Abstract/Notes: The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) requires schools to be held accountable for academic performance. It is believed the pressure of accountability will lead teachers to narrow the curriculum by engaging students in test preparation activities. The purpose of this two-phase, explanatory mixed methods study was to examine elementary teachers’ perceptions of the impact of the Stanford Achievement Test 10 (SAT-10) and the Alabama Reading and Math Test (ARMT) on classroom teaching practices from a sample of third-grade, fourth-grade, and fifth-grade teachers in three large school systems in Alabama. The purpose of the first, quantitative phase of the study, was to reveal teachers’ perceptions of the impact of high-stakes testing on curriculum and instructional approaches, the amount of time spent on critical thinking skills, the amount of time spent on test preparation activities, and the perceived impact of state tests on students and teachers by surveying 123 third-grade through fifth-grade teachers in three large Alabama school systems. In the second, qualitative phase of this study, purposeful sampling strategy and maximal variation sampling strategy were employed to interview nine teachers who responded to the survey in the first, quantitative phase of the study to explore the results from the statistical tests in more depth. Findings suggested urban teachers spent more time on critical-thinking skills than rural and suburban teachers, and low-socioeconomic, rural teachers experienced more stress caused by high-stakes testing than their geographical counterparts. All teachers independent of socioeconomic status or school geographical location reported they increased their focus on reading and math, which were the subjects assessed on high-stakes tests and de-emphasized subjects not tested such as social studies and science. Finally, most teachers reported they decreased the teaching of critical thinking skills due to the SAT-10 but increased the teaching of critical thinking skills due to the ARMT. Due to the lack of research regarding high-stakes testing in Alabama elementary schools, there was a need for teachers to discuss the specific impact of testing on classroom teaching practices because they work directly with students and are cognizant of the challenges that teachers face.

Language: English

Published: Birmingham, Alabama, 2010

Abstract/Notes: Bu araştırma, Sosyal Beceri Eğitimi Programı ile desteklenmiş Montessori yönteminin anaokulu çocuklarının duyguları anlama ve sosyal problem çözme becerilerine etkisini incelemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Çalışma grubunda, 2013-2014 öğretim yılında Konya ilinde bulunan Selçuk Üniversitesi, Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi, İhsan Doğramacı Uygulama Anaokulu'na devam eden 53 çocuk yer almıştır. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak, Wally Duygular Testi ve Wally Sosyal Problem Çözme Testi kullanılmıştır. Testler çocuklara deneme öncesi ve sonrasında uygulanmış; ayrıca deneme grubuna eğitim programı bitiminden altı hafta sonra tekrar uygulanmıştır. Araştırmada elde edilen verilerin analizinde Kruskal Wallis H testi ve Wilcoxon İşaretli Sıralar Testi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular incelendiğinde, deneme, kontrol 1 ve kontrol 2 grubu çocuklarının Wally Duygular Testi ve Wally Sosyal Problem Çözme Testi sontest puan ortalamaları karşılaştırıldığında, deneme grubu lehine anlamlı bir farklılaşma bulunmuştur. Deneme grubu çocuklarının Wally Duygular Testi ve Wally Sosyal Problem Çözme Testi sontest ve izleme testi puan ortalamaları karşılaştırıldığında ise anlamlı bir farklılaşmanın bulunmadığı ortaya konulmuştur. Elde edilen bulgular doğrultusunda ulaşılan genel sonuç; Sosyal Beceri Eğitimi Programı ile desteklenen Montessori yönteminin anaokulu çocuklarının duyguları anlama ve sosyal problem çözme becerilerini olumlu yönde etkilediği ve pür olarak uygulanan Montessori yöntemine ve MEB Okul Öncesi Eğitim Programı'na göre duyguları anlama ve sosyal problem çözme becerileri acısından daha etkili olduğudur. / This research was studied with the purpose of analyzing the effect of Montessori method supported by social skills training program on kindergarten children's skills of understanding feelings and social problem solving. 53 children who attended at Selcuk University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ihsan Dogramaci Aplication Nursery School in Konya in 2013-2014 school year were included in the study group. Wally Feelings Test and Wally Social Problem Solving Test were used as data collection tool. The tests were applied to the children as pre and post test; in addition, the tests were applied to the experimental group again six weeks after the end of the educational program. Kruskal Wallis H test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test were used to analysis of data obtained in the study. When findings were analyzed, comparing scores of posttest of Wally Feelings Test and Wally Social Problem Solving Test of experimental, control 1 and control 2 groups, it was found that there was a meaningful differentiation in favor of experimental group. When comparing posttest and follow-up test of Wally Feelings Test and Wally Social Problem Solving Test scores of experimental group, it was proved that there was not a meaningful differentiation. The overall outcome of the study based on the obtained results is that Montessori Method Supported by Social Skills Training Program supports the development of children's skills of understanding feelings and social problem solving.

Language: Turkish

Published: Konya, Turkey, 2015

Abstract/Notes: Black students consistently underachieve academically in comparison to White students. To minimize the achievement gap between Black students and White students, some experts advocate the use of differentiated instruction as an alternative methodology to teach underachieving students. Differentiated instruction is predicated on teaching students based on their learning abilities and/or learning preferences. The differentiated instructional model examined in this study combined traditional teaching methodology with specific Montessori stage two and stage three constructs. This exploratory qualitative study examined the impact that Montessori constructs combined with traditional teaching methods had on academic achievement of Black students in grades four and five in an inner city school in Dallas County, Texas. The study further explored the sample’s perceptions of and preferences for the combined teaching methodology. The sample group had been exposed to the differentiated teaching model evaluated in the study. Disaggregated 2007 and 2008 TAKS results from the Texas Education Agency were obtained to compare the school’s fourth and fifth grade Black students’ achievement to their cohort groups in the district and in the state. The TAKS data comparisons found variability in performance among the groups in each of the subject areas assessed by TAKS. Qualitative data from a Likert Scale, multiple choice questions, questionnaires, written essay, and interviews were obtained from the participants to examine the students’ perceptions of and preferences for the combined teaching methodology. Data responses were analyzed and themes were developed to determine black students’ preferences for teaching, learning, and factors that contribute to learning. The findings of this study imply that future use of a differentiated instructional model that combines traditional teaching methodology and specific Montessori constructs and principles might be effective in improving Black student achievement.

Language: English

Published: Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2009

Abstract/Notes: The excitement accompanying the announcement of the Montessori method in the early part of the twentieth century did not presage its ultimate fate. Previous research has attributed rejection to Montessori's nationality, religious affiliation, professional training and Kilpatrick's evaluation in his monograph 'The Montessori System Examined'. This study investigated barriers within the adopting system rather than those associated with Montessori herself and in addition, compared the present environment for the adoption of technologies of instruction using computer-assisted instruction as an example. An analysis of the characteristics of computer assisted instruction and its innovation environment revealed many parallels with the Montessori method. Within the hierarchical system of education professors of education represented the apex of the system, superintendents constituted the middle portion while teachers occupied the least authoritative position. High status members who viewed the collection of didactic materials as a technological innovation, low status members who perceived the reorganization of time to accomodate students' needs as an organizational innovation, and marginal status members who regarded the shift from teacher-centered instruction to materials-centered instruction as a paradigmatic innovation could accept the Montessori method. However, partitioning the system of education into school building and classroom subsets effectively advanced both administrators and teachers to high status positions with the results that each group would reject the Montessori method as a paradigmatic innovation, particularly when the consequences of adoption formed part of the decision process. The early view of the didactic materials as a technological innovation gave way to the perspective that the process of designing and implementing the Montessori method was a paradigmatic innovation requiring the assumption that materials-centered instruction was as effective as teacher-centered instruction. The consequences of this restructured view of the system of education for each of the three groups would have been a loss of power, prestige and economic position.

Language: English

Published: Bloomington, Indiana, 1985

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-concept and perceived levels of stress in the teaching profession at the elementary school level. The subjects of the study were teachers from two communities--Romulus, Michigan and Buffalo, New York. The subjects were chosen by the schools in which they taught and by the methods of teaching which they used. One-half of the total number of the subjects used traditional methods of teaching and one-half of the total number of the subjects used the Montessori Method of teaching. The responses of these teachers were gathered during the 1981 winter school term. The instruments used to gather the data for the study were the Tennessee Self Concept Scale, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and a personal data questionnaire. The levels of self-concept of the subjects were taken as indicated by the means of the total positive scores of the Tennessee Self Concept Scale. The levels of the subjects' perceived stress were taken as indicated by the means from the Maslach Burnout Inventory in the areas of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal achievement. Pearson product-moment correlations were found to determine if a significant relationship existed between self-concept and the perceived stress of the subjects. Demographic data from the questionnaire were used to divide the subjects into categories which were investigated for significant differences. One way analyses of variance were performed of the self-concept and stress means of the categories to determine if significant differences existed. Statistical significance was chosen at the 0.05 alpha level. For the thirteen null hypotheses formulated and tested, it was concluded that the subjects indicating higher self-concept means, as measured by the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale, also indicated lower stress means, as indicated on the Maslach Burnout Inventory, in the areas of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, and higher means in the area of personal achievement. Null hypotheses formulated indicating no significant differences of stress or self-concept when the subjects were categorized by teaching methods, years of formal education, number of years of teaching experience, classroom racial dominance, number of students in the classroom, or marital status were all accepted. No significant differences were found at the 0.05 alpha level. The subjects of this study were shown to be similar in life style, education, and work environments. Further studies might bring to light differences if more varied teachers, teaching methods, and levels of education were taken into consideration. Replication of the study may also provide valuable information if performed with subjects from independent schools. A search for areas which the teachers feel are stress producing may also contribute to significant research.

Language: English

Published: Columbus, Ohio, 1981

Language: Dutch

Language: Dutch

Language: English

ISSN: 0571-1142

Language: French

ISSN: 0381-5889

Language: English

ISSN: 0003-1402