Abstract/Notes: Review of report by this title by Christopher Ball

Language: English

Language: English

ISSN: 0013-1784, 1943-5878

Language: English

Language: English

Abstract/Notes: Though Montessorians have existed in the United States for nearly a century, a distinctly American version of the system did not begin to take hold until the late 1950s. What was referred to at the time as the "second spring" was actually a remarkable moment not just for Montessori education, but also for American culture at large. For the Montessori movement, the years 1959 to 1963 witnessed rapid growth, turmoil, and the establishment of educational, political, and ideological patterns that still influence the movement today. In this article, the authors trace what happened in those years, why it happened, and the impact those events had on the subsequent development of Montessori education in the United States as they look at the historical context surrounding those events in order to provide a richer understanding of the origins of the American Montessori identity. A closer look at the early years of the movement reveals a complex story of two strong personalities, Mario Montessori and Nancy McCormick Rambusch, who shared a deep commitment to the Montessori ideal, and who squabbled endlessly over how to realize that ideal.

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Abstract/Notes: discussion of research project

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Abstract/Notes: This qualitative study used a narrative research design to collect field texts from 40 students in first grade through college to record participants’ memories of learning in Kindergarten. The research addressed the question, “Will study participants recall more memories of self-initiated lessons and activities than other lesson types?” and explored a phenomenon experienced by the researcher during her 15 years of teaching Kindergarten that students consistently request the choice-based work time above all other activities, including recess. Data were collected from interview transcripts and analyzed in three formats: Coded Data, a Focus Word study, and an Initial Memories collection. Findings were based on the assumption that participants relayed memories that were important to them, reflecting areas of instructional importance to early childhood learning. Results in all three data formats emphatically indicated that choice, play, creativity, friends, and fun are the keys to successful, joyful early childhood learning and school experiences.

Language: English

Published: Moraga, California, 2022

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Abstract/Notes: This study was designed to explore the role of educational evaluation in three selected Montessori elementary classrooms; to characterize educational evaluation in these three classrooms in terms of an educational philosophical orientation and an evaluation model; and to analyze critically and interpret the observed role of educational evaluation within the framework of Montessori philosophy and methods. Three classrooms (two kindergarten-first and one second-third grade class) from two Montessori schools in the Newark-Wilmington, Delaware area comprised the sample of the study. Following a pilot study, arrangements were made to interview parents, teachers, and students. Other sources of data included 60 hours of classroom observation and three questionnaires that focused on educational philosophy and evaluation. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used in the classrooms, but the emphasis was on the former approaches, such as observation and questioning. Problem-solving techniques were used, especially with regard to social conflicts. The instructional programs and evaluation primarily were individualized. The observed evaluative practices were consistent with Montessori philosophy and represented a logical outgrowth of the Montessori method. Evaluation was carried out in a positive, supportive way that focused on the individuals; however, the well-being of the class was also important. The observed evaluative practices observed were indicative of a liberal philosophical orientation. Reasons for this assessment include the emphasis on problem-solving, the importance of the individual and of the group as a social collective, the use of non-testing evaluation practices, the individualized nature of the evaluation activities, and the guiding/collaborative nature of the teacher's role. Quantitative methods were used, but served to confirm observations gathered by less formal means. For both teachers and children, the approach to evaluation was an individualized one. An aspect common to both teachers and children was the understanding and appreciation of others as individuals. Teachers sought information on which they could make decisions regarding individuals and the class as a social unit. Students were encouraged to become independent by learning how to evaluate their own work, to become their own best critics.

Language: English

Published: Newark, Delaware, 1989