Abstract/Notes: One key characteristic of Montessori classrooms is that children freely choose to engage with whatever they are most interested in. A common concern about Montessori is thus whether students will concentrate on their work throughout the day, and even whether they will actually choose to work at all. We completed 115 observations of children in Montessori Primary classrooms (ages 3-6), coding for children’s concentration and activity across two to three hours in the morning. The best fitting model of concentration across time was a quartic model, including age. This model indicated that 3-year-olds had two bouts of concentration, with a brief period of fatigue mid-morning. Four-year-olds showed an increased ability to concentrate across the entire morning, with minimal indication of fatigue. Five-year-olds showed a higher level of concentration than their younger peers, and were able to concentrate longer than the 3-year-olds, but this was followed by a period of fatigue. These findings are in line with Montessori theory, and suggest that children do freely choose to concentrate on their work. In regard to activities that children chose to do, we found children choose to spend a majority of the time engaged in work. Further, children distributed their time across all areas of the classroom, indicating that choice does not limit their exposure to any one area of learning.

Language: English

Published: Charlottesville, Virginia, 2020

Language: English

Published: Kingston, Ontario, Canada, 2012

Language: English

Published: Eagan, Minnesota, 2007

Language: English

Published: West Lafayette, Indiana, 2015

Abstract/Notes: Based on an online survey with 85 principals and other leaders in public Montessori elementary schools, this study provides an update on the characteristics of Montessori education in public elementary schools as they begin facing the new challenges of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Despite the lack of emphasis on traditional testing practices in Montessori education, the study finds that many schools have participated in standardized testing programs for many years and that support for testing practices does not differ between those with and those without Montessori certification. Even though they struggle with budget cuts, stricter state and federal requirements and teacher shortages, public Montessori elementary schools strive to maintain a unique educational environment through certified teachers, ongoing professional support for teachers and well-equipped classrooms.

Language: English

Published: Lawrence, Kansas, 2005

Abstract/Notes: Improving academic achievement for students of color has long been the subject of debate among advocates of education reform (Anyon, 2013; Breitborde & Swiniarski, 2006; Payne, 2008). Some scholars have advocated for the Montessori method as an alternative educational approach to address some chronic problems in public education (Lillard, 2005; Murray, 2011, 2015; Torrance, 2012). Montessori programs are expanding in public schools (National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector, 2014c) at a time when the American public school population is more racially diverse than ever before (Maxwell, 2014). A review of the literature reflects a lack of consensus about the efficacy of Montessori elementary instruction for students of color in general, and lack of attention to outcomes for African American students specifically (Dawson, 1987; Dohrmann, Nishisda, Gartner, Lipsky, & Grimm, 2007; Lopata, Wallace, & Finn, 2005; Mallet & Schroeder, 2015). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of reading and math instruction for third grade African American students in public Montessori, traditional, and other school choice settings, using end-of-grade standardized test scores from a large, urban district in North Carolina. Stratified sampling was used to select demographically similar traditional and magnet schools for comparison. Group mean reading and math test scores were compared using factorial MANCOVA and MANOVA procedures. African American students at grade three were found to perform at significantly higher levels in both reading and math in public Montessori schools than in traditional schools. No statistically significant difference was found in math achievement between African American third grade students in public Montessori and other magnet programs, although the Montessori group did achieve at significantly higher levels in reading. This suggests that the Montessori method can be an effective pedagogy for African American students, particularly in reading. Based on these results, recommendations are provided for policy, practice, and future research.

Language: English

Published: Charlotte, North Carolina, 2016

Language: English

Published: Chicago, Illinois, 2012

Abstract/Notes: The beginnings of the dissertation by Esther Grindel, holder of the Montessori diploma and former assistant at the Montessori Centre, also date back to this time. The survey analyses in an empirical way how and under which conditions highly gifted primary school children can learn according to their individual competencies and needs in the periods of Free Work, which is a characteristic way of learning in the Montessori Method. On the basis of four descriptive case studies of highly gifted students of a Montessori primary school typical structures of their ways of learning during the Montessori Free Work are investigated in a comparative analysis. The results, which are discussed in the context of current findings of the research on high abilities, are of great interest to both the Montessori schools and for the fostering at regular schools. A publication of the work as part of the series “Impulses of New Education” is in preparation.

Language: English

Published: Münster, Germany, 2005

Abstract/Notes: This article aims to describe and analyze the implementation of learning for Montessori schools in Bogor City. The information gathered from teachers, principals, and parents. In this evaluation study, the authors used an evaluation model developed by Stake, consists of 3 evaluation stages: 1) antecedents, 2) transactions, and 3) outcomes. The results of the research on the antecedent’s component that consists of seven aspects of assessments shows that one aspect which is Human Resources aspect is in the sufficient value category. From the five aspects of transactions component, monitoring and evaluation aspect is in the sufficient value category. Meanwhile, the outcomes component, consists of one aspect, the result of learning implementation shows it is in a good value category. Based on the thirteen aspects of evaluation in the antecedents, transactions and outcomes components, it can be concluded that learning in Montessori schools has been running well and proceed with improvements in two aspects, Human Resources aspect and monitoring and evaluation aspect. / Artikel ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan dan menganalisis pelaksanaan pembelajaran secara keseluruhan terhadap sekolah Montessori di Kota Bogor. Informan yang menjadi narasumber terdiri dari guru, kepala sekolah serta orang tua siswa. Dalam studi evaluasi ini, penulis menggunakan model evaluasi yang dikembangkan oleh Stake, yaitu model Stake Countenance yang terdiri dari 3 tahap evaluasi: 1) antecedents, 2) transactions, dan 3) outcomes. Hasil penelitian pada komponen antecedents dari tujuh aspek penilaian, terdapat satu aspek dalam kategori nilai cukup, yaitu aspek Sumber Daya Manusia. Dari komponen transactions, yang terdiri atas lima aspek, terdapat satu aspek dalam kategori cukup yaitu aspek monitoring dan evaluasi. Sedangkan dari komponen outcomes terdiri dari satu aspek yaitu hasil pelaksanaan pembelajaran dan berada dalam kategori baik. Berdasarkan ketiga belas aspek evaluasi pada komponen antecedents, transactions dan outcomes dapat disimpulkan bahwa pembelajaran pada sekolah Montessori telah berjalan dengan baik dan dapat dilanjutkan dengan perbaikan pada dua aspek, yaitu komponen antecedents pada aspek Sumber Daya Manusia dan komponen transactions pada aspek monitoring dan evaluasi.

Language: Indonesian

DOI: 10.37985/murhum.v4i1.166

ISSN: 2723-6390

Abstract/Notes: Using concepts from cognitive science, this dissertation explored changes in perception among Montessori education leaders and traditional education leaders. Although Montessori education programs have grown as an option in the public school sector, their unique features in mainstream environments have brought to the fore serious challenges in understanding and communication between decision makers at the institutional level of public education and among Montessori academies. Nationally, Montessori education entities have fostered a strong momentum for improvement at the state policy level. However in some states, including California, differing perceptions still hinder inclusive decision making, resulting in lack of teacher credential recognition, denial of eligibility and funding. My study implemented a communication intervention through which an iterative conversation between both sides aimed to address perceptions and language and provide shared understandings. Using the challenge between Montessori and traditional public education and framed under the cognitive theories of mental models, framing, schemas, metaphors and embodiment, this intervention addressed whether perceptions can begin to shift when one is more fully informed at a deeper cognitive level. Incorporating a workshop intervention involving several modalities, my findings suggested a shift in perception which seemed to persist over time. The effects in shifting actors’ perceptions of Montessori education were statistically significant and modest in terms of magnitude. I also found a weaker perceptual shift among traditional educators in California compared with peers in other states. I obtained specific suggestions for future iterations of kinesthetic learning, along with how to best share perspectives between Montessori and traditional leaders, along with possible collaborations between these pedagogies.

Language: English

Published: Berkeley, California, 2016