Abstract/Notes: Workshop by Judi Orion to be presented October, 2005, Sydney

Language: English

Language: English

Language: English

Abstract/Notes: In this research, the effectiveness of Montessori Method in acquiring color and texture knowledge of pre-school children has been examined. The dependent variable of this study is the color and texture knowledge of the children, the independent variable is Montessori Method. The study is planned both quantitative and qualitative, and experimental as well. 40 students are included in study group as experiment and control group.The experiment group consisted of 20 children aged between 4-5 years, who were trained in Montessori Method in Konya Selçuk University Health Sciences Faculty İhsan Doğramacı Practice Kindergarden in 2016-2017 academic year and selected by neutral assignment. The control group consisted of 20 children aged 4-5 years who were educated in Meram Gündoğdu Private Kindergarden School by the Ministery of Education’s pre-school education program. In the study, the “Color and Texture Knowledge Assessment Test” was used, which was prepared by the researcher of this paper and approved by an expert. These tests are applied as pre-test, post-test and tracking test. In the analysis of the data, Mann Whitney U Test and Wilcoxon Marked Ranks Test were applied. Results; ● There is no significant difference between the color knowledge pre-test rank averages of the experiment and control groups (p>0.05). ● There is no significant difference between the experiment and control group’s texture knowledge pre-test rank averages. (p>0.05). ● The color knowledge of the experiment group’s post-test rank averages are notably higher than the pre-test rank averages [Z=3.55; p< 0.05]. ● The texture knowledge of the experiment group’s post-test rank averages are notably higher than the pre-test rank averages. (Z=3.83,p<0.05). ● Although there is no notable difference between the post-test rank averages of both the experiment and the control groups, the experiment group’s color information is higher (p˃0.05). ● The texture information of the experiment group’s post-test rank averages are notably higher than the control group (p<0.05). ● There is no reasonable difference between the experiment group’s color information post-test and the tracking test rank averages (Z=0.27, p>0.05). ● There is no reasonable difference between the experiment group’s texture information post test and the tracking test rank averages (Z=0.24, p>0.05). The general conclusion is that the Montessori Method contributes positively to the acquisition of color and texture knowledge of preschool children and it is more effective than the Pre-School Education Program of the Ministry of Education / Bu araştırmada, Montessori Yöntemi’nin okul öncesi çocuklarının renk ve doku bilgilerini edinmelerine etkililiği incelenmiştir. Araştırmanın bağımlı değişkeni çocukların renk ve doku bilgileri, bağımsız değişkeni ise Montessori Yöntemi’dir. Araştırma nicel ve nitel, aynı zamanda deneysel olarak planlanmıştır. Çalışma grubuna deney ve kontrol grubu olarak toplam 40 çocuk dâhil edilmiştir. Deney grubunu, 2016-2017 öğretim yılında Konya Selçuk Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi İhsan Doğramacı Uygulama Anaokulunda Montessori yöntemi ile eğitim alan ve yansız atama ile seçilen 4-5 yaş grubu 20 çocuk; kontrol grubunu Meram Özel Gündoğdu Koleji Anaokulu’nda MEB Okul Öncesi Eğitim Programı ile eğitim alan 4-5 yaş grubu 20 çocuk oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada, araştırmacı tarafından hazırlanan ve uzman onayı alınan” Renk ve Doku Bilgilerini Değerlendirme Testi” kullanılmıştır. Testler ön test, son test ve izleme testi olarak uygulanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde; Mann Whitney U Testi ve Wilcoxon İşaretli Sıralar Testi uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: ● Deney ve kontrol grubu renk bilgisi ön test sıra ortalamaları arasında anlamlı bir fark yoktur (p>0.05). ● Deney ve kontrol grubu doku bilgisi ön test sıra ortalamaları arasında anlamlı bir fark yoktur (p>0.05). ● Deney grubunun renk bilgisi son test sıra ortalamaları ön test sıra ortalamalarından anlamlı düzeyde yüksektir [Z=3.55; p< 0.05]. ● Deney grubunun doku bilgisi son test sıra ortalamaları ön test sıra ortalamalarından anlamlı düzeyde yüksektir (Z=3.83,p<0.05). ● Deney ve kontrol grubu renk bilgisi son test sıra ortalamaları arasında anlamlı düzeyde fark olmamasına rağmen deney grubununki daha yüksektir (p˃0.05). ● Deney grubu doku bilgisi son test sıra ortalamaları, kontrol grubu doku bilgisi son test sıra ortalamalarından anlamlı düzeyde yüksektir(p<0.05). ● Deney grubu renk bilgisi son test ve izleme testi sıra ortalamaları arasında anlamlı bir farklılaşma bulunmamıştır (Z=0.27, p>0.05). ● Deney grubu doku bilgisi son test ve izleme testi sıra ortalamaları arasında anlamlı bir farklılaşma bulunmamıştır (Z=0.24, p>0.05). Ulaşılan genel sonuç, Montessori Yöntemi’nin okul öncesi çocuklarının renk ve doku bilgilerini edinmelerine olumlu katkı sağladığı ve MEB Okul Öncesi Eğitim Programına göre daha etkili olduğudur.

Language: Turkish

Published: Konya, Turkey, 2018

Abstract/Notes: This study had several objectives. First, to investigate the practices of forest kindergartens in three different geographic regions of Türkiye. Second, to explore how the founders of forest kindergartens overcome challenges and take advantage of favorable circumstances as they set up and run the kindergartens. Third, to research the challenges and favorable circumstances that teachers face in such kindergartens and ways to deal with them. Fourth, to examine what kinds of cultural adaptations kindergarten founders and teachers need to make to use Forest Pedagogy in their own culture or location. Fifth, to elicit the kindergarten founders', teachers', and parents' knowledge of Forest Pedagogy. And sixth, to explore how parents' knowledge of Forest Pedagogy relates to their expectations of forest kindergartens. This study included members of the forest kindergartens (N = 21), which comprised the founders (N = 3), teachers (N = 9), and parents (N = 9). The study discovered that forest kindergartens were not typical, despite sharing similar practices with other kindergartens, such as the daily use of outdoor playgrounds. The diversity of the outdoor settings employed by forest kindergartens varied from region to region, depending on their geographical characteristics. However, they shared certain challenges with other kindergartens, such as a lack of unstructured and affordable natural settings surrounding the kindergartens. In all cases, the kindergarten founders and teachers had limited knowledge of sustainable attitudes for children and the significance of risky play. Yet, the parents possessed the knowledge to value free, muddy, and risky play throughout the year.

Language: English

Published: Ankara, Turkey, 2022

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this study was (1) to investigate the degree of agreement between AMI trained Montessori teachers' knowledge and attitudes and Montessori's recommendations for guiding the process of normalization among young children and (2) to discover the reasons for differences from those recommendations. Normalization is the central process in the Montessori method. Except for a study by this investigator (Zener, 1993) guiding the process of normalization had not been researched since Montessori's work some forty-five to eighty-five years ago. Therefore, this investigation also provided current teacher experiences of guiding the process of normalization. One hundred sixty five Montessori teachers attending various regional and national conferences were surveyed with knowledge and attitude scales. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10% of the participants. Mean scale scores from 4.0 to 5.0 on a five degree Likert scale and a SD less than 1.0 were projected as satisfactory levels of agreement with Montessori's recommendations. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the scales, and content analysis was used to analyze the interviews. T-tests and ANOVAS indicated that demographic variables were not significant to the results. The study concluded that AMI trained Montessori teachers reflected a satisfactory degree of agreement with the recommended knowledge and attitudes (M = 4.25, SD =.31 and M = 4.50, SD =.34 respectively). Knowledge and attitude correlated (p $<$.01). Reasons for differences among teachers' knowledge and attitudes about guiding the process included using other aspects of Montessori theory, disagreement with Montessori, difficulty in carrying out the theory in practice, misinterpretations of scale items, and misunderstandings about Montessori's recommendations for guiding the process of normalization. Implications for children, teachers, parents, school administration, and teacher education included validation of teachers for the high level of consistency in their reflections on guiding the process of normalization. Recommendations for future research included developing a more complete theoretical understanding of the process of normalization, particularly the importance of respecting children's spans of concentration.

Language: English

Published: College Park, Maryland, 1994

Abstract/Notes: This action research investigated letter name knowledge gain from integrating a selection of Orton-Gillingham methods into a private Montessori Primary classroom. The methods incorporated included letter name and sound drill, three-letter word practice, vowel game, and sand writing. Eight students, four and five years of age, were included in the study. Sources of data collection include student artifact, teacher assessment, student attitude inquiry, and teacher observational data. Students displayed an overall increase in attitude toward learning letter name and six out of eight students showed an increase in letter name knowledge for both uppercase and lowercase letters. Because of the students increase in enthusiasm for learning letter names and their knowledge gain, I will continue to use the Orton-Gillingham methods. I will also introduce the remaining methods to reach the students who did not show an increase in knowledge of letter names.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2015

Abstract/Notes: This action research was carried out to determine if the use of an application named Phonics Island would help student knowledge of letters/letter sounds increase. The research was completed in a full day Primary Montessori classroom of 4k and 5k students. Data was gathered using teacher observation and teacher made checklists. Data on students’ feelings toward learning letters/letter sounds was also assessed to see if students’ thoughts about letters changed after incorporating technology. Students were given an iPad for approximately fifteen minutes per day. The letters were grouped in categories, and the researchers chose which group the student needed to complete for the day. The students did show growth over the course of the sixweek study, but it is hard to determine if the growth was due only to the use of the iPads. During the six weeks, the researchers also gave many teacher-led lessons, and the students also completed many student-led, independent lessons that did not include technology. The researchers believe the outcome was due to a combination of iPad lessons, teacher led lessons, and independent lessons. More research could be conducted to test how influential the iPad lessons are by having a control group that received only iPad lessons for a few weeks.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2018

Language: English

Abstract/Notes: The American public generally recognizes the name "Montessori" because so many schools across the country and around the world use the Montessori name. However, the Montessori community has long believed that misunderstandings abound. A recent dissertation study quantified Montessori awareness and identified misconceptions in particular for those aspects of Montessori education that are unique, relative to other educational settings. In order to gauge public understanding of Montessori education, an online survey was conducted with members of an Internet panel administered by a national research firm. The study included a demographically representative sample of 1,520 U.S. adult panel members, who answered questions regarding their understanding of Montessori education. Two members of the American Montessori Society's Research Committee and six Montessori teachers, including a combination of early childhood and elementary teachers with AMS and AMI credentials, reviewed the survey to identify any disagreements on correct answers for the Montessori knowledge questions. The survey was field-tested with six individuals, including parents and nonparents, both with and without Montessori experience, to identify any potential points of confusion. Results show that the public clearly lacks understanding of the Montessori perspective on extrinsic rewards, including such things as stickers, certificates, and even teacher praise. Since extrinsic rewards are common in other school settings, their absence in Montessori environments may seem peculiar unless people understand that Montessori philosophy is based on the idea that students develop intrinsic motivation when the learning activity itself, not an external incentive, is its own reward. The public recognizes that developing children's concentration abilities is a goal of Montessori education, but opportunities exist for helping people understand specific practices employed to achieve this goal (i.e., providing opportunities for long stretches of uninterrupted work time, allowing the child to determine the timing of changing activities). Better understanding of the reasons behind the unique structure of the schedule in a Montessori classroom will help people see that the differences from other educational environments are based on a comprehensive philosophy of child development. (Contains 3 figures and 1 table.)

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040