Abstract/Notes: In the present paper, we aim to investigate the theoretical foundations and consequent actions that moved Maria Montessori to explore, as a pioneer, the theme of individual differences. More specifically, the objective is to analyse the interconnection between the theme of differences which, in Maria Montessori’s work, features as context and pretext for informed pedagogical action steered towards inclusion in formal and non-formal educational contexts, revising the classic paradigms of intervention, in the light of the most recent interdisciplinary scientific discoveries.

Language: English

ISSN: 2036-6981

Abstract/Notes: The microstudy presented is a psycho-pedagogical experiment, which consists in applying the Montessori-specific experimental factor to a group of pre-school children in the traditional system. The investigative approach is based on a comparative study, the results obtained being interpreted from both a quantitative and a qualitative point of view. In this paper we started from the premise that Montessori strategies foster the acquisition of reading and writing skills at pre-school age. The general objectives of the investigation are the introduction into the traditional experimental system of alternative methods of acquiring reading-writing skills specific to the Montessori system and the study of the Montessori system for the acquisition of reading and writing skills in methodical terms and from the point of view of the results obtained by applying these strategies.

Language: English

ISSN: 1841-0456, 2247-8671

Abstract/Notes: Providing a meaningful and experiential learning environment for all students has long created a concern for alternate ways to teach students who are reportedly demonstrating non-mastery on state standardized assessments. As the benchmark for showing successful academic achievement increases, so does the need for discovering effective ways for students to learn. The Montessori teaching method has been in existence since the early 1900s when Dr. Montessori made her discovery of the student learning process. Dr. Montessori connected to the laws of nature and the environment for creating students who are problem-solvers with critical-thinking skills. The Montessori Method is designed to promote independent learning and support normal development in children. A Montessori lesson is defined as any interaction between an adult and a child; it incorporates techniques that are defined to serve as guidance for the adult personality in working with the child. The study investigated the impact of Montessori Method on the academic achievement of 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students. The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) was used to measure academic achievement in reading and mathematics. An ex post facto, causal-comparative design was employed. The characteristic-present samples consisted of 47 3rd, 40 4th, and 44 5th graders. There were 71 3rd, 60 4th, and 49 5th graders in the comparison samples. Due to non-probability nature of the sampling technique, external validity was limited to study participants. Due to non-experimental nature of the study, no causal inferences were drawn. A series of Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the students who received the Montessori Method of instruction and those who did not on the basis of the outcome measures of academic achievement in reading and mathematics. The mean difference effect sizes, which were used to examine the practical significance of the findings, ranged from negligible to small. Although the results of the study did not support the hypothesis, it must be pointed out that the Montessori Method of teaching facilitates self-paced learning that promotes a child's independence and encourages decision-making which are instrumental in becoming successful learners. Additionally, Montessori advocates experiences that are "real-world" and allow children to build intrinsic motivational opportunities; therefore, creating independent thinkers that will be competitive problem-solvers in the global economy of the 21st century. The limited studies on the Montessori Method of teaching offer opportunities for further investigation at all grade levels. For example, it is recommended to conduct a study to compare students who receive Montessori education during the early years of their academic life with those who receive Montessori education from pre-k to high school graduation. Because the Montessori name does not have a trademark, there are opportunities for investigating Montessori teacher preparation and comparing the preparation of the teachers to the standardized assessment results. There are also opportunities for investigating the method and curriculum used at schools that carry the name Montessori for comparison purposes amongst Montessori schools as well as in comparison to the results of the standardized assessments at these schools.

Language: English

Published: Corpus Christi, Texas, 2013

Abstract/Notes: This was previously published in American Montessori Society Bulletin (v. 8, no. 2, 1970) under the same title.

Language: English

Published: New York, New York: American Montessori Society, 1970

Abstract/Notes: The Neurosequential Model in Education (NME) is described as a developmentally sensitive and biologically respectful approach to development and learning. This paper postulates that the NME shares many commonalities with the Montessori Method in that it, too, is developmentally sensitive and adheres to biologically respectful concepts. This paper compares some of the core principles and recommended practices of the NME with those in the Montessori Method and argues that they share many commonalities. The paper also examines Dr. Montessori’s unique use of “sensitive periods” in development for educational purposes, in particular her use of the sensitive periods for movement, the social aspects of life and the sensitive period for order respectively. It argues that in doing this she was actively promoting an approach to human development and education that appears to correlate with what Dr. Bruce Perry calls a developmentally sensitive and biologically respectful approach to learning. The goal of this study is to show the science behind why many of Dr. Montessori’s original practices worked and had such a positive effect on children. This knowledge should empower Montessori educators and give them the confidence to promote authentic Montessori practices in the knowledge that they are in line with current neuroscientific theories that have been shown to be beneficial to children.

Language: English

ISSN: 2378-3923

Language: Spanish

ISSN: 0480-0974

Abstract/Notes: This article examines how leaders in public, private, and hybrid educational systems manage competing pressures in their institutional environments. Across all systems, leaders responded to system-specific puzzles by (re)building systemwide educational infrastructures to support instructional coherence and framed these efforts as rooted in concerns about pragmatic organizational legitimacy. These efforts surfaced several challenges related to educational equity; leaders framed their responses to these challenges as tied to both pragmatic and moral organizational legitimacy. To address these challenges, leaders turned to an array of disparate government and nongovernment organizations in their institutional environments to procure and coordinate essential resources. Thus, the press for instructional coherence reinforced their reliance on an incoherent institutional environment.

Language: English

DOI: 10.3102/01623737221093382

ISSN: 0162-3737

Abstract/Notes: While many children suffer from stress due to school-related factors, some alternative schooling systems, such as the Montessori pedagogy, emphasize stress-free learning environments (e.g., no grades, no tests, peer-peer learning). This study compared brain markers of stress, i.e., hippocampus, amygdala, and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) volumes, as a function of school experience. A cross-sectional comparative morphometric study was run between 45 traditionally schooled children and 44 Montessori-schooled children (3-12 years). While both groups were comparable in terms of cognitive abilities, socio-economic environment, and anxiety levels, volumetric values within their hippocampus and their mPFC differed. While there was hippocampal growth across development for all participants, there was a higher gain for Montessori-schooled children. Furthermore, female traditionally schooled children showed a loss in hippocampal and mPFC volume across age, while female Montessori-schooled children showed a gain. It seems that traditional pedagogical approaches induce mild but chronic stress, affecting underlying brain structures.

Language: English

Published: Jun 22, 2023

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this study was to consider the philosophical and pedagogical approaches of Aurobindo Ghose and Maria Montessori as a way of engendering spiritual values in to the public educational system in the United States. Available from: Proquest Dissertations and Theses

Language: English

Published: Tempe, Arizona, 1975

Abstract/Notes: This article aims to conduct a comparative analysis between early childhood traditional education and alternatives in primary education, such as the Maria Montessori method and Reggio Emilia approach. This article will be relevant and advisable for educators and parents to understand the key differences between each approach. There is no doubt that early childhood education plays an essential role in educating young minds. The question is how to find the best way to educate young children, what to choose: teacher-centered or child-centered models of teaching? Furthermore, from a parental view, the question is not only which method works the best, but also which one is more beneficial for “My Child”. Parents have difficulty choosing the right teaching option specifically for their children, which would help them become successful members of modern society in the future. Taking into consideration our teaching experience of more than twenty-five years, along with researching many pedagogical and educational books and articles, we came to an interesting conclusion about both – traditional and alternatives in teaching young minds. Alongside, we discovered that no matter how beneficial is the true idea of any teaching method, unfortunately, not every school is a true barrier to the philosophy, theory, and teaching approach behind the school's name brand.

Language: English

DOI: 10.24234/se.v7i2.8

ISSN: 2953-7886, 2579-2881