Abstract/Notes: Self-directed learning (SDL) has been gaining popularity in recent years, particularly with adult learners. However, research has indicated that it can be an effective means to educate younger students within a variety of disciplines. The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of student-directed learning through goal setting on academic performance and self-determination in lower elementary students. The researcher hypothesized that allowing students to self-direct their learning through goal setting would result in higher self-determination and improved academic performance. Researchers measured the progress of 15 students towards self-selected goals and compared their results to self-determination scores before and after the intervention. 77% of participants showed quantitatively measurable improvement of academic performance in their selected goal. 100% of participants showed qualitatively measurable improvements of academic performance in their selected goal. There was no evidence found to support that self-directed learning leads to higher self-determination, nor was their evidence found to support that self-determination leads to improved academic performance. This study provides evidence that student-directed learning implemented with student-selected goals in multiple academic areas leads to higher academic performance related to self-selected goals.

Language: English

Published: River Falls, Wisconsin, 2021

Language: English

Language: Italian

ISSN: 0042-7241

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this action research project was to study the effects of goal-setting and self-reflection on the intrinsic motivation and on task behavior of students in an upper level (ages 9-12) public Montessori classroom. The project used multiple data sources to better understand the impact of goal-setting and self-reflection on student academic achievement, prosocial behavior, and emotional wellbeing. Teacher-made rating scales and self-reflection prompts were used to determine student outlook on completion of their goals while semi-structured student interviews, given at the beginning, middle, and end of the project, gave insight into student perceptions of goal-setting benefits. After analyzing the results of the data, it was found that weekly short term and long range goal-setting can have a positive impact on student achievement, prosocial behavior, and emotional wellbeing.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2018

Abstract/Notes: Bu araştırmada Montessori günlük yaşam becerileri çalışmalarının zihinsel yetersizliği olan çocukların öz bakım becerilerine etkisi incelenmiştir. Araştırmanın deneklerini 2019-2020 eğitim-öğretim yılında Aksaray ili Sarıyahşi ilçesine bağlı bir ilkokuldaki özel eğitim sınıfına devam eden üç zihinsel yetersizliği olan çocuk (hafif, orta, ağır düzeyde) oluşturmaktadır. Denekler, seçkisiz (rastgele) olmayan örnekleme yöntemlerinden ölçüt örnekleme yöntemi kullanılarak belirlenmiştir. Katılımcılar ölçüt olarak, farklı engel düzeylerinin olmasına göre belirlenmiştir. Araştırmada tek denekli araştırma desenlerinden ABA modeli kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın nicel verilerini toplamak için "Öz Bakım Becerileri Değerlendirme Testi" kullanılmıştır. Nitel verileri toplamak içinse gözlemci sınıf öğretmenine uygulama sonunda sorular sorulmuştur. Elde edilen veriler, çizgi grafiğiyle sunulmuştur. Araştırmanın sonuçlarına göre Montessori günlük yaşam becerileri çalışmaları hafif ve orta düzey zihinsel yetersizliği olan çocukların öz bakım becerilerini olumlu yönde etkilemiştir. / In this research, the effect of Montessori practical life studies on the self care skills of children who have mental retardation was observed. The subjects of the study consist of three mentally disabled children (mild,moderate,severe) attending a special-ed class in a primary school in Sarıyahşi district of Aksaray province in the 2019-2020 academic year. The subjects were determined by using the criterion sampling method, which is one of the non-random sampling methods. Participants were determined according to the different levels of disability as a criterion. In the study, ABA(Applied Behavioral Analysis) model, which is one of the single-subject research designs, was used. The 'Self Care Assessment Test' was used to collect the quantitative data of the study. Questions were asked to the observer classroom teacher to collect qualitative data at the end of the application. The data acquired are presented with a line chart. According to the results of the study, Montessori practical life studies positively affected the self-care skills of children with mild and moderate mental retardation.

Language: Turkish

Published: Konya, Turkey, 2021

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of the study was to investigate and compare teachers’ and parents’ beliefs about children’s self-care behaviors considering child (age, gender, having sibling), parent (socioeconomic status) and teacher-related (teaching experience) characteristics and to investigate and compare the beliefs about the self-care implementations. Explanatory mixed-methods design was used. The data was gathered from 208 early-childhood educators in nine central districts of Ankara and 531 parents whose children were educated in these teachers' classrooms. Quantitative data were collected with the “The Beliefs on Young Children’s Self Care Behaviors Survey” and “demographic information form”. Then, semi-structured interviews were done with 10 preschool teachers and 11 parents on a voluntary basis. According to results of the study, teachers believed the development of self-care behaviors as children grow, despite no dramatic changes in their observations according to age. The parents also had similar beliefs, and their observations about the certain behaviors changed. Considering children’s gender, the participants believed girls having better self-care skills, despite no dramatic differences in their observations. Considering the “having sibling”, parents’ observations differed in certain behaviors unlike teachers’ observations. Participants believed positive impact of having sibling on self-care. Moreover, as considering SES, teachers’ observations did not change according to SES unlike parents’ observations. Participants had different beliefs about the effect of SES on self-care. Besides, according to teaching experience, the observation of “self-protection from accidents” behaviors increased systematically. Additionally, some problems were encountered in self-care implementations. The participants’ belief about the factors negatively effecting the implementations were similar.

Language: English

Published: Ankara, Turkey, 2022

Abstract/Notes: Depicts the use of the Montessori method of education with children from infant to 6 years of age at 2 schools in Japan.

Language: English

Published: Cleveland, Ohio, n.d.

Abstract/Notes: This dissertation presents the results of an exploratory descriptive case study of the Moses Journaling for Equity Experience, a self-reflective intervention for public charter Montessori middle school teachers. The intervention is designed to elicit a reflective process to slow teachers’ thinking so they can decenter Whiteness and elevate the cultures and voices of their students of color within their pedagogy. The intervention was developed in the winter and spring of 2020, drawing heavily on the author’s experience as an equity consultant as well as the rich literature on ways teachers can nurture a sense of belonging for students of color. The intervention was refined with feedback from experienced Montessori teachers, with a focus on ensuring pedagogical alignment and curricular expectations within the Montessori system. Because this study represents the first time the intervention was implemented, it is most properly viewed as a pilot study. Three middle school Montessori teachers were recruited to participate. They began the intervention in the fall of 2021. The intervention consisted of eight weeks of reading curated articles, reflection questions, the collection of evidence, and the journaling of the reflection questions. A final debrief via Zoom encouraged participants to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. As a pilot study, the goal was to gather information on the overall effectiveness of the intervention, intervention shortcomings and strengths. Data were collected weekly in the form of written responses to questions intended to provoke thought and deep reflection on the part of the teachers. At the end of the intervention, each teacher participated in a semi-structured interview to further explore the ideas shared in their individual weekly reflective writings. Critical Race Theory, White Supremacy Culture Characteristics, and the Concerns Based Adoption Model were all used to frame the analysis and to draw conclusions. Results suggest the intervention is effective at building teacher awareness of the cultural, academic, and social assets students of color bring to the classroom, which is the beginning point for teachers to decenter Whiteness in their classrooms to support student of color belonging.

Language: English

Published: Eugene, Oregon, 2022

Abstract/Notes: This study investigates differences in academic achievement and self-concept of students enrolled in a traditional public school program and a public school Montessori program. The attitudes of parents of students are also compared. The population includes 182 experimental and control kindergarten, first-, second-, and third-grade students in a Texas metropolitan school district. Academic pretest and posttest data include scores on the Bilingual Syntax Measure, Metropolitan Readiness Tests, California Achievement Tests, and the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. The McDaniel-Piers Young Children's Self Concept Scale and the Parent Opinion Survey were also administered. A two-way analysis of covariance was used to analyze pretest and posttest academic achievement and self-concept scores, and to test for possible interaction between the programs and the sex variable. The pretest score was used as the covariate. The means of both parent groups were analyzed using the t test for two independent samples. The .05 level of significance was used to test each hypothesis. First-grade traditional students had significantly higher academic achievement scores than first-grade Montessori students. A significant interaction effect at the first-grade level revealed that traditional males had the highest adjusted mean score for academic achievement and Montessori males had the lowest adjusted mean score. Second-grade traditional students showed a significant increase over second-grade Montessori students in self-concept. No significant difference was found in the attitude of parents of students enrolled in both programs. Conclusions based on this investigation are that more similarities than differences are evident between the two programs, differences in academic achievement and interaction effects and sex appeared at only one grade level, differences in self-concept appeared at only one grade level, and parent attitudes are similar. Recommendations include continuation of the Montessori program evaluation and replication using a larger population, different grade levels, and different socioeconomic levels.

Language: English

Published: Denton, Texas, 1982

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this research was to determine the effects on students’ ability to self regulate while learning about daily mindfulness lessons. The study took place over the course of six weeks in an upper elementary class of 20 students, including four fourth graders, nine fifth graders, and seven sixth graders. The study was conducted in a rural public Montessori school in the Midwest. Students participated in a six-week mindfulness unit from The Mind Up Curriculum (The Hawn Foundation, 2011). The researcher collected data through a pre-and postassessment, students’ self reflections and graphs, researcher’s observation, and researcher’s daily journal. The data suggested students, when given mindfulness lessons, could become more selfregulated. From pre and post assessment, there was a 170% growth in the number of students who would like to use mindfulness techniques in their future. Although the numbers increased, further research could demonstrate effects of mindfulness lessons for on-task behavior and selfregulation over a longer period of time.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2017