Abstract/Notes: The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) requires schools to be held accountable for academic performance. It is believed the pressure of accountability will lead teachers to narrow the curriculum by engaging students in test preparation activities. The purpose of this two-phase, explanatory mixed methods study was to examine elementary teachers’ perceptions of the impact of the Stanford Achievement Test 10 (SAT-10) and the Alabama Reading and Math Test (ARMT) on classroom teaching practices from a sample of third-grade, fourth-grade, and fifth-grade teachers in three large school systems in Alabama. The purpose of the first, quantitative phase of the study, was to reveal teachers’ perceptions of the impact of high-stakes testing on curriculum and instructional approaches, the amount of time spent on critical thinking skills, the amount of time spent on test preparation activities, and the perceived impact of state tests on students and teachers by surveying 123 third-grade through fifth-grade teachers in three large Alabama school systems. In the second, qualitative phase of this study, purposeful sampling strategy and maximal variation sampling strategy were employed to interview nine teachers who responded to the survey in the first, quantitative phase of the study to explore the results from the statistical tests in more depth. Findings suggested urban teachers spent more time on critical-thinking skills than rural and suburban teachers, and low-socioeconomic, rural teachers experienced more stress caused by high-stakes testing than their geographical counterparts. All teachers independent of socioeconomic status or school geographical location reported they increased their focus on reading and math, which were the subjects assessed on high-stakes tests and de-emphasized subjects not tested such as social studies and science. Finally, most teachers reported they decreased the teaching of critical thinking skills due to the SAT-10 but increased the teaching of critical thinking skills due to the ARMT. Due to the lack of research regarding high-stakes testing in Alabama elementary schools, there was a need for teachers to discuss the specific impact of testing on classroom teaching practices because they work directly with students and are cognizant of the challenges that teachers face.

Language: English

Published: Birmingham, Alabama, 2010

Abstract/Notes: Il progetto di ricerca è uno studio esplorativo mixed-method riguardo la proposta e l’implementazione in classe di attività di apprendimento laboratoriale, che prevedono il coinvolgimento percettivo-motorio degli studenti come strategia di insegnamento della matematica. Nonostante la ricerca nei campi delle neuroscienze e della psicologia cognitiva, e gli studi condotti nel settore disciplinare della didattica della matematica abbiano evidenziato la rilevanza dell’esperienza attiva e corporea degli studenti nell’apprendimento della matematica, spesso l’insegnamento scolastico della disciplina sembra essere lontano da queste prospettive, fortemente ancorato a strategie d’insegnamento tradizionali, prettamente trasmissive. In questo studio, condotto in due contesti culturali molto distanti (quello Italiano e quello Australiano), vengono esplorate le ragioni di una tale distanza tra mondo della ricerca e mondo della scuola, investigando, in particolare, la prospettiva degli insegnanti di matematica di scuola primaria e secondaria riguardo la proposta e l’implementazione in classe di queste attività didattiche. L’indagine, oltre al diretto coinvolgimento degli insegnanti tramite un questionario online e interviste di follow-up, prevede interviste agli esperti nel campo della didattica della matematica e osservazioni in un ristretto numero di classi selezionate. Il lavoro finora condotto si è concentrato sullo sviluppo degli strumenti per l’investigazione di queste prospettive. Dati parziali, che riguardano il punto di vista degli esperti sull’oggetto di studio sono stati raccolti in Italia. Uno studio compilativo dei principali risultati della ricerca che ha per oggetto le pratiche di insegnamento investigate e la presenza di indicazioni ufficiali nei documenti curriculari e nelle politiche educative, nazionali e internazionali, completa il quadro di ricerca. / The research project is a mixed-method study on the proposal and implementation of active learning strategies that involve students’ bodies and movement in mathematics teaching practices. Despite both the research in cognitive psychology and neuroscience, and in mathematics education has increasingly highlighted the relevance of active, bodily experience in mathematics learning, often school teaching seems to be far removed from these perspectives, still largely transmissive. In this study, carried out in two different cultural contexts (Italy and Australia), the reasons for that distance are explored. The research aims to investigate the perspective of primary and secondary school teachers on these teaching proposals and their implementation in the classroom. In addition to the direct involvement of teachers, through an online questionnaire and follow-up interviews, the survey includes interviews with experts in the field of mathematics education and observations in a small number of selected classes. The work carried out so far has focused on the development of instruments to investigate these perspectives. Partial data concerning experts’ views on the object of study have been collected in Italy. A desk audit of the main research findings concerning the teaching practices under investigation and the presence of official indications in curricular documents and educational policies, both national and international, completes the research framework.

Language: Italian

Published: Lecce, Italy: Pensa Multimedia, 2021

ISBN: 978-88-6760-918-5

Series: Quaderni del Dottorato SIRD , 5

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this study was to analyse how parents’ decision making process of early childhood education choices in Pakistan is influenced by parental perceptions. The theoretical framework used for this study is Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory. A qualitative design survey together with one to one interview of 8 parents of children aged 3-5 years enrolled in private and public ECE programs was used to answer four research questions on parents’ decision making for ECE selection. The study revealed that Pakistani parents relied on personal priorities such as socio-economic as well as educational backgrounds, traditional views and expectations which influenced their decision-making process. Even though parents considered information from multiple sources they haphazardly ordered quality indicators without regard for the influence of any quality compromising indicator on their child’s development.

Language: English

Published: Gothenburg, Sweden, 2022

Abstract/Notes: This study provides insight into the American public's perceptions of Montessori education one hundred years after its inception. The study is based on responses from an online survey with 1,520 members of an internet panel which was stratified to reflect the U.S. population based on age, ethnicity, gender, region, and income. The study answered research questions regarding how much the general public knows about Montessori education, perceptions of Montessori education and the attitudes and demographic characteristics that are associated with positive perceptions of Montessori education. The study found high awareness of the term "Montessori," but lower knowledge of the specifics of Montessori education. Generally favorable perceptions of Montessori education were also discovered along with less widespread evidence of commonly reported criticisms. Finally, and not surprisingly, familiarity with Montessori education led to more positive opinions of Montessori education as did stronger beliefs that schools should play a role in children's development beyond academics.

Language: English

Published: Lawrence, Kansas, 2008

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the perceptions of Texas public Montessori school principals as instructional leaders in science. Twelve public Montessori school principals were interviewed for this study. Two research questions were used: How do public Montessori principals perceive Texas science standards in public Montessori Elementary classrooms? How do principals view their role as an instructional leader in elementary science related to teachers' effectiveness and student outcomes? Research question one resulted in the following themes: (a) aligning curricula to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), (b) engaging science instruction as integrated and hands-on lessons, (c) emphasizing required district and state assessments, and (d) incorporating traditional teaching methodologies to support Montessori instruction. Research question two yielded common themes: (a) balancing Montessori methodologies and philosophies in public school settings with competing demands, (b) monitoring assessment scores as the determination of student success, (c) working in collaboration to support teacher effectiveness, and (d) providing resources and support to teachers. Implications for Montessori practitioners: paradox of Montessori education in a public school setting, strong support for science in classrooms from the principal and a need for continued research around Montessori education in public school settings.

Language: English

Published: Beaumont, Texas, 2013

Language: English

Abstract/Notes: The Montessori method is a comprehensive, child-centered, developmentalist philosophy of education developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in Rome, Italy, in the early 1900s. The Montessori method differs from traditional approaches to education, and has had limited exposure in the U.S. until the last 20 years. Despite this growth, little research data exists on the effectiveness of the method or of parent understanding of the method. This research project attempted to determine parent understanding of the Montessori method of education at three Montessori schools in Massachusetts that educate children from toddlers to grade 8. The objective of the research was to design, implement, and analyze a survey that measured parent understanding of the Montessori principles and classroom practices. The survey was developed using the Montessori principles as the foundation. The goal was to determine both the extent of parent understanding of the Montessori principles and parent perception of how these principles are carried out in the Montessori classroom. Parents and guardians were asked a total of 10 questions, 7 of which were five-point Likert scales. The quantitative questions specifically addressed the six Montessori principles and were designed to test parents’ overall understanding of each principle. Responses ranged from a principle being not at all important to very important. The qualitative portion of the survey instrument utilized three open-ended, self-completed questions designed to reveal a range of parent perceptions about Montessori education and classroom practices. The surveys revealed that parent values and thinking do line up with some aspects of the Montessori method and philosophy. The surveys also revealed that parents seem to value classroom practices contrary to the founding principles. What parents value and what parents think about regarding concepts such as goal setting, achievement, competition with peers, and teachers preparing and presenting lessons is in direct contrast with some of the Montessori founding principles and intentions. If Montessori schools wish to remain viable, they will need to reconcile the Montessori principles with conflicting parent values and, further, determine how to better align their principles with parent views and desires for their children.

Language: English

Published: Malibu, California, 2015

Abstract/Notes: This mixed-methods action research examined the effects of classroom talk lessons on children’s perceptions of collaborative group work in an online Montessori learning environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were 19 Lower Elementary students and one teacher/investigator. All work was online, both synchronous and asynchronous. Students were presented with lessons in classroom talk, and practiced these skills during online collaboration in the creation of a student newsletter. Key findings were that students use of classroom talk behaviors and rigorous thinking increased slightly over the four-week period and students’ perceptions of their community identity and the value of their ideas increased over the course of the intervention, most notably in younger students. Teaching classroom talk had positive effects on student agency, depth of collaborative work, and grace and courtesy in this digital Montessori classroom. Respectful disagreement was identified as an area for future study.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2021

Language: English

ISSN: 0045-3846

Abstract/Notes: Published by Cleveland Montessori Association (Cleveland, Ohio). Reprinted from Jubilee (September 1953), p. 46-53.

Language: English