Abstract/Notes: In the United States, children are often given the opportunity to engage in pretend activities; many believe this kind of play benefits children’s development. Recent research has shown, though, that when children ages 4 to 6 are given a choice to do the pretend or the real version of 9 different activities, they would prefer the real one. The reasons children gave for preferring real activities often concerned their appreciation of the functionality; when children did prefer pretend activities, their reasons often cited being afraid of, not allowed to, or unable to do the real activity. Given that children in Montessori classrooms have more experience performing real, functional activities, in this study we asked if this preference for real activities is even stronger among children in Montessori schools. We also asked children to explain their preferences. The data are from 116 3- to 6-year-old children (M = 59.63 months, SD = 12.08 months; 68 female): 62 not in Montessori schools and 54 in Montessori schools. Children explained their preferences for pretendand real versions of 9 different activities. Children in Montessori schools preferred real activities even more than did children in other preschools, but all children explained their choices in similar ways. The implications of these results are discussed with regard to play in preschool classrooms.

Language: English

DOI: 10.17161/jomr.v4i2.7586

ISSN: 2378-3923

Language: English

Published: Loveland, Ohio: Treehaus Communications, 1998

Edition: [1st ed.]

ISBN: 1-886510-14-8 978-1-886510-14-2

Language: English

ISSN: 2215-1249, 2772-7319

Abstract/Notes: The goal of this thesis is to describe teachers' communication with toddlers and pre- schoolers from mono- and bilingual families in Montessori schools or schools inspired by the Montessori method. The thesis consists of two parts. The first part is theoretical and contains chapters on children's communication and communication with children, its forms and specific aspects; language and language acquisition, bilingualism, the founder of Montessori education, the Montessori education per se and communication with children according to its principles. The second part is practical and presents an analysis of the pragmatic component of teachers' communication with children through audio recordings or hand-written notes taken during participant observation. It focuses on the characteristics and specific features of teachers' communication with children in Montessori pre- schools. It includes the description of communication environment which complements the teachers' communication with children. It also contains semi-structured interviews with teachers and photographs in the attachment. / Cílem této diplomové práce je charakterizovat komunikaci učitelek s dětmi batolecího a předškolního věku z mono- i z bilingvních rodin, v zařízeních typu Montessori nebo v zařízeních touto pedagogikou inspirovaných. Diplomová práce je tvořena dvěma částmi - první, teoretickou část, představují kapitoly o komunikaci dětí a s dětmi, jejích formách a specificích, o jazyku a jeho osvojování, o bilingvismu, o zakladatelce pedagogiky Montessori a jejích metodách a o komunikaci s dětmi v tomto výchovném směru. Druhá, praktická část, prezentuje analýzu pragmatické složky komunikace učitelek s dětmi, skrze audio nahrávky či písemné záznamy komunikace ze zúčastněného pozorování. Zaměřuje se na charakteristiku a specifické rysy komunikace učitelek s dětmi v Montessori zařízeních předškolního typu. Věnuje se také popisu komunikačního prostředí, který doplňuje komunikaci učitelek s dětmi, stejně tak jako polostrukturované rozhovory s učitelkami a fotografie, jež uvádíme v příloze.

Language: Czech

Published: Prague, Czechia, 2022

Language: English

Language: Japanese

Abstract/Notes: The aim of this study was to develop and field test an instrument that provides an efficient and scholarly tool for exploring curricular beliefs of preservice teachers in the area of early childhood education. The Early Childhood Curricular Beliefs Inventory (ECCBI) was developed through procedures that evaluated the content validity of identified statements, explored the criterion and construct validity, and assessed the internal reliability of the instrument. Through a literature review, four predominant approaches to early childhood education (Developmental Interaction, Cognitive Developmental, Behavioral, and Sensory Cognitive) and four associated models of implementation were identified (Developmental Interaction, HighScope, Direct Instruction, and Montessori). Six areas, in which each of the above differed, were identified: the view of the child, role of the teacher, resources utilized, curricular emphasis, assessment methodology, and characteristics of the learning environment. The aim of this study was to develop and field test an instrument that provides an efficient and scholarly tool for exploring curricular beliefs of preservice teachers in the area of early childhood education. The Early Childhood Curricular Beliefs Inventory (ECCBI) was developed through procedures that evaluated the content validity of identified statements, explored the criterion and construct validity, and assessed the internal reliability of the instrument. Through a literature review, four predominant approaches to early childhood education (Developmental Interaction, Cognitive Developmental, Behavioral, and Sensory Cognitive) and four associated models of implementation were identified (Developmental Interaction, HighScope, Direct Instruction, and Montessori). Six areas, in which each of the above differed, were identified: the view of the child, role of the teacher, resources utilized, curricular emphasis, assessment methodology, and characteristics of the learning environment. A panel of experts classified and sorted a total of 182 statements, and 72 items were subsequently organized into an instrument consisting of four subtests corresponding to the identified curricular models. Scoring of the instrument included recording Likert-scale responses for each statement to a score key divided into four sections, or subtests, representing each curricular model. Scores for each section were added and compared. The subtest with the lowest score was deemed most representative of a respondent's curricular beliefs. Data gathered through field testing of the instrument with practitioners were used to explore further content validity through a factor analysis, criterion validity, and construct validity. Results of a second field test of preservice teachers and the results of the first field test (practitioners) were used to assess internal consistency reliability. Analyses appeared to support content, criterion, and construct validity as well as reliability of the 72-item ECCBI. In an effort to reduce the length of the instrument and to make it less cumbersome, results of the factor analysis were used to create a 24-item shortened version of the ECCBI. Six items representing each of the four subtests having the strongest factor loadings were identified as appropriate statements and were then organized into an alternative instrument. Data gathered through field testing of the instrument with practitioners were used to explore further content validity through a factor analysis, criterion validity, and construct validity. Results of a second field test of preservice teachers and the results of the first field test (practitioners) were used to assess internal consistency reliability. Analyses appeared to support content, criterion, and construct validity as well as reliability of the 72-item ECCBI. In an effort to reduce the length of the instrument and to make it less cumbersome, results of the factor analysis were used to create a 24-item shortened version of the ECCBI. Six items representing each of the four subtests having the strongest factor loadings were identified as appropriate statements and were then organized into an alternative instrument.

Language: English

Published: Tallahassee, Florida, 2004

Language: German

Published: München: Kindler, 1978

ISBN: 3-463-00716-9

Language: English

Published: Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Association Montessori Internationale, 1959

Language: English

Published: Assen, The Netherlands: Van Gorcum & Co., 1992

ISBN: 90-232-2656-9