Abstract/Notes: This action research study investigated the effects of bi-weekly, guided, intentional and collaborative classroom material development on the teaching practice of elementary teachers. The study was conducted at a private Montessori school of 125 students, and two elementary teachers participated. Data was collected using a variety of research tools including participant self-assessments, a prepared environment rubric, post-collaboration meeting reflection pages, daily reflection pages and a final conference with the teachers at the end of the research period. Both teachers expressed positive feelings towards the collaborative approach of enhancing their classrooms. The teachers also appreciated the ability to share ideas and best practices with a fellow professional colleague in a targeted area. As the study progressed, the teachers were less likely to share specific information on the daily reflection pages, and student engagement that was anticipated as a result of the subject area enhancements were not as significant as hoped for. The format of these collaborative meetings in a specific subject area could be used in the future as a successful team building mechanism for the entire school staff. Also, these targeted times could encourage material making and beautification of environments throughout the school year.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2018

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this action research was to determine the effect of a variety of mindfulness activities and exercises on self-regulation. Twenty-eight students from a lower elementary class of first, second, and third graders in a public Montessori school participated in the study. Data was collected over a period of six weeks using an on task behavior tally sheet, productivity scoring rubric, observational notes, behavior logs, self-assessments, student feedback, and an auditory following directions matrix. Results show a promising association between mindfulness and self-regulation. All students enjoyed partaking in mindfulness and reported positive associations with the intervention and showed increases in multiple measures. Improvements were observed in productivity, behavior, listening and following directions, and focus to include a decrease in the amount of disruptive behaviors. The data shows that mindfulness can be integrated into the classroom to assist students socially, emotionally and academically. Further research should be conducted to validate these results.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2018

Abstract/Notes: Independence is a skill that everyone needs to possess in order to function in society (Montessori, 1918). The study was designed to see if Grace and Courtesy lessons would help increase independence skills in elementary children. The study took place in a Montessori classroom of 35 children, aged 6-9 years old. The researcher used tally marks to calculate how often the children asked adults for help with tasks that they already knew how to perform. The researcher also tallied how often the children would perform the task after being reminded one time. Observations were done daily and the observation sheets indicated how many children were not focused on a task and when the concepts in the Grace and Courtesy lessons were being used. The study showed that there was a decrease in asking adults for help and an increase in the use of Grace and Courtesy lessons throughout the research period.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2019

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of Tootling without external rewards on negative behaviors during whole-class lessons in a Montessori lower elementary classroom. Twenty-four students, ranging from six to nine-years-of-age, including five who received outside assistance, were the subjects of this study. The students participated in a self-assessment pre- and post-intervention. The researcher gave lessons on whole-class lesson etiquette, the importance of being a supportive community, and how to report their classmates’ positive behaviors after whole-class lessons using Tootles. The results suggested Tootling without external rewards had minimal positive effect on students’ negative behaviors during whole-class lessons. A slight increase occurred in students’ positive opinions about their own and their peers’ behaviors during whole-class lessons. Limitations, directions for future study, and implications are discussed.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2019

Abstract/Notes: This action research project was completed to test the impact of a series of lessons centered around empathy and building social skills on the students and community of a Montessori elementary classroom. The setting was a suburban school in a classroom of 15 children ages six to nine. The students were primarily Caucasian and coming from middle class families. Data was collected using a tally sheet, observational field notes, a series of journal prompts and a pre/post survey. Both Grace and Courtesy lessons and storytelling sessions were part of the intervention plan. The children participated in a variety of ways including role playing, discussions, and story sharing. The results showed that the lessons did improve the interactions between the children as well as the feelings of community. The children developed a common language and skills to more positively navigate difficult interactions.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2019

Abstract/Notes: The following research assesses how daily singing and music in an elementary classroom impacted the sense of community, care of materials and cooperation during clean up time. This study involved daily singing of a set of songs with lyrical themes of cooperation and unity, and then playing of recorded versions of the same songs during clean up time. The eight-week study involved 16 participants between the ages of 6 and 9 at a private school in Minnesota. Each individual completed a pre and post-survey. During clean up time, observations of helpful behaviors were recorded, and any relevant quotations noted. Results of the surveys showed an increase in student enjoyment of group singing, and in the understanding of the terms “cooperation” and “community.” There was also an increase in observed helpful behaviors throughout the intervention, particularly in material care. Results show that daily group singing has a positive affect on building community, and increases cooperation levels while caring for materials. Further research may include using group singing to teach other topics such as environmental care, racial equality or academic subject matter.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2016

Abstract/Notes: Schema is a framework that helps us organize and interpret information. Developing schema is essential in the comprehension of text. Strong readers can make sense of what they read by seeing how it fits with what they already know. Teachers must help students make connections before, during, and after reading. Without schema students are unable to infer because making inferences involves creating meaning that is not explicitly stated by the author. Readers use clues in the text plus their personal insights and experiences to make meaning of the text (Roit, 2014). My school is a Title 1 school with a high level of poverty. Typically impoverished have limited background knowledge due to limited vocabulary and life experiences (Payne, 2015). Students must be taught to activate schema to help make meaning from text. Explicitly teaching students both the term schema to facilitate metacognition and helping them focus on specific stimulus will help students in poverty to be ready to proceed to the elaboration stage, also known as inferencing (Payne, 2015). There has been limited research on schema in isolation to reading comprehension. Although a lack of background knowledge affects reading success, many teachers have little support or understanding of lessons that focus on building schema. Teacher instruction does little to help students learn how or when to use the skills, nor was it ever established that this specific set of skills enabled comprehension (Appel, 2009). By exploring lessons in isolation to the schema framework teachers will be able to help students with a limited vocabulary interpret a text in a more meaningful way.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2019

Abstract/Notes: Our research introduced the use of ASL signs with hearing elementary children and examined if this intervention affected the noise level produced in the classroom. The project was performed in two Montessori lower elementary classrooms (1st-3rd grade); one at a Maine private Montessori school, with 28 hearing children, and one at a Wisconsin public Montessori school, with 34 hearing children. In Wisconsin the researcher was a teacher in the classroom, in Maine the researcher was not. Data was measured using four tools: a decibel measuring app, observation form, tally sheet, and a structured discussion. In both classrooms, the change in noise level was minimal, decreasing by 2% overall. Qualitative results, however, indicate the project was worthwhile. The children responded positively to instructions given using ASL and their enthusiasm of learning signs justified the intervention. The intervention granted the children opportunities to discuss exceptionalities. We recognized the importance in such conversations and encouraged this dialogue.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2019

Abstract/Notes: This study investigated how the introduction of math-based games influences children’s motivation to practice math. It was conducted in a Lower Elementary Montessori classroom, serving first through third grade and twenty-one students participated. The students played one of three games every day throughout the study. Their motivation toward math was tracked through observational data and their daily work journals. Additionally, each participant answered pre and post intervention questions to ascertain their mindset toward math. The data shows that the intervention had minimal impact on the students’ motivation toward math, although some students did increase the frequency of their math practice. In the future, students who display a lack of motivation toward math would benefit from consistent one-on-one meetings to address their motivation.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2019

Abstract/Notes: This study aims to uncover a link between read aloud with Socratic discussion and its impact on literacy and critical thinking skills. In researching this relationship, both quantitative and qualitative data tools were used. Participants in the study included 60 students from a charter Montessori school in the Southwest United States ranging from grade 1 to 6. Students participated in a six-week intervention. The intervention included a 60-minute read aloud with Socratic discussion session conducted twice a week. The findings indicate that there is a general increase in literacy and reading comprehension skills. In addition, the study was also shown to have a significant impact on individual participation and critical thinking skills as it relates to themes of the book. The conclusion of the study recommends more research with varied communities and book choices. In the future we must find ways to stimulate critical thinking skills in the elementary child using relatable themes and critical questioning.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2020