Language: English

Language: English

Abstract/Notes: The effectiveness and challenges of teacher collaboration as a tool to drive teaching outcomes has been observed in various educational settings. This research project was designed to answer the question, “Would collaboratively creating a Useful Words Handbook for teachers increase the number of language teaching opportunities that could occur during the day?” This action research project, conducted in a Montessori preschool setting, focused on two classroom teachers who educate children between the ages of two and three. Three intervals were identified for data collection. Four weeks of collaboration on the Useful Words Handbook began after two weeks of baseline data collection, during which the frequency of language teaching opportunities were recorded. A weekly topic was presented to the teachers, who provided feedback the following week, in addition to ideas for improving the topic for the handbook. Collaboration involved creating an introduction and four topics about teaching useful phrases to early language learners. The data showed a positive correlation between collaboration and an increase in the number of teaching language opportunities that occur during the day. The data also show that while it is possible to make short-term changes in the classroom through collaboration, changing teacher beliefs about teaching language and collaboration remain a challenge that is characteristic of the teacher collaboration process. Investigating strategies to increase awareness about teaching language should continue.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2013

Abstract/Notes: The problem of this study was to measure the effectiveness of a public school Montessori program. The purpose of this study was to measure and compare student academic achievement and self-concept, attendance and promotion rates, and level of parental involvement in the schools of students enrolled in public school Montessori and traditional programs. The 95 subjects in this study were third-grade subjects selected from the student populations in Montessori and traditional school sites. The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) was used as the pre-test scores, and the Norm-referenced Assessment Program for Texas (NAPT) was used as the post-test scores to compare academic achievement in reading and mathematics. Multiple regression was used to compare the levels of academic achievement and self-concept. Multiple regression was also used to test for possible relationship between the Montessori and traditional programs and gender and ethnicity. The findings of the study were as follows: (1) There were no significant differences in the adjusted mean reading scores between the Montessori group and the traditional group in the third grade. (2) There were no significant differences in the adjusted mean mathematics scores between the Montessori group and the traditional group in the third grade. (3) There were no significant differences in the attendance rate of third-grade subjects participating in a public school Montessori program and third-grade subjects participating in a public school traditional program. (4) There were no significant differences in the promotion rate of third-grade subjects participating in a public school Montessori program and third-grade subjects participating in a public school traditional program. (5) There were no significant differences in the adjusted mean scores in the self-concept measure of third-grade subjects in both programs. (6) There were no differences in the nature and magnitude of parental involvement in school activities.

Language: English

Published: Denton, Texas, 1994

Abstract/Notes: Early childhood education has been shown to positively impact future academic performance, as well as social and emotional development. With ever-increasing demands being placed on children's academic performances, school readiness has become a key component of academic success. The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to examine the effectiveness of different early childhood curriculum models in preparing children for kindergarten, and to investigate whether one early childhood curriculum model better prepares students than another. The theoretical framework for the study is based on the developmental constructivist theories of Piaget, Vygotsky, Erikson, and Dewey. Kindergarten teachers assessed school readiness by administering the Kindergarten Observation Form. Each student had matriculated from either Montessori, High/Scope, or Reggio Emilia programs or early childhood programs without an identified curriculum model. Kindergarten teachers rated students on 24 items related to areas of cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical development. ANOVA and post-hoc tests revealed that students matriculating from programs without an identified curriculum model scored significantly better than their counterparts, F (3,122) = 5.33, p = .002. Implications for social change include improved kindergarten readiness on the part of students, increased awareness by educators as to best practices in early childhood education, and, a move towards understanding the types of environments in which children learn best.

Language: English

Published: Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2012

Abstract/Notes: Black students consistently underachieve academically in comparison to White students. To minimize the achievement gap between Black students and White students, some experts advocate the use of differentiated instruction as an alternative methodology to teach underachieving students. Differentiated instruction is predicated on teaching students based on their learning abilities and/or learning preferences. The differentiated instructional model examined in this study combined traditional teaching methodology with specific Montessori stage two and stage three constructs. This exploratory qualitative study examined the impact that Montessori constructs combined with traditional teaching methods had on academic achievement of Black students in grades four and five in an inner city school in Dallas County, Texas. The study further explored the sample’s perceptions of and preferences for the combined teaching methodology. The sample group had been exposed to the differentiated teaching model evaluated in the study. Disaggregated 2007 and 2008 TAKS results from the Texas Education Agency were obtained to compare the school’s fourth and fifth grade Black students’ achievement to their cohort groups in the district and in the state. The TAKS data comparisons found variability in performance among the groups in each of the subject areas assessed by TAKS. Qualitative data from a Likert Scale, multiple choice questions, questionnaires, written essay, and interviews were obtained from the participants to examine the students’ perceptions of and preferences for the combined teaching methodology. Data responses were analyzed and themes were developed to determine black students’ preferences for teaching, learning, and factors that contribute to learning. The findings of this study imply that future use of a differentiated instructional model that combines traditional teaching methodology and specific Montessori constructs and principles might be effective in improving Black student achievement.

Language: English

Published: Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2009

Language: English

ISSN: 1071-6246

Abstract/Notes: Language has a noteworthy role in the cognitive development and social ability of an individual. However, a delay in language could affect an individual ability to think critically. Tis could be breached through impactful method of instruction from elementary school. Thus, this study examined the differential effectiveness of Montessori didactic and Direct Instructional methods on reasoning ability of children with hearing impairment in Lagos State. Te sample size was 29 pupils comprising 15 male and 14 female pupils with hearing impairment. Te Reasoning Ability Test was used to gather relevant data while mean, standard deviation, mean difference, Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Least Significant Difference (LSD) were the statistical tool used to analyse the data. The study found that both Montessori Didactic Material and Direct Instruction method were efficacious in teaching pupils with hearing impairment. However, the former was more effective. The teaching methods do not have significant gender effect on pupils with hearing impairment. It was recommended that Montessori didactic method should be employed in teaching elementary school pupils because it encourages active participation in learning process in form of self- direction and independence not minding gender, intellectual and economic disparities

Language: English

DOI: 10.5937/specedreh17-18600

ISSN: 2406-1328, 1452-7367

Abstract/Notes: In this research, the effectiveness of Montessori Method in acquiring color and texture knowledge of pre-school children has been examined. The dependent variable of this study is the color and texture knowledge of the children, the independent variable is Montessori Method. The study is planned both quantitative and qualitative, and experimental as well. 40 students are included in study group as experiment and control group.The experiment group consisted of 20 children aged between 4-5 years, who were trained in Montessori Method in Konya Selçuk University Health Sciences Faculty İhsan Doğramacı Practice Kindergarden in 2016-2017 academic year and selected by neutral assignment. The control group consisted of 20 children aged 4-5 years who were educated in Meram Gündoğdu Private Kindergarden School by the Ministery of Education’s pre-school education program. In the study, the “Color and Texture Knowledge Assessment Test” was used, which was prepared by the researcher of this paper and approved by an expert. These tests are applied as pre-test, post-test and tracking test. In the analysis of the data, Mann Whitney U Test and Wilcoxon Marked Ranks Test were applied. Results; ● There is no significant difference between the color knowledge pre-test rank averages of the experiment and control groups (p>0.05). ● There is no significant difference between the experiment and control group’s texture knowledge pre-test rank averages. (p>0.05). ● The color knowledge of the experiment group’s post-test rank averages are notably higher than the pre-test rank averages [Z=3.55; p< 0.05]. ● The texture knowledge of the experiment group’s post-test rank averages are notably higher than the pre-test rank averages. (Z=3.83,p<0.05). ● Although there is no notable difference between the post-test rank averages of both the experiment and the control groups, the experiment group’s color information is higher (p˃0.05). ● The texture information of the experiment group’s post-test rank averages are notably higher than the control group (p<0.05). ● There is no reasonable difference between the experiment group’s color information post-test and the tracking test rank averages (Z=0.27, p>0.05). ● There is no reasonable difference between the experiment group’s texture information post test and the tracking test rank averages (Z=0.24, p>0.05). The general conclusion is that the Montessori Method contributes positively to the acquisition of color and texture knowledge of preschool children and it is more effective than the Pre-School Education Program of the Ministry of Education / Bu araştırmada, Montessori Yöntemi’nin okul öncesi çocuklarının renk ve doku bilgilerini edinmelerine etkililiği incelenmiştir. Araştırmanın bağımlı değişkeni çocukların renk ve doku bilgileri, bağımsız değişkeni ise Montessori Yöntemi’dir. Araştırma nicel ve nitel, aynı zamanda deneysel olarak planlanmıştır. Çalışma grubuna deney ve kontrol grubu olarak toplam 40 çocuk dâhil edilmiştir. Deney grubunu, 2016-2017 öğretim yılında Konya Selçuk Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi İhsan Doğramacı Uygulama Anaokulunda Montessori yöntemi ile eğitim alan ve yansız atama ile seçilen 4-5 yaş grubu 20 çocuk; kontrol grubunu Meram Özel Gündoğdu Koleji Anaokulu’nda MEB Okul Öncesi Eğitim Programı ile eğitim alan 4-5 yaş grubu 20 çocuk oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada, araştırmacı tarafından hazırlanan ve uzman onayı alınan” Renk ve Doku Bilgilerini Değerlendirme Testi” kullanılmıştır. Testler ön test, son test ve izleme testi olarak uygulanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde; Mann Whitney U Testi ve Wilcoxon İşaretli Sıralar Testi uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: ● Deney ve kontrol grubu renk bilgisi ön test sıra ortalamaları arasında anlamlı bir fark yoktur (p>0.05). ● Deney ve kontrol grubu doku bilgisi ön test sıra ortalamaları arasında anlamlı bir fark yoktur (p>0.05). ● Deney grubunun renk bilgisi son test sıra ortalamaları ön test sıra ortalamalarından anlamlı düzeyde yüksektir [Z=3.55; p< 0.05]. ● Deney grubunun doku bilgisi son test sıra ortalamaları ön test sıra ortalamalarından anlamlı düzeyde yüksektir (Z=3.83,p<0.05). ● Deney ve kontrol grubu renk bilgisi son test sıra ortalamaları arasında anlamlı düzeyde fark olmamasına rağmen deney grubununki daha yüksektir (p˃0.05). ● Deney grubu doku bilgisi son test sıra ortalamaları, kontrol grubu doku bilgisi son test sıra ortalamalarından anlamlı düzeyde yüksektir(p<0.05). ● Deney grubu renk bilgisi son test ve izleme testi sıra ortalamaları arasında anlamlı bir farklılaşma bulunmamıştır (Z=0.27, p>0.05). ● Deney grubu doku bilgisi son test ve izleme testi sıra ortalamaları arasında anlamlı bir farklılaşma bulunmamıştır (Z=0.24, p>0.05). Ulaşılan genel sonuç, Montessori Yöntemi’nin okul öncesi çocuklarının renk ve doku bilgilerini edinmelerine olumlu katkı sağladığı ve MEB Okul Öncesi Eğitim Programına göre daha etkili olduğudur.

Language: Turkish

Published: Konya, Turkey, 2018

Abstract/Notes: This experiment was based on the assumption that the academic failure of the disadvantaged or middle class child is due to a failure of instruction and that if above-normal learning schedules were maintained, the second year of an enrichment program would not show the customary drop in gains from the first year. The subjects of this study were 43 disadvantaged Negro and white 4-year-olds of high, middle, and low intelligence. Fifteen of the children were placed in an experimental group (I) and 28 in a control group (II). A 2-year program involving a group (III) of middle class 4-year-olds was also conducted, with a control group (IV) consisting of middle class 4-year-olds in a Montessori preschool. Groups I and III received a 2-year experimental program in which rapid attainment of basic academic concepts was emphasized. Group II received a 2-year traditional preschool education. Group I achieved significantly greater Stanford-Binet IQ gains than Group II and maintained them over the 2-year program. Group III children also benefited measureably from the program and demonstrated greater achievement in many areas than Group IV.

Language: English

Published: Washington, D.C., 1966