Abstract/Notes: Provides a step-by-step demonstration for several Montessori practical life materials.

Runtime: 30 minutes

Language: English

Published: Yellow Springs, Ohio, 2007

Abstract/Notes: Research Findings: A quasi-experiment was undertaken to test the effect of Montessori practical life activities on kindergarten children's fine motor development and hand dominance over an 8-month period. Participants were 50 children age 5 in 4 Montessori schools and 50 students age 5 in a kindergarten program in a high-performing suburban elementary school. Children were pre- and posttested on the Flag Posting Test, an individually administered test of fine motor skill requiring children to place tiny flags mounted on pins into preset pinholes. Students in the Montessori treatment group demonstrated significantly higher accuracy, speed, and consistent use of the dominant hand on the posttest, adjusted for pretest differences and gender. Effect sizes were moderate for accuracy and speed (ds = .53 and .37, respectively) and large for established hand dominance (▵R2 = .35). Longitudinal research on the effects of early childhood programs emphasizing the reciprocal interplay of cognitive and physical aspects of activity is recommended. Practice or Policy: The findings argue for a balanced approach to early childhood education that maintains the importance of physical activity and fine motor development in conjunction with cognitive skills. Montessori practical life activities involving eye–hand coordination and fine motor skills can be integrated into programs.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1080/10409289.2015.995454

ISSN: 1040-9289, 1556-6935

Abstract/Notes: This action research project investigated the effects on involving children in the practical life curriculum on normalization in the Montessori toddler and primary classrooms. 30 students, their parents and 7 teachers were participants. 12 students and their parents were from a toddler classroom and 18 from two separate primary classrooms. Data was collected pre and post study via questionnaires on the parents’ goals for their children. Many of the goals listed such as socialization skills, independence and emotional stability can be met through engaging the child in practical life activities and as the child meets these goals should normalize. A behavior log, daily plan sheet log and journaling tracked what materials children used or were offered for the purpose of tracking components of normalization such as self-regulation, confidence, independence and socialization. Analysis of the data showed that when a child was directed to a practical life activity he was more likely to choose a second activity on his own and continue to move through cycles of work independently. When a child could not be directed to an activity, practical life or otherwise, observing the environment with an adult was beneficial in assisting the child in the process of normalization.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2016

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this research was to determine whether a progress report that aligns the Montessori materials to child development benchmarks would increase parent understanding of the Montessori materials, as well as give teachers a means of reporting growth that is systematic and consistent. Trial reports were created aligning the toddler and early childhood practical life and sensorial curriculum areas to the state standards. Parents were asked to compare the current reports with the new reports. The postimplementation survey results suggested that 97% of parents better understood the alignment between the Montessori materials and child development and 100% of teachers affirmed the new reports made a clear association between the two. The new reports clarified the alignment between the Montessori materials and children’s development for parents and created a standard measurement tool for Montessori educators with the vernacular to explain the Montessori materials progression to parents.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2015

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: Bu araştırmada Montessori günlük yaşam becerileri çalışmalarının zihinsel yetersizliği olan çocukların öz bakım becerilerine etkisi incelenmiştir. Araştırmanın deneklerini 2019-2020 eğitim-öğretim yılında Aksaray ili Sarıyahşi ilçesine bağlı bir ilkokuldaki özel eğitim sınıfına devam eden üç zihinsel yetersizliği olan çocuk (hafif, orta, ağır düzeyde) oluşturmaktadır. Denekler, seçkisiz (rastgele) olmayan örnekleme yöntemlerinden ölçüt örnekleme yöntemi kullanılarak belirlenmiştir. Katılımcılar ölçüt olarak, farklı engel düzeylerinin olmasına göre belirlenmiştir. Araştırmada tek denekli araştırma desenlerinden ABA modeli kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın nicel verilerini toplamak için "Öz Bakım Becerileri Değerlendirme Testi" kullanılmıştır. Nitel verileri toplamak içinse gözlemci sınıf öğretmenine uygulama sonunda sorular sorulmuştur. Elde edilen veriler, çizgi grafiğiyle sunulmuştur. Araştırmanın sonuçlarına göre Montessori günlük yaşam becerileri çalışmaları hafif ve orta düzey zihinsel yetersizliği olan çocukların öz bakım becerilerini olumlu yönde etkilemiştir. / In this research, the effect of Montessori practical life studies on the self care skills of children who have mental retardation was observed. The subjects of the study consist of three mentally disabled children (mild,moderate,severe) attending a special-ed class in a primary school in Sarıyahşi district of Aksaray province in the 2019-2020 academic year. The subjects were determined by using the criterion sampling method, which is one of the non-random sampling methods. Participants were determined according to the different levels of disability as a criterion. In the study, ABA(Applied Behavioral Analysis) model, which is one of the single-subject research designs, was used. The 'Self Care Assessment Test' was used to collect the quantitative data of the study. Questions were asked to the observer classroom teacher to collect qualitative data at the end of the application. The data acquired are presented with a line chart. According to the results of the study, Montessori practical life studies positively affected the self-care skills of children with mild and moderate mental retardation.

Language: Turkish

Published: Konya, Turkey, 2021

Language: English

ISSN: 1470-8647

Language: English

Language: English

ISSN: 1354-1498

Abstract/Notes: Reprinted in 'The California Lectures of Maria Montessori, 1915' (Clio Press, 1997).

Language: English