Language: English

ISSN: 1538-6619

Abstract/Notes: Concurrent to the present reduction of arts education in mainstream American schools, many evolutionary-minded scholars are asserting that artistic behavior contributes significantly to cognition, has been advantageous for our survival, and satisfies psychological needs that are biologically embedded. Supported by long-term and wide-spread art making among the human species and the spontaneous artful behaviors of children, this cross-disciplinary study explores the possibility that artful behaviors represent an inherent part of human nature. Based on an ethological understanding of art (that is, as a behavior rather than an object), this research uses an interpretivist lens and phenomenological design with the ultimate goal of exploring how such proclivities might inform educational policy and practice. Data collection methods include a combination of observation, participant observation, and teacher interviews in a state-funded pre-kindergarten classroom.

Language: English

DOI: 10.21977/D97110002

ISSN: 1932-7528

Abstract/Notes: The Montessori Children’s House includes a variety of materials to meet the many different needs of children in the classroom. However, some children exhibit challenging behaviors in the classroom that make it difficult for them to attend to and complete work. These behaviors also disrupt the other children that are working and engaged in the classroom. The child who exhibits challenging behavior requires extra attention from the teacher, making it difficult for him/her to be independent and develop positive peer relationships. Sensory integration was defined by Jean Ayres as “the neurological process that organizes sensation from one’s own body and from the environment and makes it possible to use the body effectively within the environment” (Ayres 1972, p. 11). Research has shown that sensory integration materials such as fidgets, mouth tools, rocking and bouncing tools, and noise blocking headphones help to calm children and improve focus in classrooms. In this case study of two children within a classroom of 25, we measured undesirable behaviors before and after the introduction of sensory integration materials. We also tracked the usage of the sensory integration materials by all of the children in the classroom. The data collected showed that over a period of seven weeks, the inclusion of these materials produced a slight improvement in behaviors of the two children in the case study. The study also showed that children in the classroom regularly utilized the sensory integration materials to help them focus on work in the classroom. While future study can expand on this work, based on the findings of the introductory research presented here, including sensory integration materials in the Montessori Children’s House can reduce challenging behaviors and help children self-regulate so that they can better focus on classroom work.

Language: English

Published: River Falls, Wisconsin, 2018

Abstract/Notes: Objectives The Montessori Assessment System (MAS) is an assessment tool that aims at assessing preserved abilities in persons with moderate to severe dementia and to serve as basis for person-centered interventions. As responsive behaviors are highly frequent in this population, we assessed their possible influence on the MAS administration and results.Methods 193 persons with a diagnosis of dementia in the moderate to severe stages living in nursing homes completed the MAS. Responsive behaviors were assessed by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI).Results The NPI scores were heterogeneous, but responsive behaviors were present for at least 5 NPI domains in more than 50% of the participants. While NPI scores had weak relationships with MAS completion time and total score, primarily for the hallucinations, euphoria, and aberrant motor behaviors domains, a large majority of the participants fully completed the MAS.Conclusions The presence of responsive behaviors as assessed by the NPI does not limit MAS administration, despite minor influence on MAS score and completion time.Clinical implications The MAS may be applied to persons with moderate to severe dementia presenting responsive behaviors. Assessment of preserved abilities can greatly improve the design of person-centered care plans in this population.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2021.1924333

ISSN: 0731-7115

Language: English

Abstract/Notes: Education is key to fostering the adaptive skills needed to face today’s challenges. However, Western-like traditional pedagogy is limited in promoting such skills, so a drastic reform is crucially needed. Recently, the Montessori pedagogy has aroused scientific interest. Behavioral comparative studies between traditionally and Montessori-schooled children confirm benefits at several levels for schoolchildren, especially in self-monitoring and creativity abilities. Despite these facts, large-scale implementation of this pedagogy is limited in public schools. Maybe those behavioral comparisons, by providing binary outcomes (i.e., better versus worse), limit the broader transfer of this pedagogy as it refrains from grasping the how and why it works. Accordingly, neuroimaging studies may complement positively this limitation and provide a deeper understanding of the neurodevelopment that the Montessori pedagogy supports and trains. Here we review behavioral studies and recent neuroscientific work, a perspective that explains most of the benefits observed and may help knowledge transfer to practice.

Language: English

Published: Prešov, Slovakia: Slovenský výbor Svetovej organizácie pre predškolskú výchovu / Slovak Committee of the World Organization for Early Childhood Education, 2023

ISBN: 978-80-974139-3-4

Abstract/Notes: The children of the kindergarten school age between 3 - 5 are known to be a special time in the lives of children. It is a crucial stage of life in which a child develops himself/herself physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially. This study was critical analyze the “Role of Kindergarten System of Education in Developing Emotion Behavior and Self-Control  in Children in Rawalpindi City. The main objectives of the study are  (i) To analyze the role of kindergarten system in the promotion of social skills. It was descriptive type of research. The population of study was teachers of private kindergarten schools and their teachers in Rawalpindi city.  A sample of 200 teachers were taken from this known population. Random sampling technique was used to select sample for present study. The researcher was used questionnaire technique to collect data.  After polite testing the researcher were find the validity report on the basis of using Cronbach’s Alpha  which is 0.77. The main discussion that is important in this study is that there are many type of social skills which are play a vital role in the development of the students on both level, physicaly and mently. Students show attrection in begning days of their school. The conclusion of the study that many teachers said that they used friendly approach to teach children and they encouraged their students to take part in classroom activities. They said that they always encouraged their students when they asked question during lesson. The major recommendations of the study were Teachers may use group activities and team work in students of Montessori system to improve their social skills and the Kindergarten program provides children with experiences to help them learn to value and respect individual contributions as well as cultural identity and heritage.

Language: English

ISSN: 2309-8678, 2312-3605

Abstract/Notes: This study examines the differences between Montessori guides and public-school teachers regarding their knowledge and implementation of inclusive practices in the classroom using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). TPB claims that perceptions of attitudes, subjective norms, and behavioral control predict intentions to engage in a particular behavior. The present research utilized a mixed-methods approach to assess participants’ personal definitions of inclusive education and predict intention to perform inclusive practices from teachers’ attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Because public-school teachers are required to attend training, they were predicted to be more knowledgeable than Montessori guides about inclusive practices. Sixty-six teachers participated, but contrary to predictions, definitions provided by both public-school teachers (n = 35) and Montessori guides (n = 31) indicated poor understanding of inclusion with no differences between groups. Analysis of the TPB variables revealed significant differences in attitudes with Montessori guides expressing more positive attitudes than public-school teachers. Qualitative analyses supported this result as Montessori guides used more positive emotional terms in their definitions than public-school teachers who used more neutral terms. Multiple regression analysis showed that the TPB model predicted intention to perform inclusive practices (R2 = .73) with only perceived behavioral control and past behavior statistically significant predictors. These results indicate that despite positive attitudes, participants may lack sufficient, concrete understanding of strategies that would allow them to carry out inclusive practices. Results revealed that training is needed to clarify the definition of inclusion and provide actionable tasks for implementing inclusion in the classroom.

Language: English

Published: Killeen, Texas, 2021

Abstract/Notes: Schools as a microsystem are a critical part of a child’s life at every stage of development. School building research demonstrates that attributes of the facility are linked to critical student outcomes (Maxwell, 2018a). Kindergarten space is one of the key interiors where children spend most of their time out of their homes. Children need a physical environment presenting rich opportunities where they can discover experiences, and stimulate their senses (Yalçın, 2017). This research is generated from the question for the interior design of the earning environment affects the children’s development. To be more precise, which elements affect children’s cognitive development. The theories that dealt with this idea clarified disconnected analysis which produces a knowledge gap. The problem statement of the research is represented by the lack of knowledge that is concerned with the effect of spatial forms in the learning environment on cognitive development. The study came up of researching the characteristics and role of spatial form, including identifying key factors from spatial forms and their visual perception, in creating the physical environment of classroom interior space in-depth to analyze its influence on childrchildren’stive development from 3 to 5 years ago. Document analysis has been applied as the main method of this study. from seven preschools (three Montessori preschools, one Reggio Emilia preschool, one Pikler preschool, and others (Audrey Migliani, 2020, 2021). The designs will be analyzed and summarized to analyze spatial forms which are selected by architects and designers in designing preschool spaces as well as their influences on children’s behavior. Finally, the result of this study could provide educators and designers with significant insight to design priorities of the physical classroom environment of early children space.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1063/5.0124736

ISSN: 0094-243X

Abstract/Notes: It was hypothesized that children in age-heterogeneous kindergartens would be more prone to behave altuistically than would children in age-homogeneous kindergartens. One hundred and nineteen children from both age structures who lived in kibbutzim and cities in Israel were measured on verbal and behavioral altruism. On all of the measures it was found that children who were studying in heterogeneous classes were more altruistic than were children from homogeneous classes. There was no difference between city and Kibbutz children.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1016/0022-4405(78)90054-7

ISSN: 0022-4405