published: Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, 2020

ISBN: 978-3-030-54835-3

Series: Historical Studies in Education