Language: English

ISSN: 0519-0959

Language: Dutch

Abstract/Notes: Maria Montessori and Lev Vygotsky believed that children learn best through having personal experiences and social interactions with the people and the environment around them (Lawrence & Snow, 2011; Montessori, 1995; Vygotsky, 1978). Students lose important general classroom instructional time and learning opportunities when they are pulled out to receive reading intervention lessons. When teachers collaborate and approach reading intervention in a connected way, while providing explicit instruction to the students, learning is capitalized. Grounded in the Sociocultural theory, this study and project aimed to address the learning needs of students who struggle with reading in the primary grades of the general education classroom. Anchored in culturally responsive teaching techniques, the research in this project highlight ways teachers are able to respect the diverse student populations housed in American classrooms in respectful and motivating ways. The methods used in this study was in the form of qualitative and quantitative research through conducting surveys. Survey participants were Lead Teachers, Teacher Assistants, and Reading Specialists in a Montessori Setting. The results of the feedback received from the surveys tailored the handbook of resources that will help meet the reading needs for students who struggle with learning how to read. Additionally, this study provides recommendations in addressing reading motivation and identifying the responsibilities of literacy professionals at the school and network level that are rooted in International Literacy Association Standards.

Language: English

Published: Sacramento, California, 2022

Language: English

ISSN: 0519-0959

Abstract/Notes: This paper examines the effects of teacher use of an online record-keeping system on teacher self-efficacy and student self-regulation behavior. Four teachers and thirty-four students between the ages of three and six years old participated in this seven-week study in one of the few Montessori schools in a Latin American capital city. Pre- and post-study data collection methods included a teacher self-efficacy questionnaire and small group discussion, as well as use of the Head-to-Toe Test, a means of measuring children’s self-regulation behavior. For seven weeks, teachers used the program Transparent Classroom to record lessons, inform their lesson presentations, and track overall student progress. Through weekly classroom observations, child behaviors hindering and encouraging normalization were tracked with a tally sheet. Data showed increases in both teacher self-efficacy and student self-regulation, especially in children with the lowest pre-study scores, who saw dramatic gains. These results show the use of a record-keeping system may be a means of increasing achievement and satisfaction in both students and teachers.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2018

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this action research was to decide if conducting guided reading instruction three times a week in a primary Montessori classroom would make an impact on reading levels among kindergarten students. The research took place over six weeks in a public Montessori school. The school is a Title One school located in a rural area of South Carolina. The population who participated in the study were 26 kindergarten students aged five to six from three different classrooms. Our intervention included using a variety of reading strategies such as pointing to each word, using picture clues, sounding out words, and recognizing sight words. Each session lasted around 45 minutes to an hour. Some positive effects of our study were an increase in reading confidence, usage of reading strategies, and overall reading achievement. To expand on our research, we would experiment with implementing this practice at another time during the school day and use additional guided reading techniques.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2022

Abstract/Notes: Includes bibliography for early human studies [insert]

Language: English

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this action research project is to determine the effect of the lessons of Grace and Courtesy on children's peer reverence in a Montessori primary (ages 3-6) environment. This research study was conducted at a private Montessori School in a midwestern suburb. The four-week study was completed in a Primary Montessori environment with 13 children, ranging in age from three to six years old. During the study, data was collected on behaviors related to peer reverence and the lessons Grace and Courtesy. Data was also collected on the collective attitude, as observed and reflected on, by the adult. Data from the study showed that the use of the lessons of Grace and Courtesy correlated to the decrease in number of undesired behaviors and increase in number of desired behaviors related to peer reverence. Further study could include the effect of lessons of Grace and Courtesy on conflict resolution; the effect of the lessons of Grace and Courtesy on social skills; the effect of daily repetition of the same lesson of Grace and Courtesy; the use of cards to follow-up on the lessons of Grace and Courtesy; and the use of the lessons of Grace and Courtesy outside a Montessori environment.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2021

Abstract/Notes: This action research project studied the effects of introducing Spanish vocabulary words to a mixed-ages Montessori primary classroom on Spanish vocabulary acquisition and implementation. Spanish vocabulary words were presented in group lessons in half-hour intervals twice a week for four weeks using flashcards. There were three sets of cards –color, fruit, and grace and courtesy. Lessons were given in the Montessori three-period lesson format. Data collection tools provided data that supported successful results with a steady increase in Spanish vocabulary acquisition and implementation. At the conclusion of the study, future research could explore the use of real objects, using extensions to children who show greater interest in acquiring more words, and using songs to teach words. This study was able to provide strong evidence for the positive impact on Spanish vocabulary acquisition and implementation.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2021

Abstract/Notes: This action research study aims to determine the effect of control-based group games on self-controlled behavior in a Montessori primary classroom. The study took place over a period of four weeks and included 17 participants ages 35 months to 6 years. A control-based group game, such as Red Light/Green Light or Simon Says, was implemented daily. Both quantitative and qualitative data was collected from these games, as well as from observations of behavior in the classroom. Though the study found no significant correlation between game outcomes and self-controlled behavior in the classroom, the self-control skills needed to succeed in the games increased notably over the duration of the study. This drastic improvement in self-control skills suggests the need for future, more targeted research opportunities.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2021