Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this investigation was to study the impact of extended recess with loose parts play on student self-regulation at recess and on-task behavior after recess. The population for this action research study were students in grades one through three at a public Montessori elementary school in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia during a Covid-restricted school year. The intervention involved 45-60 minutes of extended recess with access to loose parts play for three weeks. Data collection included the following: loose parts play field observations, conflict type and frequency, on-task behaviors tally, and student self-assessments of on-task behaviors. As a result of the intervention, students experienced fewer conflicts at recess and more on-task behaviors after recess. Due to the findings, future actions include trying different schedules of extended recess with rotating access to loose parts and inviting more children to join.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2021

Abstract/Notes: This study sought to examine how time management skills would impact the self-efficacy of Teacher Leaders working in a teacher-led school model. The participants of the four-week study were three Teacher Leaders from two teacher-led primary Montessori schools in an urban area. The Teacher Leaders incorporated time management skills including time analysis, establishing goals, prioritization, and planning/scheduling.Data was collected on Teacher Leader productivity, distribution of time among teaching and administrative roles, self-efficacy, and time management behavior through pre- and post- questionnaires, daily to-do lists, and daily activity logs. The study concluded that although the results were not statistically significant, two out of three Teacher Leader’s productivity, time management behavior, and self-efficacy did improve over the course of the study. Further research is needed to determine how these time management skills impact Teacher Leader’s experienced stress, perceived productivity, and to further investigate how Teacher Leaders’ distribution of time among teaching and administrative roles impacts stress and self-efficacy. (Note: The St. Catherine University website has the incorrect title associated with this thesis. The correct title is displayed in the PDF of the thesis.)

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2021

Abstract/Notes: This action research project was conducted to see if participation in an online leadership cohort would affect the self-efficacy of school leaders. Using an online platform, seven Montessori heads of schools from the United States gathered to discuss topics of greatest importance to them. The schools represented were public, private, non-profit, proprietary and charter. The heads of schools ranged in experience from 3 to 33 years. They met once a week, for four weeks, for an hour each session to discuss four topics most relevant to the group, as determined by their suggestions. Data was collected using pre and post intervention self-assessments and surveys, as well as field notes, observation records, and tally sheets taken during the four leadership cohort sessions. The researcher facilitated the group and guided the conversations with prompts and continued questions. The heads of school asked questions of each other, offered answers, and shared resources. The intervention was shown to increase the self-efficacy of some participants, decrease the self-efficacy of some participants, and not affect the self-efficacy of others. However, the participants all reported feelings of gratitude for the opportunity to come together, citing community and collaboration as the most positive rewards.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2020

Abstract/Notes: Teachers experience high levels of stress due to the demands of their profession. The purpose of this study is to determine if mindfulness and meditation have an effect on stress levels and self-efficacy. The researcher-participants were two female teachers in public schools. Five days a week for four weeks, the participants practiced mindfulness activities from a curated list including Body Scan, Meditation, Breathing, Yoga, and Journaling.. The participants detailed their stress levels before and after the intervention each day and weekly through different means of data collection. The study used pre- and post-intervention questionnaires, daily journals, and weekly questionnaires to track stress levels. The intervention findings show an overall decrease in stress, one participant’s self-efficacy improved, and the other participant’s self-efficacy decreased. Future research should consider a more varied participant base, a longer period of intervention, a control and experimental group, and other forms of data collection.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2020

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this action research was to explore how a social justice-oriented mindfulness practice would impact the self-efficacy of an early childhood educator. This self-study, with the researcher as the sole participant, took place over a six-week period while the researcher was working in a private Montessori school in the Northeastern United States in a classroom of 20 students aged 3-5. The intervention included breathwork; both walking and seated meditation paired with articles, essays, interviews, and poetry relevant to social justice; meditation; and mindfulness. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through reflective journaling, a record of feelings scale, an attitude scale, and a pre- and post-intervention survey. While the data did not reflect any substantial impact with regards to teacher self-efficacy, the study was transformative in many ways. The intervention resulted in a deeper understanding of social inequities and a heightened sense of self-reflection. A more focused and comprehensive selection of content relevant to equity in the educational setting would likely have allowed for a more guided learning experience. Additionally, community organized events and workshops relevant to this work could play a crucial role in encouraging the need and responsibility to take action in establishing more equitable schools.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2020

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this paper is to increase the self-efficacy of a first-year teacher, with a focus on increasing the subject’s comfort with the autonomy required of the position. The subject teaches in a Montessori classroom of preschool-aged children (designed for 3-6 year olds, serving 3 year olds) at a young school in an urban environment. This was done through interventions that focused on factors of vicarious experience and social persuasion, as informed by Albert Bandura’s research. Data was collected through surveys that measured self-efficacy, satisfaction with life and job satisfaction, and through daily physical, mental, and emotional scales. Written reflection was evaluated through charting positive, neutral, and negative language. Interventions resulted in a significant increase in self-efficacy, with the influence of social persuasion having the largest impact on all factors. Future research might consider collective efficacy’s connection to social persuasion, and how a novice teacher’s sensitivity to social persuasion and vicarious experience may shift towards other factors that influence efficacy, with greater work experience.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2019

Abstract/Notes: This action research project investigated my teacher efficacy in a multicultural classroom with children ages 3 to 6. This was a self-study that I started during my first year of teaching in a private school in downtown Chicago. As a first generation American, I was the only participant. Throughout the four-week study, I responded to journal prompts where I reflected on daily readings of anti-bias literature and my past schooling experiences. I measured my teacher efficacy and confidence levels through weekly attitude scales and pre and post self-assessments. My emotions were tracked with tally sheets. The data showed an increase in positive emotions vs. negative emotions, higher confidence levels in teaching, and growth in confronting bias and engaging in discussions about anti-bias education. This study recommends further engagement in anti-bias media and taking the time to reflect before making decisions in my work as a teacher.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2020

Abstract/Notes: This action research project investigated the effect of exercises of practical life on the self regulation of an adolescent in his prepared environment at home. Participants included two parents (of which one was the researcher) and one adolescent boy aged sixteen. The research took place over seven weeks in the home of the adolescent. The researcher prepared areas of the house to create a setting for practical life exercises. A pre-attitude scale for the adolescent and pre assessments for the parents and the adolescent provided baseline data. This data supported the selection and design of the eight materials for the project. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected on school days using a daily observation log, journal, and weekly planning questionnaire. After the project, the parents and the adolescent completed a post-assessment, and the adolescent conducted a post-attitudes scale and interview. Analysis of the data suggests that some materials supported the adolescent. The interview provided clarification of data in the observation log. The adolescent has asked to continue using some of the materials. The project has given the family confidence in their ability to work together to create systems and tools to support routine and self-regulation.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2022

Abstract/Notes: The ultimate goal of Montessori educators is to prepare the child, the whole child. One who is not only excelling academically, but also is independent, a critical thinker, and can collaborate with people from all different walks of life. The role of the Montessori educators is to prepare and guide children to independence, this is an increasingly difficult goal to achieve independence and self-regulation especially in the three to six, and six to nine age group. The Montessori guides have grappled with the disconnect between the home environment and school environment, citing it as the major obstacle to children’s independence. In this paper, the literature about parent involvement and its impact on children independence and self-regulation in a Montessori classroom are reviewed. This paper explains the research tools that were employed throughout the research period as well as the methodology, and findings and conclusions.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2019

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this action research project was to explore how the implementation of bucket filling could affect self-regulation in 5-year-olds in a Montessori classroom. The bucket filling theme is character education children’s literature. The collection of data for this action research utilized a mixed method of quantitative and qualitative, including the pre- and post-Preschool Self-Regulation Assessment, daily observation reflections, and tally sheets of behaviors. The data collected and analyzed in this study use of bucket filling can have some effect on self-regulation skills in 5-year-olds in a Montessori classroom. Self-regulation is essential to success in the classroom and in the world at large, any intervention that supports self-regulation is vital for students and teachers.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2019