Abstract/Notes: Montessori classrooms commonly integrate their learning across the curriculum, and participate in service learning projects. Both of these practices are authentic experiences for children. This article outlines examples of technology being used to create authentic learning environments, tasks, audiences, sources, and assessments. Technology provides access to the information, tools, and personnel that were once only available through extended research and in laboratories. Through technology, students no longer have to work with old data to learn weather patterns; they now have the capability to download real time data and make predictions about the weather. In this article, the author discusses the different authentic tasks that she used in the classroom. Providing authenticity to those learning experiences, supplemented with the wealth of educational resources available through technology, can only enrich the daily lessons and further the Montessori's mission to create lifelong learners of both students and educators.

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Language: Italian

ISSN: 0042-7241

Abstract/Notes: The Montessori educational method has seen great success in recent years. The media portrays this method in a very favourable

Language: English

ISSN: 2454-6186

Language: Italian

Published: Roma, Italy: Ente Opera Montessori, 1956

Abstract/Notes: Rick Mosher's coining of the word "Urbkinder" reminds us that the city provides a broad environment for learning with key experiences being defined by the student's choice of in-depth involvement. Quoting John Long, these city experiences are real, engaging, connected to thought, allow for personal reflection, and rely on the teaching moment. Rick Mosher feels that the urban experience should be clearly differentiated from that of the work on the land, but his characterization of the needs and tendencies of adolescents shows little difference from unfolding development on the farm. [This talk was presented at the NAMTA conference titled "Montessori: Engaging the Human Personality," Fort Worth, TX, February 29, 2012.]

Language: English

ISSN: 1522-9734

Language: English

Published: Bloomington, Illinois: Public School Publishing Co., 1929

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between academic achievement and physical fitness in City Montessori Schools. Data from the academic year 2004-2005 Fitnessgram were compared to reading, mathematics and science scores on the Health Standards Test (CST) of 253 elementary schools in the Orange County School District. Physical education teachers from the 10 lowest scoring and 10 highest scoring schools were interviewed regarding content of the physical education classes in their school. Simple correlation coefficients revealed a positive linear relationship between academic scores and physical fitness scores. The interview with the teachers revealed that most of the 10 lowest scoring schools did not have a designated physical education teacher. All of the 10 highest scoring schools had designated physical education teachers and followed the physical education guidelines recommended by the Lucknow Education Board.

Language: English

Published: Rochester, New York, Mar 27, 2013

Abstract/Notes: Early results from a Montessori nursery program initiated by Toronto, Canada, in 1971, to help inner-city children prepare for formal education indicate that the mothers of the 15 three- and four-year-old children were pleased with the program. Specifically, they felt that the children had increased their verbal skills, preparedness for junior kindergarten, and social maturity. However, not all mothers were pleased with the increased independence shown by some of the children. A study of the children's characteristics suggested that caution should be exerted in extrapolating the findings from other so-called disadvantaged children to inner-city children in one's own city. Other data are useful but the needs of a particular population must be carefully observed. When isolating deficiencies or identity needs, wholesale generalizations from superficial measures should not be made. Precise and explicit definitions should be made for such terms as deficient in language, intellectual motivation, or conceptual ability. Otherwise inadequate solutions are likely to result. (JS)

Language: English

Published: Toronto, Canada, Nov 1971

Abstract/Notes: Benefits of multi-age grouping include continuity for children and teachers, a sense of community, the possibility for peer tutoring, and an incorporation of developmental differences. This study explored the development of a non-graded program in a New York City public school, particularly the attitudes of teachers, students, and parents to the new program. Twenty subjects in each category completed a survey or an interview. Results indicated that not only were parents and students relatively uninformed about mixed-age grouping before the program began, but teachers also felt that the support and training they received were inadequate. Teachers did have positive attitudes about the benefits of mixed-age grouping, however, and students seemed to have made a positive adjustment. About half of the parents held positive attitudes toward mixed-age grouping, but parents overall appeared to reserve judgment because of a perceived lack of information.

Language: English

Published: [S.I.], 1996

Abstract/Notes: This study was designed to analyze the effects of intervention guided by Montessori Method on patients with dementia. Methods: 85 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in our hospital were included for retrospective analysis and were divided into 2 groups by double-blind randomized method. The control group (n=42) received routine guides on dieting, and the observation group (n=43) was intervened under the guides of Montessori Method. The 2 groups were compared for cognitive function, feeding capacity score, feeding difficulty, voluntary feeding time, and nutriture. Results: (1) After intervention, the observation group yielded a higher MMSE score for cognitive function than the control group (P<0.001); (2) The scores of feeding capacity in both groups achieved increase, which in the observation group was higher than that in the control group 1 month after intervention (P<0.001); (3) The scores of feeding difficulty in both groups achieved decrease, which in the observation group was lower than that in the control group after intervention (P<0.001); (4) For voluntary feeding time as intervention completed, 1 month and 3 months after intervention, the observation group reported prominent extension (P<0.001) while the control group achieved shortening gradually (P<0.001), and the voluntary feeding time in the observation group was longer than that in the control group (P<0.001). Conclusion: Intervention guided by Montessori Method helps patients with dementia by reducing their feeding difficulty and improving their cognitive function, feeding capacity, and nutriture. It is a method deserving popularization.

Language: English

ISSN: 1940-5901