Abstract/Notes: This was previously published in American Montessori Society Bulletin (v. 8, no. 2, 1970) under the same title.

Language: English

Published: New York, New York: American Montessori Society, 1970

Abstract/Notes: Providing a meaningful and experiential learning environment for all students has long created a concern for alternate ways to teach students who are reportedly demonstrating non-mastery on state standardized assessments. As the benchmark for showing successful academic achievement increases, so does the need for discovering effective ways for students to learn. The Montessori teaching method has been in existence since the early 1900s when Dr. Montessori made her discovery of the student learning process. Dr. Montessori connected to the laws of nature and the environment for creating students who are problem-solvers with critical-thinking skills. The Montessori Method is designed to promote independent learning and support normal development in children. A Montessori lesson is defined as any interaction between an adult and a child; it incorporates techniques that are defined to serve as guidance for the adult personality in working with the child. The study investigated the impact of Montessori Method on the academic achievement of 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students. The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) was used to measure academic achievement in reading and mathematics. An ex post facto, causal-comparative design was employed. The characteristic-present samples consisted of 47 3rd, 40 4th, and 44 5th graders. There were 71 3rd, 60 4th, and 49 5th graders in the comparison samples. Due to non-probability nature of the sampling technique, external validity was limited to study participants. Due to non-experimental nature of the study, no causal inferences were drawn. A series of Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the students who received the Montessori Method of instruction and those who did not on the basis of the outcome measures of academic achievement in reading and mathematics. The mean difference effect sizes, which were used to examine the practical significance of the findings, ranged from negligible to small. Although the results of the study did not support the hypothesis, it must be pointed out that the Montessori Method of teaching facilitates self-paced learning that promotes a child's independence and encourages decision-making which are instrumental in becoming successful learners. Additionally, Montessori advocates experiences that are "real-world" and allow children to build intrinsic motivational opportunities; therefore, creating independent thinkers that will be competitive problem-solvers in the global economy of the 21st century. The limited studies on the Montessori Method of teaching offer opportunities for further investigation at all grade levels. For example, it is recommended to conduct a study to compare students who receive Montessori education during the early years of their academic life with those who receive Montessori education from pre-k to high school graduation. Because the Montessori name does not have a trademark, there are opportunities for investigating Montessori teacher preparation and comparing the preparation of the teachers to the standardized assessment results. There are also opportunities for investigating the method and curriculum used at schools that carry the name Montessori for comparison purposes amongst Montessori schools as well as in comparison to the results of the standardized assessments at these schools.

Language: English

Published: Corpus Christi, Texas, 2013

Language: Spanish

ISSN: 0480-0974

Abstract/Notes: The Neurosequential Model in Education (NME) is described as a developmentally sensitive and biologically respectful approach to development and learning. This paper postulates that the NME shares many commonalities with the Montessori Method in that it, too, is developmentally sensitive and adheres to biologically respectful concepts. This paper compares some of the core principles and recommended practices of the NME with those in the Montessori Method and argues that they share many commonalities. The paper also examines Dr. Montessori’s unique use of “sensitive periods” in development for educational purposes, in particular her use of the sensitive periods for movement, the social aspects of life and the sensitive period for order respectively. It argues that in doing this she was actively promoting an approach to human development and education that appears to correlate with what Dr. Bruce Perry calls a developmentally sensitive and biologically respectful approach to learning. The goal of this study is to show the science behind why many of Dr. Montessori’s original practices worked and had such a positive effect on children. This knowledge should empower Montessori educators and give them the confidence to promote authentic Montessori practices in the knowledge that they are in line with current neuroscientific theories that have been shown to be beneficial to children.

Language: English

ISSN: 2378-3923

Language: English

ISSN: 0277-9064

Abstract/Notes: This paper focuses on the application of knowledge based systems for child performance analysis in an online Montessori module. Using knowledge based techniques, the system generates an automatic analysis based on the teacher's answers to a variety of questions about a child's performance of a specific Montessori activity. The questions were created through a study of the criteria used to assess the level of a child's performance and achievement. This prototype is designed as a proof-of-concept, to show how the knowledge base technique could be applied. To design the prototype, we conducted literature reviews on the delivery of Montessori methods and the knowledge base technique, and compared rule -based and case -based reasoning. We selected rule-based reasoning for the concept prototype since it is suitable for Montessori activities which are well defined and easy to acquire.

Language: English

DOI: 10.18517/ijaseit.2.6.240

ISSN: 2088-5334

Abstract/Notes: The frequency of early childhood education approaches spanning 10 years of publications was investigated. A content analysis of publications (N = 492) from Early Childhood Education Journal was conducted. From a previous content analysis six approaches or search words were identified: Bank Street, Head Start, High/Scope, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Waldorf. Overall, the current content analysis demonstrated that the Head Start approach most frequently appeared. The results indicate that approaches vary as to their frequency of appearance and that contributors of Early Childhood Education Journal have investigated, reflected upon, and expanded upon approaches to educating young children to different degrees. This finding may be beneficial to future contributors of Early Childhood Education Journal. In addition, we have provided a brief overview of each approach that early childhood professionals may use to aid parents with their early childhood education enrollment decisions.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1007/s10643-006-0080-4

ISSN: 1082-3301, 1573-1707

Abstract/Notes: The current offer of training courses for university teachers is due, among other needs, to the implementation of an educational model...

Language: English

DOI: 10.12973/eu-jer.9.3.1223

ISSN: 2165-8714

Abstract/Notes: Peace education is a key process for creating peace and devastating conflict and violence. Therefore, peace education promotes the knowledge, skills, attitudes as well as values that pursue to convert individual’s mindsets, attitudes as well as behaviours. So, peace education is a key instrument for developing a culture of peace and a plan which has been used a large number of nations to stop violent and fatal conflicts. The objectives of the study were: (i) to examine the conceptual awareness of secondary school teachers regarding knowledge component of peace education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.(ii) To examine the awareness of secondary school teachers regarding the skills and attitude of peace education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. All secondary school teachers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were the population of the study. According to the nature of the study the researcher selected 320 secondary teachers from different districts. A self-developed questionnaire was used as a research tool. All statements on the questionnaire were related to conceptual awareness of secondary school teachers regarding peace education. The validity and reliability of the research instrument were accurately confirmed. The data were analyzed through SPSS (version 20). The findings and conclusions of the study showed that most of male secondary school teachers were aware about the three components of peace education. Majority of female secondary school teachers were not aware about the components of peace education.

Language: English

DOI: 10.35993/ijitl.v2i1.380

ISSN: 2520-0003, 2664-2247

Abstract/Notes: This study was carried out to evaluate the extent to which the authentic Montessori Method (MM) for Early Childhood Education (ECE), as reflected by theory and practice, encompasses the contemporary 21st-century knowledge on early soft skills development. It involved a quantitative benchmarking analysis wherein it was weighed against the P21 Early Learning Framework (P21ELF) and its implementation guide (P21ELFIG) with the inputs of qualified Montessori ECE practitioners. A questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale collected data from a sample of 100 practitioners reached through the Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Center, personal contacts, and snowballing. After filtering by extent of experience in Montessori ECE and knowledge on soft skills, 42 questionnaires were used for computing descriptive statistics and producing tabular and graphical representations. The findings revealed that the authentic MM for ECE is in remarkable sync with the P21ELFIG on concepts, strategies, optimal environment, and family involvement, while being moderate in encouraging and facilitating learning outcomes and encompassing the environmental requisites listed in P21ELF as related to individual skills. Meanwhile it was found to be greatly deviating from them on employing dramatic or role play as a pedagogical tool, use of duplicate materials, and teacher role.

Language: English

ISSN: 2590-3748