Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this study was to compare the attitudes of preschool children toward their program experiences and school adjustment, in order to ascertain whether differences existed among program type, age, and gender variables. A total of 90 preschool boys and girls 3 to 5 years of age from a church-related program, a Montessori program, and a Head Start program participated in the study. Children were surveyed using a self-report instrument, and teachers rated the children's adjustment to school environments. Results indicated that the attitudes toward program experiences of those children in the church-related program were different from those of children in the Montessori and Head Start programs. Results suggest that, in view of the increased emphasis on early childhood programs and the establishment of numerous preschool programs, such programs for young children should be evaluated from many points of view, including that of the preschool child.

Language: English

Published: [S.I.], 1986

Abstract/Notes: The study aimed to determine in what way daily grace and courtesy lessons and more thoughtful, consistent adult intervention would affect children’s responses to conflict in an early childhood Montessori environment. There were 17 participants between the ages of three and six in an independent Montessori school in Northern Michigan. The researcher gave the children daily lessons on aspects of conflict resolution, used a scripted intervention strategy during conflict, and implemented three guided discussions throughout the course of the study. The researcher collected data by tallying number of conflicts, recording responses during guided discussions, recording details and language of each conflict, and reflecting in a journal. The study revealed that children knew many conflict resolution strategies before beginning the intervention, but they used more language from the lessons after the intervention and solved more conflicts independently. The number of conflicts decreased overall but did not consistency decline. The data shows further research is needed to support children to calm down before attempting to apply conflict resolution strategies and to determine the most effective waiting time before teacher intervention.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2017

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this action research project was to learn about early childhood Montessori teachers’ feelings and beliefs about mathematics and teaching math, and their awareness of current research regarding the importance of mathematics. Early childhood Montessori teachers were surveyed with questions and opportunities to comment. Instructors who teach Montessori mathematics to future teachers were interviewed, including questions about attitudes towards math they have seen in their adult students and opinions about the need for professional development in math. Adult students enrolled in a Montessori early childhood mathematics class were surveyed at the beginning of the course and again at the end of the course. The results showed that survey participants had both positive and negative experiences in mathematics in their own K-12/college education, with teachers/school as the greatest influencers. Many survey participants indicated that these experiences had long-term effects on their feelings towards math. Montessori instructors have seen hesitancy towards math among their adult students. Many of their students, as well as several survey participants, expressed that the Montessori approach to mathematics helped them, as adults, gain a better understanding of mathematical concepts and increased their confidence. While survey participants agreed that their Montessori teacher education program prepared them to effectively teach math, there is room for further study on the awareness of current research regarding the importance of mathematics in early childhood, increased specificity in Montessori math standards, opportunities for providing mathematical experiences for children throughout the classroom and continued professional development and self-reflection on one’s teaching practice.

Language: English

Published: River Falls, Wisconsin, 2022

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this study was to analyse how parents’ decision making process of early childhood education choices in Pakistan is influenced by parental perceptions. The theoretical framework used for this study is Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory. A qualitative design survey together with one to one interview of 8 parents of children aged 3-5 years enrolled in private and public ECE programs was used to answer four research questions on parents’ decision making for ECE selection. The study revealed that Pakistani parents relied on personal priorities such as socio-economic as well as educational backgrounds, traditional views and expectations which influenced their decision-making process. Even though parents considered information from multiple sources they haphazardly ordered quality indicators without regard for the influence of any quality compromising indicator on their child’s development.

Language: English

Published: Gothenburg, Sweden, 2022

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: هدفت الدراسة الحالية الي قياس مدي فاعلية برنامج تدريبي قائم على طريقة منتسوري في تحسين مهارات القراءة لدي التلاميذ ذوي صعوبات التعلم بمرحلة الطفولة المبكر [The current study aimed to measure the effectiveness of a training program based on the Montessori method in improving reading skills among pupils with learning difficulties in early childhood.]

Language: Arabic

ISSN: 2410-874X

Abstract/Notes: Although a little dated in terms of related research, Haines, dissertation provides a thorough introduction to the topic as well as substantially confirming the accuracy of the ages assigned to each period by Maria Montessori.

Language: English

Published: Edwardsville, Illinois, 1997

Language: English

Abstract/Notes: Since early childhood programs were first introduced in the United States in the 1820s, early childhood professionals have been aware that teaching and caring for young children involves establishing relationships with their families. This study is a historical examination of the relationships between early childhood programs and parents. The study considered the political, social, and economic factors that have influenced the development of relationships between parents and early childhood programs, including: infant schools; kindergarten; laboratory schools; nursery schools; Montessori programs; day nurseries and child care; and Head Start. The study showed that the history of parent involvement in early childhood programs is essentially the history of early childhood programs. Since the 1820s, early childhood professionals have provided ample literary evidence of how parents were expected to be involved in early childhood programs, and how these expectations were communicated to them. Literary evidence was the basis for this study. Evidence used in the study included: autobiographies, journals, recollections, and letters of key participants; manuals of early childhood practice; proceedings from meetings and conferences; publications from government agencies; articles and commentaries from professional journals and popular magazines; theoretical and practical works by leaders in the field; research studies; textbooks; and childrearing advice books. The history of early childhood programs reveals a wide range of attempts to bring parents and early childhood programs together. At various times and in various contexts, these attempts have been called parent cooperation, parent education, parent participation, parent involvement, and teacher-parent partnership. Throughout most of the history of early childhood programs, parents were cast in the role of learner. More recently, the ideal relationship between parents and early childhood professionals has been characterized as that of a partnership. The various terms that have been used to describe the relationships between parents and early childhood programs were examined through the course of this study, as were the assumptions and beliefs that have influenced the interpretation of these terms.

Language: English

Published: Boston, Massachusetts, 1999

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