Abstract/Notes: The individual through earliest recorded history reveals contradictory views of the human life-span. "Am I a free and unique individual, able to make choices and decide my own destiny?, or, "Am I only a victim of circumstance, a speck of dust in the universe's whirlwind of fate?" Each view is recognized in education and psychology, but the latter outlook is often prominent in schools which discourage decision making. Throughout the life-span, however, the individual must make choices. Allowing the young student to progress on the road to autonomy, requires a new educational outlook. How might teacher education focus on this new perspective? Rational Autonomy (RA) is an original conceptualization of the psychological foundations for a learning-teaching theory of practice; one which promotes autonomy and reasonable decision making in children and adults. Its purpose is to provide a framework for the development of an autonomous educator who may conceptualize the interaction between the dichotomies of autonomy and rationality. These values are imbedded within the leitmotif of liberty and freedom; individuality and socialization; creativity and cooperation all natural tensions within a democracy and a democratic classroom. Cognitive psychologies today advance a view reflecting an autonomous individual who is interactive, purposeful and capable of conscious decision making. Montessori (1870-1952) recognized these traits as inherent in most children. Viewing autonomy and reason as the individual's means to full cognitive and personality development, she proposed an expansive educational psychology which would anticipate this view in cognitive psychology. Until now, few psychological definitions were available to define Montessori's theories. Thus, this thesis defines existent psychology as providing a "Social Cognitive Field" frame in which to define her theories and derive a new concept. The concept of Rational Autonomy incorporates psychological principles from human development, social, personality and learning theories. Constructs are demonstrated by interaction models of the child, family and educator. These are exemplified in a school program through a site and case study. Elementary and early childhood teacher education extends the Design into a life-span theory. The mentor-teacher relationship, curricular implications, educator group facilitation and university aims are included in the RA Design.

Language: English

Published: Corvallis, Oregon, 1989

Abstract/Notes: The documentation of educational processes and the development of children is today seen as a sign of high quality in ECE centres and as a central task of pedagogues. This general and widely undisputed setting is fed by both (elementary) pedagogical theories and programs as well as by political requirements. First, four significant educational approaches (Montessori and Waldorf education as well as the Situation approach and the Reggio approach) will be examined to see what importance they attribute to documentation. Subsequently, the today in theory and practice of elementary education dominant social constructivist educational understanding will be illuminated in more detail with regard to documentation; this is followed by an analysis of the curricula of the German federal states as relevant political framework for the work in ECE centres. Finally, these theoretical and political foundations will be brought together by working out the diversity of objectives associated with documentation as well as the different addressees of documentation.

Language: English

Published: Wiesbaden, Germany: Springer, 2022

ISBN: 978-3-658-39736-4

Abstract/Notes: Montessori education was developed over 100 years ago, and persists as a marginal ‘niche reform’ of the standard model. Here I discuss two unresolved dichotomies in early childhood education – the tension between work and play, and between structure and freedom. I explain how Montessori collapses and thereby resolves the dichotomies, and does so in a contemporary theoretical frame – one that is dynamical rather than linear. I next describe the origins and functioning of Montessori preschool environments, outcomes from the most methodologically sound studies to date, and impediments to Montessori’s more widespread adoption. I also show how Montessori is a culturally responsive pedagogy, and conclude by return to the dichotomies and how Montessori makes sense for the modern era. Originally published in: Early Child Development and Care, volume 191, issue 7–8 (2021), pp. 1196–1206.

Language: English

Published: New York, New York: Routledge, 2022

ISBN: 978-0-367-63674-6 978-0-367-63675-3 978-1-00-312021-6

Abstract/Notes: This purpose of this action research project was created to study the effects of a peace curriculum and how it can help mitigate a pandemic or a traumatic societal event. The study took place in a public Montessori School located in the Midwest. There was a total of 15 children in the classroom that consisted of both pre-k and kindergarten aged children. This was a six- week study that included a peace curriculum, strategies, and tools for children to gain an understanding of peace and how it can be achieved during traumatic or stressful situations. The Peace Curriculum included discussions on natural disasters and our current COVID-19 virus as means to familiarize traumatic events and the use of coping strategies in promoting self-care. The children were provided with different group activities, strategies, and techniques to use, such as breathing techniques, visualization, yoga/movement, and discussions on peacemakers and how we all have the power to make a difference in the world and become global citizens. Quantitative and qualitative data collections were used to both determine their understanding of their emotions and develop ways to find their inner peace, peacemaking and peace keeping skills. The results showed that the children developed an awareness of others, their environment, and their abilities to be change agents and peacemakers. The outcome proved to have been effective providing children with an environment where they feel safe to share their thoughts and apply the strategies when coping with their own traumatic experiences.

Language: English

Published: River Falls, Wisconsin, 2021

Abstract/Notes: The aim of this research is to examine the understanding of Montessori religious education for the child in early childhood. The Montessori education method has been used effectively in educational sciences studies and has been the subject of both theory and applied research. Our study is to theoretically deal with Montessori's early childhood religious education method directly from her own works and the works of some of her commentators. In the study, efforts were made to reach primary sources and then related books, articles and notifications were examined. Montessori's understanding of early childhood religious education has been examined through content analysis. As a result, it has been seen that the understanding of early childhood religious education in Montessori is a part of the Montessori education method, it is used in contemporary education systems and is the subject of various religious education approaches. / Bu araştırmanın amacı Montessori'nin erken çocukluk dönemi din eğitimi anlayışını incelemektir. Montessori eğitim metodu eğitim bilimleri çalışmalarında etkili bir şekilde kullanılmış, hem teori hem de uygulamalı araştırmalara konu olmuştur. Çalışmamız Montessori'nin erken çocukluk dönemi din eğitimi metodunu doğrudan kendi eserlerinden ve bazı yorumcularının eserlerinden hareketle teorik olarak ele almaktır. Çalışmada birincil kaynaklara ulaşılmaya gayret edilmiş daha sonra ilgili kitap, makale ve bildiriler incelenmiştir. Montessori'nin erken çocukluk dönemi din eğitimi anlayışı içerik analizine tabi tutularak incelenmiştir. Sonuç olarak Montessori'de erken çocukluk dönemi din eğitimi anlayışının Montessori eğitimi metodunun bir parçası olduğu, çağdaş eğitim sistemlerinde kullanıldığı ve çeşitli din eğitimi yaklaşımlarına konu olduğu görülmüştür.

Language: Turkish

Published: Malatya, Turkey, 2021

Abstract/Notes: In today’s world of education, there is a growing interest and emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) concepts in the classroom. Montessori education is well known for its hands-on, student-direct approach to learning. STEM also encourages hands-on, active participation from students. The purpose of this action research study is to observe the effects of technology and engineering activities on the Montessori environment. More specifically, how do these supplemental materials affect student engagement with traditional Montessori materials? STEM, more specifically Technology and Engineering, materials were introduced into a Montessori Children’s House classroom over a period of five weeks. Data was gathered through parent and student surveys, observation journals and a scientific engagement checklist in which the teacher observed student engagement with classroom materials over a period of at least two minutes. The results show an increase in student engagement overall, but a decrease in engagement with Montessori-specific materials. Once the technology and engineering activities were introduced into the classroom, the students seemed to gravitate toward those materials over traditional Montessori materials. A small-scale study such as this would benefit from more time to determine if the attraction to these “new” materials in the classroom would diminish over time. However, this study could link STEM activities to higher student engagement in the classroom.

Language: English

Published: River Falls, Wisconsin, 2020

Abstract/Notes: This research carried out in order to reveal the Italian researcher Maria Montessori’s understanding on the characteristics of early childhood period has been prepared as an edited work. In this study, the results of the scientific researches given reference or done by Montessori on the nature of the child were given place. In this respect the study sets forth Montessori’s understanding concerning the characteristics of the early childhood period under the light of scientific data. According to the findings obtained as a result of the research, it was seen that childhood period is a phase with distinctive characteristics and that children have many extraordinary and temporary skills. However, childhood period is generally perceived by adults only as a transitional period. Within this context, adults and educators were given recommendations. / İtalyan araştırmacı Maria Montessori’nin erken çocukluk döneminin özelliklerine ilişkin anlayışını ortaya koymak amacıyla yapılan bu araştırma, derleme biçiminde yapılmıştır. Bu çalışmada çocuğun doğasına ilişkin Montessori’nin atıfta bulunduğu ve bizzat kendisinin yaptığı bilimsel araştırmaların sonuçlarına yer verilmiştir. Çalışma bu yönüyle Montessori’nin erken çocukluk döneminin özelliklerine ilişkin anlayışını bilimsel verilerin ışığında ortaya koymaktadır. Araştırma sonucunda elde edilen bulgulara göre, çocukluk döneminin kendine özgü özellikleri olan bir evre olduğu ve çocukların çok sayıda olağanüstü ve geçici yeteneklere sahip oldukları görülmüştür. Oysa çocukluk dönemi genellikle yetişkinler tarafından sadece bir geçiş aşaması olarak algılanmaktadır. Bu bağlamda yetişkinlere ve eğitimcilere önerilerde bulunulmuştur.

Language: Turkish

ISSN: 1305-0060

Language: English

Language: English

Abstract/Notes: The focus of this research is the spiritual experience of young children in early childhood educational settings. Spirituality is included in the New Zealand early childhood curriculum, Te Whariki, but is a relatively unarticulated aspect of educational practice. In order to find out how spirituality is supported in early childhood educational contexts this qualitative case study research took place in three early childhood settings: a Montessori casa, a private preschool and a Steiner (Waldorf) kindergarten. The methods used in the research included participant observation, interviews and focus groups. The teachers were asked to make a video about spirituality to reflect their own context and photographs were taken in each setting. The metaphor of spiritual landscape is used in this research. In this landscape everyday experience merged with the spiritual to form the concept of everyday spirituality. The cultural theories of everyday life supported a realisation that ordinary daily activity can become wonderful and mysterious when the spiritual dimension is realised. The themes that emerged from analysis of the case studies are conceptualised as transformative aspects of learning and relationships. They are aspects of everyday spirituality identified as spiritual withness; spiritual inbetweenness; and the spiritually elsewhere. Representing spiritual experience is challenging. The thesis is written in narrative form and contains core narratives as prose and poems. Using writing as a means of discovery made communicating spirituality through the medium of words a possibility. Spirituality is proposed to be an inclusive concept that affirms a sense of connection and this thesis found that all pedagogical practices in early childhood settings have the potential to include a spiritual aspect. In Aotearoa New Zealand many children lead their everyday lives in the context of an early childhood environment that includes teachers and parents as part of that community. This thesis argues that when everyday spirituality permeates early childhood contexts that all aspects of the curriculum are realised and the spiritual experience of everyone connected to that setting is supported.

Language: English

Published: Palmerston North, New Zealand, 2007