Abstract/Notes: Early childhood settings in Aotearoa New Zealand are informed by an internationally recognised curriculum, Te Whāriki (Ministry of Education, 1996). This whāriki, or woven mat, includes references to the spiritual; the principle of kotahitanga/holistic development intersects with the strand of mana atua/wellbeing. Qualitative case study research in a Montessori casa, a private preschool, and a Steiner kindergarten found the concept “everyday spirituality” illuminating. Three themes were identified: spiritual withness, spiritual in-betweeness and spiritual elsewhere. These relational spaces are proposed as a way of reconceptualising holistic approaches to pedagogy and wellbeing in early childhood educational contexts.

Language: English

Published: Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer Netherlands, 2009

ISBN: 978-1-4020-9018-9

Series: International Handbooks of Religion and Education

Abstract/Notes: Montessori and non-Montessori general education early childhood teachers were surveyed about their attitudes towards including children with disabilities and providing access in their classrooms.  Both groups reported similar and positive supports for inclusion within their schools. Montessori teachers reported having less knowledge about inclusion and less special education professional development than their non-Montessori counterparts.   Implications for professional development and teacher preparation are described.

Language: English

DOI: 10.17161/jomr.v1i1.4944

ISSN: 2378-3923

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this study was to investigate young children’s perception of melodic construction in hope of finding clues about their broader cognitive development in nonmusical domains. Following Jeanne Bamberger’s example of musical-perceptual tasks with Montessori bells, four children aged three to six were presented with a melodic construction task and asked to create a representation of their work. Analysis of data revealed common themes with varied results of (a) eagerness or hesitancy to participate, (b) whether bells were moved or played, (c) exploration of bells, (d) internalization of rhythm, (e) cognitive readiness for melodic construction, and (f) role of visual representation. No cross-case findings could be drawn about broader cognitive development, however specific characteristics of the children and their approach to the melodic construction task are presented. Recommendations for further study center on potential clues a melodic construction task could provide about language construction in individual children.

Language: English

ISSN: 1938-2065

Abstract/Notes: The present call for structured mathematics programmes in preschools continues a trend from the nineteenth century, in which young children’s lack of mathematical knowledge was considered to have a detrimental effect on their individual futures and those of the wider society. In this paper, an investigation of the philosophies behind several early childhood programmes shows that there is a long-standing acceptance that those not living in poverty should make decisions about the education, including the mathematics education, that children who are living in poverty should engage in. Consequently, the philosophies behind these programmes, and with them the advocated mathematics education, contribute to a homogenised view of the child. This fails to recognise the attributes that children and their communities have and situates those living in poverty as being deviant. The strong promotion in this century of structured mathematics education programmes is solidifying this homogenising process in a manner not seen in previous early childhood programmes.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1007/s11858-014-0578-y

ISSN: 1863-9704

Abstract/Notes: Zusammenfassung: Jungen mit Fragilem-X-Syndrom weisen im Schul- und Jugendalter charakteristische Merkmale des körperlichen Erscheinungsbildes, der Entwicklung und des Verhaltens auf. Es werden vorläufige Beobachtungen an zehn Jungen im frühen Kindesalter mitgeteilt. Im Vergleich zu den Befunden bei älteren Kindern sind schwere kognitive Behinderungen und kommunikative Auffälligkeiten seltener. Im Spielverhalten in einer Montessori-Übungssituation zeigen Jungen mit dieser genetischen Besonderheit sehr wohl die Fähigkeit zu gezieltem und kooperativem Spiel, aber weniger Ausdauer und Selbstorganisation bei zielgerichteten Tätigkeiten. Die Unterschiede sind signifikant im Vergleich zu nicht-behinderten Kindern bzw. Kindern gleichen Behinderungsgrades, aber anderer Behinderungsursache und als Merkmale des Verhaltensphänotyps bei Jungen mit fragilem-X-Syndrom zu verstehen. [Summary:Boys with Fragile X syndrome show characteristic features of physical appearance, development and behavior in school and adolescence. Preliminary observations on ten boys in early childhood are reported. Compared to the findings in older children, severe cognitive disabilities and communicative abnormalities are less common. In play behavior in a Montessori exercise situation, boys with this genetic peculiarity do show the ability for targeted and cooperative play, but less perseverance and self-organization in targeted activities. The differences are significant compared to non-disabled children or children of the same degree of disability, Play and communicative behavior in young boys with fragile-X syndrome Summary: Reports on development and behavior in boys with fragile-X syndrome support the idea of ​​a characteristic behavioral phenotype in this special population. Preliminary results are presented for 10 boys with fragile-X syndrome in early childhood. Severe mental handicaps and communicative abnormalities are observed less frequently than was expected on the basis of results reported for school-age children or adults. Boys with fragile-X syndrome show goal-directed and cooperative play behaviors in a Montessori play session, but less persistence and organization than children with normal development or a mental handicap of heterogeneous origin. Results confirmed these behavioral differences as characteristic aspects of a "behavioral phenotype" in children who already in early childhood have fragile-X syndrome.]

Language: German

DOI: 10.1024//1422-4917.27.3.175

ISSN: 1422-4917

Language: English

DOI: 10.1353/ctn.2012.0004

ISSN: 1075-7201

Abstract/Notes: This action research study examined the impact of creative movement presentations on dance participation and student attitudes towards dance in one outdoor Montessori early childhood classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were 13 kindergarten and lower elementary students, ages 5-8, and the researcher, their teacher. Students were presented creative movement activities eight times during circle time over four weeks. They were also given opportunities to dance freely once a week for six weeks and asked three times to respond to statements regarding their attitudes towards dance; pre-intervention, mid-intervention, and post-intervention. Data was collected using observations of dance participation, field notes about circle time presentations, and student self-assessment regarding their attitudes towards dance. There was some improvement in attitudes towards dance and an increase in dance participation. Many children expressed enjoyment and the researcher felt inclined to continue providing free dance opportunities and creative movement presentations at circle. The researcher encourages other educators to incorporate dance opportunities in class free time and curriculum lessons.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2021

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

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: This paper reports short- and long-term outcomes of the Direct Instruction Head Start and Follow Through program model. Based on the premise that positive reinforcement is essential to maximum academic success, the Direct Instruction program was developed from an academic preschool model which specified exactly what children needed in order to succeed academically and dictated how teachers should modify children's behavior. The Follow Through program was developed to provide programs for kindergarten through 3rd grade that would help maintain gains made in Head Start or other preschool programs. In 1983 the Follow Through program could be found in 60 American cities and a number of foreign countries. Research suggested that the Direct Instruction/Follow Through program had a positive effect on reading and mathematics achievement. However, third-graders who received direct instruction, more often than comparison children, attributed academic success to external factors and failure to themselves. They also scored lower than children receiving cognitive developmental instruction on a test of nonverbal problem-solving. Longitudinal findings suggested that students receiving direct instruction had lower grade retention and higher attendance and graduation rates. Longitudinal comparison of direct instruction, Montessori, DARCEE, and traditional preschool programs revealed positive outcomes for children who received direct instruction: Follow Through children achieved at grade level when they were in the ninth grade.

Language: English

Published: [S.I.], Jun 1987