Language: English

ISSN: 1071-6246

Language: English

ISSN: 1071-6246

Abstract/Notes: A pretest-posttest control group design was used to measure the effect of practical life materials on public school kindergarten children's fine motor skill development over a 6-month period. The dependent measure was a penny posting test. More than 50 different sets of activities were provided to the experimental group (n = 101). Teachers coached students in following specific steps to use tweezers, tongs, and spoons to manipulate a variety of objects. Students then employed the materials during center time in their classrooms. Although experimental and control group teachers reported equal amounts of fine motor activity in their classrooms, significant interaction effects were found indicating the experimental group outperformed the control on the posttest measure. An overall effect size of 0.74 indicates that the type of fine motor activity is important in children's development.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1023/A:1016533729704

ISSN: 1082-3301, 1573-1707

Language: English

DOI: 10.1086/454181

ISSN: 1554-8279, 0013-5984

Abstract/Notes: Also: other sites for students and teachers

Language: English

ISSN: 1071-6246

Abstract/Notes: Languagge is one of the facilities that Preschoolers acquire in their early years and this is made possible by the interaction that they have with their environments - be it home, school where they grow and interact. To acquire language and develop vocabularies for communication, Montessori Language materials become invaluable tools for building and enhancing language versatility among preschoolers. Montessori materials like Large and Small Movable Alphabet boxes help in word building, while word lists help in vocabulary acquisition on a large scale. The study adopted descriptive survey and Quazi-experimental design. Four ECCDC were selected for the study; out of which two were used as experimental classes while the other two were used as control group. A total of 286 pupils from Lagos Education District 4 and 6 constituted the sample for the study. The treatment group was exposed to teaching and learning using the Montessori Language Materials (Large and Small Movable Alphabet boxes, word lists, phrases and sentence cards, etc.). The control group was also exposed to teaching and learning using the conventional instructional strategy. Instruments used for data collection were Public School Teachers' Questionnaire (PSTQ) and Pupils' Language Achievement Worksheets (PLAW). Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as simple percentages, mean and standard deviation, whilst independent t-test and ANCOVA were used to test the hypotheses formulated. The study revealed that majority of the teachers in the study had no adequate preparation for the level of education where they teach; that the pupils that had practical sessions using Montessori Language Materials performed better in spelling, word building and reading activities and had larger number of vocabulary acquisition than their peers in the control group. The study also revealed that most of the teachers had no Montessori training and as such, they were unable to implement Montessori methods in their classrooms. Therefore, the recommendations include: that teachers should make the learning of language more practical by the use of diverse instructional materials that are age appropriate and allow pupils the opportunity to find out things for themselves. In addition, professional preparation of the early years' teachers should be extensive as to embrace and inculcate best practices in the course of their training so that they can be skillful and resourceful in dispensing their duties in the classrooms.

Language: English

ISSN: 2536-7382

Language: English

ISSN: 1071-6246

Language: English

ISSN: 1071-6246

Abstract/Notes: The results of the research of etalon images formation in pre-school children with developmental delay are analyzed. The authors focus on sensory models development in children with mental development delay (MDD), also define the main directions of sensory models development in senior pre-school age children with MDD by means of Montessori materials. Classes are conducted in specially prepared environment. As Montessori approach requires the division of the activity room into several zones, standard ones are considered to be: natural zone, practical life zone, sensory zone, language zone, and mathematical zone. The task of a teacher is to adjust to the kid’s interests. It is important to create the environment for realization of his or her ideas and actions.

Language: English

DOI: 10.33543/1302

ISSN: 2464-6733, 1804-7890

Abstract/Notes: Reading is a skill that remains for a long time in persons with dementia (PWD), with oral reading and grammatical knowledge often being preserved through the latest stages of the condition. However, without access to dementia-appropriate reading materials, many senior living communities are compelled to provide children’s books to PWD. While the large font and simple sentences in such books make them easy to read, they fail to respect PWD’s status as adults who have significant life histories. Hearthside Book Club® (HBC) is a Montessori-based and adult-appropriate reading and discussion activity that capitalizes on the remaining abilities of PWD. This paper will discuss the key features of HBC, outcomes of a research study that examined HBC, processes used to disseminate HBC, and lessons learned while disseminating the intervention. Regarding the research study, persons from all stages of dementia participated (N=108), with 33% in the Early Stages, 28% in the Middle Stages, and 39% in the Late Stages. When compared to baseline activities, HBC produced an 85% increase in Constructive Engagement (p<.01), a 91% increase in Pleasure (p<.01), a 76% decrease in Distracted Engagement (p<.01), and a 59% decrease in Non-Engagement (p<.01). In addition, Quality of Life (measured with the DEMQOL) increased (p<.05), while Apathy (measured by the NPI-NH) decreased (p<.05). Regarding dissemination of HBC, a competitive analysis, surveys, and interviews with end users were used to determine optimal ways of delivering and pricing the intervention. Ultimately, we decided to disseminate HBC digitally as a Book of the Week Club.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.025

ISSN: 2399-5300