Language: German

Published: München: Kindler, 1978

ISBN: 3-463-00716-9

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this study was to analyze the verbal interactions of children assigned to multiage classrooms. Specifically, the study investigated whether children of a particular age group interact with other children across age groups and the types of interactions each age group display. It also investigated student-to-teacher interactions and student-to-student interactions to see if interactions initiated by children are dispersed across age groups. An interaction in this study is defined as a verbal exchange between two children or between a child and the teacher. Groups studied consisted of classrooms containing children of two ages (e.g., six- and seven-year-olds) and groups containing children of three ages (e.g., eight-, nine-, and ten-year-olds). When three ages were combined in a classroom, the older children tended to dominate the conversation directed to other children in the class. This tendency was not present when two ages were combined. Combining children of

Language: English

Published: Cortland, New York, Aug 1977

Abstract/Notes: Two studies were conducted on the effects of multiage classrooms. The first study investigated verbal interaction among children of different age groups and student-teacher interaction in multiage classrooms. Existing multiage classrooms in various settings were observed and information was recorded on the ages of the children initiating and receiving each interaction, the number of children in each age group who initiated interactions to the teacher, and the number of children in each age group who were present in the classroom. Interactions were classified as dominant, submissive, or neutral. Results indicate: (1) older children tended to initiate proportionately more interactions when three ages were grouped together, but not when only two ages were grouped together; (2) children of one age did not dominate the teacher's attention; (3) interaction within age groups was high and interaction between age groups was low when three age groups were present, but not when two age groups

Language: English

Published: Arlington, Virginia: American Association of School Administrators, Feb 1980

Abstract/Notes: Research shows that environmental education and time outdoors increase social emotional, cognitive, and physical health. We know it’s important to start early and to use a holistic systems-based lens. While research is underway in traditional early childhood programs, research is lacking on how environmental education is implemented and practiced in Montessori early childhood programs. The purpose of the study is to integrate information on the philosophical underpinnings of environmental education with Montessori philosophy and pedagogy, create a questionnaire to examine the implementation of environmental education in Montessori early childhood programming, and pilot the questionnaire to gather information through educators’ responses to systems-based environmental education-framed questions on teacher’s understanding of environmental education, program and pedagogical practices, health promotion, social systems education, natural systems education, and barriers to implementation. Special attention was paid to constructivism, realism mixed with wonder, interdisciplinary practices, biophilia versus ecophobia, critical pedagogy of place, local versus global awareness, and the use of play. A pilot questionnaire was created and sent out via the Internet; 43 questionnaires were returned with sufficient information and analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative methods. The results are included in full to support continuing conversation about the interaction between environmental education and Montessori pedagogy. Final discussion highlights discrepancies between the philosophical foundations of Montessori pedagogy and environmental education and the reported practices.

Language: English

Published: River Falls, Wisconsin, 2019

Abstract/Notes: Background: Increasingly more attention has been paid to non-pharmacological interventions as treatment of agitated behaviors that accompany dementia. The aim of the current study is to test if personalized one-to-one interaction activities based on Montessori principles will improve agitation, affect, and engagement more than a relevant control condition.Methods: We conducted a randomized crossover trial in nine residential facilities in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia (n = 44). Personalized one-to-one activities that were delivered using Montessori principles were compared with a non-personalized activity to control for the non-specific benefits of one-to-one interaction. Participants were observed 30 minutes before, during, and after the sessions. The presence or absence of a selected physically non-aggressive behavior was noted in every minute, together with the predominant type of affect and engagement.Results: Behavior counts fell considerably during both the Montessori and control sessions relative to beforehand. During Montessori activities, the amount of time spend actively engaged was double compared to during the control condition and participants displayed more positive affect and interest as well. Participants with no fluency in English (all from non-English speaking backgrounds) showed a significantly larger reduction in agitation during the Montessori than control sessions.Conclusion: Our results show that even non-personalized social contact can assist in settling agitated residents. Tailoring activities to residents’ needs and capabilities elicit more positive interactions and are especially suitable for people who have lost fluency in the language spoken predominantly in their residential facility. Future studies could explore implementation by family members and volunteers to avoid demands on facilities’ resources.Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry – ACTRN12609000564257.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1017/S1041610212002128

ISSN: 1041-6102, 1741-203X

Abstract/Notes: Compared the frequencies of peer and adult social interactions, the mean durations of social interactions, and the amounts of negative behaviors of 3-, 4-, and 5-yr-old children of both sexes (N = 131) in a Montessori nursery school, a university laboratory preschool, and a parent cooperative nursery school. The total amount of social interaction, the amount of peer interaction, and the duration of the average social interaction increased with age. The Montessori Ss differed from the Ss in the other 2 schools in amount of peer interaction and in duration of the average interaction in the same direction as older Ss differed from younger Ss. This finding suggests that teacher ratio and age distribution factors enhance the development of social interaction skills in Montessori nursery school children.

Language: English

ISSN: 0277-9064

Language: English

ISSN: 0277-9064

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this self-study was to examine the effects of concentrated interaction with anti-bias/anti-racist media on a Montessori guide’s practice. It was conducted over a total of six weeks. The intervention included a pre- and post- survey of understanding, nightly media interactions, daily reflection journaling, daily tallies of anti-bias/anti-racist thoughts during the school day, and a daily confidence scale to measure the participant’s confidence to integrate anti-bias/anti-racist concepts into her teaching practice. The study was completed at a private Montessori school in a medium-sized midwestern town, with an early childhood classroom of fifteen three- to five-year-old students of diverse backgrounds. The findings indicate a slight increase in confidence and efficacy for the participant in discussing anti-bias/anti-racist concepts with students, families and colleagues. The findings also point to the strong need for working with other educators and Montessorians for further integrating anti-bias/anti-racist concepts into classroom practice.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2020

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this study was to add to the existing knowledge concerning interactions in preprimary settings, especially Montessori settings, based on gender. It investigated the play behaviors of boys and girls within the Montessori classroom and interactions among children and their playmates and adults during free play. This case study was based on quantitative and descriptive data. Time sampling was used to collect data on the interactions of boys and girls within the Montessori free play context. Note was made of the areas in which children played, the materials they used, and their play behaviors. Running records were used to gather information on the interactions between children and their playmates, and adults in the classroom. The gender groupings of children approached for play and behaviors with chosen playmates were noted. The number of interactions with adults, whether children or adults initiated those interactions and the behaviors of children during interactions with adults were recorded and analyzed. Findings of this study suggest that, within the Montessori classroom observed there were both similarities and differences in the free play behaviors of preprimary girls and boys. However, there were many individual differences among boys and among girls. As a result, it was sometimes impossible to make generalizations concerning the gender typing of behaviors.

Language: English

Published: Flagstaff, Arizona, 1999

Abstract/Notes: The introduction in 2011 of a universal free preschool year for all children in Ireland prior to attending primary school was heralded as a significant commitment to children and families. As a result of this policy initiative there are increasing numbers of young children accessing preschool provision. However, despite increased access and increased investment in ECEC provision, little is known about the quality of preschool children’s experiences, or the impact of the pedagogical approach on children’s levels of wellbeing and involvement in their learning. Equally there has been no evaluation of the quality or the effectiveness of the preschool provision in supporting children’s development of 21st century skills. This thesis explores how the preschool educator’s image of the child as a learner influences her/his pedagogical approach and how the educator’s pedagogical approach subsequently impacts on children’s levels of wellbeing and involvement in their meaning making processes. The study, an ethnographic comparative study, was conducted across three preschool setting types, Montessori, Play-based and Reggio inspired in the west of Ireland and Boston. The findings identify that children’s levels of wellbeing and involvement are high when their basic needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness are met in an autonomy supportive, child-centred learning environment. In comparison, when the learning environment is controlling and the approach to teaching and learning is didactic and adult-led, children’s levels of wellbeing and involvement are low. These findings have significant implications for policy and practice and provide a compelling argument for the evaluation of the quality of preschool provision in Ireland.

Language: English

Published: Galway, Ireland, 2020