Language: English

ISSN: 0027-0172

Abstract/Notes: The desire to learn with our hands is an innate human trait. Sociocultural theory presented by Lev Vygotsky laid the foundation of the importance of hands-on learning, which is still prevalent in current trends within the field of education. When focusing on the whole child, sociocultural theory supports the many facets that comprise the human being. The evolution of skills deemed necessary in the current era, challenges schools to implement dynamic curricula in order to foster 21st century skills in students. While there is not substantial research to support the use of handwork in the Upper Elementary Montessori classroom (multi-age setting for 4th-6th grades), there is significant research that demonstrates the importance of creativity, discipline, independence, self-efficacy, and social cooperation as skills to develop for this age group. The purpose of this study was to examine and evaluate the impact of handwork as an experience with upper elementary students between the ages of nine and twelve as a means to develop contemporary soft skills of creativity, discipline, independence, self-efficacy, and social cooperation which together support pre-adolescent brain development. Through the use of qualitative (observations) and quantitative instruments (surveys), this research was intended to validate the impact of Practical Life activities in development of these skills. However; due to school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, the study had to be terminated. Based on the short period of intervention and researcher’s time with students, the following generalized conclusions about handwork and development of soft skills is that there is a positive effect.

Language: English

Published: River Falls, Wisconsin, 2022

Abstract/Notes: summary of lectures by Jean Miller at 2006 Refresher Course

Language: English

Language: English

Language: English

Language: English

Language: English

Abstract/Notes: This qualitative phenomenological study focuses on the development of evidence-based writing skills in the upper elementary Montessori (9–12-year-old) classroom. This study traced the lived experience in the classroom as students interacted with an original writing material and the teacher responded dynamically based on student needs by providing coaching, additional lessons based on student needs, and opportunities to revise work independently, with a partner, or with the teacher. The study measured the students’ metacognitive awareness of their confidence using the R.A.C.E. (Restate, Answer, Cite, Explain) strategy as a tool to successfully complete an evidence-based writing response. It also explored student retention of this writing skill four weeks after their work with an original material. Twenty-one students in a suburban upper elementary Montessori classroom housed at a 4K-6 elementary school in the Midwest participated in this study during their Montessori worktime over eight weeks from the beginning of February 2022 through mid-March 2022. Instruments included whole class discussion questions, pre-survey, ongoing teacher observations, a mid-study interview, post-survey, and a four-week post study writing sample. Results of the study supported the research design. Students showed awareness of their metacognitive process and reported that they felt more confident using the R.A.C.E. writing strategy. 10 out of 12 students (83%) showed positive trend lines in their data as they progressed through eight levels of material, even as the support built into the material decreased with each level.

Language: English

Published: River Falls, Wisconsin, 2022

Abstract/Notes: This project explores the importance of teaching and studying poetry in a lower elementary Montessori classroom. The purpose of the project is to examine students’ interest and involvement in reading, writing and memorizing poetry and gaining better insight into students’ knowledge and attitudes to this literature genre. The researcher compared involvement and interests of 20 students in one private elementary school in the Midwest. Both small-scale qualitative and quantitative data were collected, during an action research study that lasted seven weeks. The survey results were very promising about studying poetry on a lower elementary level and the rise of interest in this literature genre as well as the evidence offered by student work samples. In just a few weeks, the students’ attitudes and knowledge, and production of poetry significantly increased.

Language: English

Published: River Falls, Wisconsin, 2022

Language: English