Abstract/Notes: Pre-school programs give children an edge in a competitive world and education climate. It teaches children the basic skills necessary to be successful in formal schooling. Pre-schools provide children a good foundation for continued learning, communication, higher self-esteem and enjoyment of the learning process. Pre-schools have the important task of giving children numerous and varied opportunities to promote children’s development during the formative years including physical development, social development and literary competence. Literary competences open the door to academic learning and help ensure later success in school. The present study was conducted to elicit information on the approaches adopted by pre-schools to foster literary skills among pre-schoolers in Bangalore city. A representative sample of 30 preschool centres were surveyed - 9 Montessori, 8 kindergarten, 8 play-way and 5 crèches. After an introductory session in the preschool centres, a self-developed questionnaire was distributed to the preschool teachers to elicit information on the approaches adopted by pre-schools to foster literary skills among pre-schoolers. Analysis of data obtained indicated that the preschools surveyed had no adequate approaches to foster literary skills in pre-schoolers. Also the preschools surveyed had no adequate library facilities.

Language: English

ISSN: 1930-2940

Abstract/Notes: Little is known about the influence of Montessori methods on children's physical activity (PA). This cross-sectional study compared PA of children attending Montessori and traditional preschools. We enrolled 301 children in 9 Montessori and 8 traditional preschools in Columbia, South Carolina. PA was measured by accelerometry on weekdays during preschool (In-School), non-school (Non-School), and all day (All Day). Minutes/hour of light, moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA), and total PA (light + MVPA) were calculated. Children attending Montessori preschools accumulated more In-School light (7.7 vs. 6.5 minute/hour), MVPA (7.7 versus 6.5 minute/hour), and total PA (15.4 versus 13.0 minute/hour) than children attending traditional preschools, after adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, body mass index, parent education and neighborhood poverty index. For Non-School (8.5 versus 6.2 minute/hour) and All Day (8.5 versus 7.6 minute/hour), children in Montessori preschools accumulated more MVPA than children in traditional preschools. In-School PA was higher for children in private Montessori than public Montessori preschools (8.1 versus 7.0 minute/hour; 8.1 versus 6.7 minute/hour; 16.1 versus 13.6 minute/hour, for light, MVPA, and total PA, respectively). Children attending Montessori preschools were more active than children attending traditional preschools. Adopting the Montessori system may be an important strategy for promoting PA in children.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1111/josh.12207

ISSN: 1746-1561

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this study was to compare and contrast teacher roles in two early childhood education settings—a U.S. Montessori preschool and a traditional Saudi public preschool—and to examine the philosophical, cultural, and theoretical influences on those roles. Cognitive constructivism, social constructivism, and multi-cultural theories were used as a research framework. Data was collected from the two teacher cases in their respective settings through classroom observations, in-depth interviews, and lesson plan/student assessment documents. The study’s findings showed that the roles of a U.S. Montessori preschool teacher and the roles of a Saudi traditional preschool teacher are generally much the same. Though the contexts and the surrounding national cultures and educational philosophies contrast significantly, the work of an early childhood teacher can be summarized in five categories which were consistent between data contexts: academic instruction, relationship with students and other adults, personal and professional development, behavioral management, and environmental preparation. Complementing this general role similarity between contexts, however, was the contrast in aspects of these roles between the two case teachers: the degrees of their attention to their roles, their efforts to perform these roles with excellence, and their application of their philosophies within their particular preschool settings and national cultures. Internationally, ECE programs need clarity about teachers’ responsibilities and a greater awareness of the cultural and philosophical influences on preschool teachers’ work.

Language: English

Published: Kent, Ohio, 2017

Abstract/Notes: When children enter preschool or kindergarten, they often seem to bring a spirit of wonder, great curiosity, and a spontaneous drive to explore, experiment and manipulate playfully and originally. Learning environments have been perceived to have the dual role of promoting as well as killing creativity. This has been attributed to the fact that as a child progresses through school years, teaching and learning become more dominant as play and self-exploration are stifled. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between play and creative drawing in Kenyan preschool children. A comparative study of the Montessori and the traditional public school system was carried out 48 preschool children between the ages of 4 and 6. Half were enrolled in Montessori while the other half in public schools Kenya. Through a qualitative design by the use of the Test of Creative Thinking Drawing Production (TCT-DP) (Urban & Jellen, 1996), and Rubin’s (2001) Play Observation Scale analyses were carried out. Independent sample t tests, Pearson product moment correlations and stepwise hierarchical multiple regressions were computed to determine whether interactions and differences in social play, cognitive play and creative drawing performance were apparent between Montessori and traditional public preschools. Statistically significant results were obtained indicating that Montessori children engaged in cognitive play more than public preschool children and had higher scores on creativity than public preschool children. In addition, age differences in social play as well as in creativity scores were found. However, no gender differences were apparent in social play, cognitive play or in creativity scores.

Language: English

Published: Munich, Germany: Herbert Utz Verlag, 2013

ISBN: 978-3-8316-4284-7

Abstract/Notes: This article is based on a study of an ‘English-medium’ preschool programme for underprivileged children. The diverse linguistic backgrounds of the teachers and students prompted an enquiry into how multiple languages would be negotiated in the setting and how comprehension, learning and communication would occur given that none of the children came from English-speaking homes. The article identifies and interprets key features of verbal language that were observed in the setting and articulates implications for educational practice.

Language: English

DOI: 10.5958/2231-4555.2019.00009.3

ISSN: 2231-4547, 2231-4555

Abstract/Notes: Background This study aimed to compare the levels of objectively-measured sedentary behavior in children attending Montessori preschools with those attending traditional preschools. Methods The participants in this study were preschool children aged 4 years old who were enrolled in Montessori and traditional preschools. The preschool children wore ActiGraph accelerometers. Accelerometers were initialized using 15-second intervals and sedentary behavior was defined as <200 counts/15-second. The accelerometry data were summarized into the average minutes per hour spent in sedentary behavior during the in-school, the after-school, and the total-day period. Mixed linear regression models were used to determine differences in the average time spent in sedentary behavior between children attending traditional and Montessori preschools, after adjusting for selected potential correlates of preschoolers’ sedentary behavior. Results Children attending Montessori preschools spent less time in sedentary behavior than those attending traditional preschools during the in-school (44.4. min/hr vs. 47.1 min/hr, P = 0.03), after-school (42.8. min/hr vs. 44.7 min/hr, P = 0.04), and total-day (43.7 min/hr vs. 45.5 min/hr, P = 0. 009) periods. School type (Montessori or traditional), preschool setting (private or public), socio-demographic factors (age, gender, and socioeconomic status) were found to be significant predictors of preschoolers’ sedentary behavior. Conclusions Levels of objectively-measured sedentary behavior were significantly lower among children attending Montessori preschools compared to children attending traditional preschools. Future research should examine the specific characteristics of Montessori preschools that predict the lower levels of sedentary behavior among children attending these preschools compared to children attending traditional preschools.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-10-2

ISSN: 1479-5868

Abstract/Notes: The aim of this study is to analyze the peer play behaviors of preschool children according to views of their teachers and their parents by the type of school. The research sample consisted of parents of 36-72 months old children attending Private Montessori Preschools and Private Preschools in Çankaya, Ankara (N = 243) and teachers working in these schools (N = 46). Penn Interactive Peer Play Scale-Parent Form (PIPPS-P) and Penn Interactive Peer Play Scale-Teacher Form (PIPPS-T) that were developed by Fantuzzo, Mendez and Tighe (1998) and were made its adaptation to Turkish by Ahmetoğlu, Acar and Aral (2016, 2017), General Information Form "including sociodemographic characteristics of children and their parents and General Information Form which includes sociodemographic and professional characteristics of teachers were used. The study was designed in quantitative research approach and survey method was used. While analyzing the data, Independent Sample t Test, Paired t Test and descriptive statistical methods were used. In the result of the study; it is seen that the majority of the parents in both groups are between 36 and 40 years of age, they have a job and they work, have a nuclear family, and have one child. It is observed that teachers working in Montessori Private Schools are younger, have higher level education than the teachers working in Private Schools. It was found that all of the teachers allow outdoor time to children in daily routine in both groups. Outdoor time span varies from school to school at Montessori Private Preschools. Outdoor time span varies from school to school besides it varies from teacher to teacher in the same school at Private Preschools. It has seen in the research that Private preschools' teachers didn't take Montessori teacher training and Montessori preschool teacher's took Montessori teacher training. It was determined that the teachers working in the Montessori preschools took Montessori trainings from the school director that they are working for. Factor Analyses showed that there is no significant difference in the scores of "Play Disruption" and "Play Disconnection" factors of Penn Interactive Peer Play Scale-Parent Form (PIPPS-P) and Penn Interactive Peer Play Scale-Teacher Form (PIPPS-T) (p>0,05). There is significant difference in the third factor of both scales: "Play Disconnection" (p<0,05). Teacher scores are higher than parents' scores. In addition, the opinions of the teachers who participated in the research were compared with the opinions of parents. Factor analyes show that there is significant different in all areas (p<0,05). Teacher's scores are higher than parents' scores in tha factors of "Play Disruption" and "Play Disconnection". Parents' scores are higher than teachers' scores in factor of "Play Disconnection". Preschool is a period from three to six years. This age range is a period in which children play with their peers. As a result of playing with peers, positive play behaviors ("Play Interaction") such as sharing his/her toy with a friend, showing positive emotions during the play and negative play behaviors ("Play Disruption") such as usurping his/her friend toys, crying, showing agression are common play behaviors of preschool children. As a result of the study, both the teachers and parents' opinions show that the positive and negative play behaviors of children do not differ according to the type of school. In other words, there is no difference between the positive and negative play behaviors of preschool children who attend Montessori and who attend Non-Montessori schools. According to the result, we can say that wherever there is a child there is play and this situation does not differ according to the type of school. However, according to the type of school, the point that differs is about "Play Disconnection". The scores of the "Play Disconneciton" which includes play behaviors such as wandering outside the play group, refusing to participate in play are high in Montessori group. In other words, "Play Disconnection" behaviors are more common in children who are attending Montessori schools. The reason for the result can be explained by the principles of Montessori education. The principle of free choice and respect to the child. In Montessori schools, children are not forced for anything even play. Therefore, the child participates in the play whenever he/she wants. If he/she doesn't want to participate in the play it is okey for teachers so children are free walking in a classroom, outside the play group. / Bu çalışmada; Montessori eğitimi veren özel okul öncesi eğitim kurumlarına devam eden çocuklar ile MEB programı uygulayan özel okul öncesi eğitim kurumlarına devam eden çocukların oyun davranışlarının, anne-baba ve öğretmen görüşlerine göre incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu, Ankara ili Çankaya ilçesinde bulunan Montessori eğitimi veren özel okul öncesi eğitim kurumları ve MEB programı uygulayan özel okul öncesi eğitim kurumlarına devam eden 36-72 aylık çocukların anne-babaları (n=243) ve öğretmenleri (n=46) oluşturmaktadır. Çalışma grubundaki çocukların akran oyun davranışlarını incelemek amacıyla Fantuzzo, Mendez ve Tighe (1998) tarafından geliştirilen; Ahmetoğlu, Acar ve Aral (2016, 2017) tarafından Türkçeye uyarlaması yapılan "Penn Etkileşimli Akran Oyun Ölçeği Ebeveyn Formu (PEAOÖ-E)", "Penn Etkileşimli Akran Oyun Ölçeği Öğretmen Formu (PEAOÖ-Ö)", çocukların ve anne-babalarının sosyodemografik özelliklerini içeren "Anne-Baba Genel Bilgi Formu" ile öğretmenlerin sosyodemografik ve mesleki özelliklerini içeren "Öğretmen Genel Bilgi Formu" kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde parametrik testlerden Bağımlı Örneklem t Tesi (Independent Samples t Test) ve Bağımsız Örneklem t Testi (Paired Samples t Test), tanımlayıcı istatistiksel metotlar (yüzde, ortalama, maksimum ve minumum değerler) kullanılmıştır. Araştırmada; her iki gruptaki anne-babalarının büyük çoğunluğunun 36-40 yaş aralığında olduğu, çalıştığı, çoğunluğunun çekirdek aileye ve tek çocuğa sahip olduğu görülmektedir. Montessori eğitimi uygulayan ÖOÖEK'da çalışan öğretmenlerin MEB programı uygulayan ÖOÖEK'ndaki öğretmenlere göre daha genç oldukları, lisans/lisansüstü mezuniyet oranının daha yüksek olduğu görülmektedir. Her iki grupta da öğretmenlerin, çocukları her gün açık havaya çıkardıkları, Montessori eğitimi veren okullarda günlük açık hava saatinin sadece okuldan okula değiştiği, okul bazında ise her okulun standart bir açık hava saati uygulamasının bulunduğu tespit edilmiştir. MEB programı uygulayan kuramlarda ise açık hava saatinin kurumdan kuruma ve aynı kurumda çalışan öğretmenden öğretmene değişiklik gösterdiği saptanmıştır. Montessori okullarında çalışan öğretmenlerin Montessori eğitimi almış ya da hali hazırda eğitim alıyor oldukları ve bu eğitimleri kurum müdürlerinin verdiği belirlenmiştir. Hem öğretmen (PEAOÖ-Ö) hem de ebeveyn formunun (PEAOÖ-E) "oyun etkileşimi" ve "oyunun bozulması" alt faktörlerinden alınan puanlar arasındaki farklılık anlamlı değilken (p>0,05), "oyundan kopma" davranışında Montessori eğitimi veren ÖOÖEK devam eden çocuklar yönünde anlamlı farklılık bulunduğu görülmüştür (p<0,05). Araştırmaya alınan çocukların akran oyun davranışlarının anne-baba ve öğretmen görüşleri arasında farklılık bulunup bulunmadığı incelenmiş; "Oyun Ektileşimi, Oyunun Bozulması ve Oyundan Kopma" faktörlerinin tümünde anlamlı farklılık olduğu tespit edilmiştir. "Oyun Etkileşimi ve Oyunun Bozulması" alt faktörlerindeki anlamlılık öğretmen görüşü yönünde farklılık gösteriyor iken "Oyundan Kopma" alt faktörü anne-baba görüşü yönünde anlamlı farklılık göstermektedir. Okul öncesi dönem üç-altı yaş arasını kapsayan bir dönemdir. Bu yaş aralığı çocukların akranları ile yoğun bir şekilde oyun oynadıkları bir dönemdir. Akranları ile oyun oynamanın bir sonucu olarak çocuklarda "Oyun Etkileşimi" alt faktörünün altında bulunan "arkadaşı ile oyuncağını paylaşma, oyun esnasında olumlu duygular gösterme" gibi olumlu oyun davranışları ve "Oyunun Bozulması" alt faktörünün altında bulunan "arkadaşının oyuncağını zorla alma, ağlama, kızgınlık gösterme" gibi olumsuz oyun davranışlarını gösterme durumları olağandır. Araştırma sonucundan da anlaşılacağı üzere hem öğretmen hem de anne-baba görüşlerine bakıldığında çocukların olumlu ve olumsuz oyun davranışları okul türüne göre farklılık göstermemektedir. Diğer bir ifade ile Montessori eğitimi alan ve almayan okul öncesi dönem çocuklarının olumlu ve olumsuz sayılabilecek oyun davranışlarında farklılık bulunmamaktadır. Bu sonuca göre diyebiliriz ki çocuğun bulunduğu her yerde oyun da mevcuttur ve bu durum okul türüne göre farklılık göstermemektedir. Fakat okul türüne göre farklılık gösteren nokta ise "Oyundan Kopma" alt faktöründedir. "Oyun grubunun dışında gezinir, oyuna katılmayı reddetme" gibi davranışları içeren "Oyundan Kopma" alt faktörünün puanları Montessori eğitimi alan çocuklarda yüksek çıkmıştır. Yani oyundan kopma davranışı Montessori eğitimi alan çocuklarda daha sık görülmektedir. Bunun sebebi de Montessori eğtiminin ilkelerinden çocuğa saygı, özgür seçim ilkesi, konsantrasyon ile açıklanabilir. Montessori okullarında çocuklar hiçbirşey için oyun oynamak için dahi zorlanmazlar. Dolayısıyla çocuk istediği zaman oyuna katılır, istemediğinde ise sınıfta serbest gezmede özgürdür.

Language: Turkish

Published: Ankara, Turkey, 2019

Abstract/Notes: Preschool education is an important and much studied topic in developed countries, and of growing importance in the third world. Studies exploring preschool experience have noted positive effects when comparing children with access to preschool versus children without access, and effects of particular curriculum approaches over the length of primary schooling. This study adopts a focused sample, cross‐sectional design to explore the types of preschool experience available (denoted by types of preschool activities which equate broadly to curriculum approaches) and whether variation in preschool experience affects core curriculum (English, science, mathematics) performance and classroom behaviours throughout the years of primary schooling in Trinidad and when children complete their primary education in the form of a national ‘common entrance examination’ for entry into a stratified secondary school system. Results show that a large majority of the sampled children attended preschool and that most of the preschool experience was traditional and teacher centred. Neither child centred or teacher centred preschool activities affected academic performance in the core subjects during the primary school years or at the end of their primary school career. Type of preschool activity did affect teacher perception of behaviour in class. Child centred experience facilitated a social/peer orientation in children. High levels of teacher centred experience detracted from later relationships with teacher. Results were confounded by social class, with middle class children having most access to (the limited amount available) child centred preschool experience and performing at the highest academic and behavioural levels in the classroom although in limited numbers. The discussion questions the appropriacy of the various preschool activities for pupils within a cultural orientation of traditional upbringing and primary schooling practices.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1080/0300443941030103

ISSN: 0300-4430, 1476-8275

Language: English

ISSN: 1071-6246

Abstract/Notes: The relationship between time in Montessori and Traditional Preschool programs and the preschool child's develoment of [1] personal skills, [2] relationship with teachers, [3] peer relations, [4] behavioral control, and [5] cognitive skills with age controlled was used to compare the relative effectiveness of the programs. This design was necessary since it is likely that parents who select the Montessori program for their child are different from parents selecting traditional preschool programs for their children. Three Montessori programs [n = 108] and three traditional programs [n = 116] provided the subjects for the study. The Pre Kindergarten Scale [PKS], a multiple choice behavioral rating scale was completed by the programs’ teachers on each child. The results revealed that the only variable significant in predicting time in program for the traditional program, relationship with teacher, was the only variable insignificant in predicting length of time in program for the Montessori program. The strongest relationship was for length of time in the Montessori program and relationship with peers [18 percent of variance] with age controlled.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1080/0300443910720111

ISSN: 0300-4430, 1476-8275