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Full-Text Articles in Education

The Impact Of Creative Movement Presentations On Dance Participation And Student Attitudes Towards Dance In A Montessori Early Childhood Classroom, Ruth Flowers May 2021

The Impact Of Creative Movement Presentations On Dance Participation And Student Attitudes Towards Dance In A Montessori Early Childhood Classroom, Ruth Flowers

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research study examined the impact of creative movement presentations on dance participation and student attitudes towards dance in one outdoor Montessori early childhood classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were 13 kindergarten and lower elementary students, ages 5-8, and the researcher, their teacher. Students were presented creative movement activities eight times during circle time over four weeks. They were also given opportunities to dance freely once a week for six weeks and asked three times to respond to statements regarding their attitudes towards dance; pre-intervention, mid-intervention, and post-intervention. Data was collected using observations of dance participation, field notes …


Mindfulness And The Virtual School: Effects Of Mindfulness Interventions In The Aftermath Of Emotional Trauma And Isolation., Kulliki Kuningas Dec 2020

Mindfulness And The Virtual School: Effects Of Mindfulness Interventions In The Aftermath Of Emotional Trauma And Isolation., Kulliki Kuningas

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research studied the effects of mindfulness, meditation, and simple yoga exercises on children in the aftermath of emotional trauma and isolation due to COVID-19. The research further explored how these strategies interact with Montessori philosophy and whether a public Montessori school’s virtual upper elementary environment can accommodate such practices. The study took place over four weeks. Thirty-one upper elementary students in a public metropolitan Montessori school received daily guidance on mindfulness and mediation via Google Meet and instructional videos. The researcher used online pre- and post-surveys, checklists, and students’ journals to collect data. Over the course of the …


Literacy Approaches In Montessori 3-6: An Action Research Project, Margaret Beagle Dec 2020

Literacy Approaches In Montessori 3-6: An Action Research Project, Margaret Beagle

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this research study was to examine connections between the early introduction of Montessori phonograms and increased student-led writing with the Movable Alphabet. This paper discusses the politics of literacy instruction and common literacy approaches used in Montessori early childhood settings, and examines best literacy practices for early childhood students. The study gathered data from Montessori early childhood educators and 19 students in a Montessori early childhood classroom. The classroom data was collected over four weeks, introducing phonograms alongside individual Sandpaper Letters. Children were then given the choice between using objects to guide their writing with the Movable …


Teaching Peace: The Effects Of Concentrated Interaction With Anti-Racist/Anti-Bias Media On A Montessori Guide’S Practice, Sarah Streyle Dec 2020

Teaching Peace: The Effects Of Concentrated Interaction With Anti-Racist/Anti-Bias Media On A Montessori Guide’S Practice, Sarah Streyle

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this self-study was to examine the effects of concentrated interaction with anti-bias/anti-racist media on a Montessori guide’s practice. It was conducted over a total of six weeks. The intervention included a pre- and post- survey of understanding, nightly media interactions, daily reflection journaling, daily tallies of anti-bias/anti-racist thoughts during the school day, and a daily confidence scale to measure the participant’s confidence to integrate anti-bias/anti-racist concepts into her teaching practice. The study was completed at a private Montessori school in a medium-sized midwestern town, with an early childhood classroom of fifteen three- to five-year-old students of diverse …


Minecraft And Montessori: Connecting In-Class And Remote Students During Covid-19 Restrictions, Dawn Lessoway Dec 2020

Minecraft And Montessori: Connecting In-Class And Remote Students During Covid-19 Restrictions, Dawn Lessoway

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to find out whether playing Minecraft: Education Edition would help in-class and remote students make personal connections. This action research project took place in a Grade 3, 4 and 5 public Montessori school during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. Of the 23 students, 14 were present in the classroom, while nine others were transitional learners with separate online teachers. Students were asked to reflect on their interactions with other players through interviews, journals and surveys. Parents participated by completing a pre-and post-survey. Students reported an increase in friends and acquaintances matching quantitative data collected …


The Impacts Of A Revised Handwriting Curriculum On Independent Letter Formation And Motivation In A Montessori 3-6 Classroom, Rebecca Junnila Baldini Dec 2020

The Impacts Of A Revised Handwriting Curriculum On Independent Letter Formation And Motivation In A Montessori 3-6 Classroom, Rebecca Junnila Baldini

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this action research project was to observe the impacts of a revised handwriting curriculum on motivation for handwriting and independent letter formation in a Montessori 3-6 classroom. Participants in the four-week study included eight students aged 3.6 to 5.9 in a private Montessori school located in a small New England college town. The revised curriculum utilized Orton-Gillingham sequencing, plus new handwriting materials and opportunities. Data sources included a daily tally sheet to track handwriting work, daily writing samples, student interviews, and lesson plan/reflection sheets. Data showed that the average daily participation rate for all optional handwriting work …


The Impact Of Grace And Courtesy Lessons On Self-Regulation In A Toddler Montessori Environment, Catherine S. T. Greene May 2020

The Impact Of Grace And Courtesy Lessons On Self-Regulation In A Toddler Montessori Environment, Catherine S. T. Greene

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The skills associated with self-regulation begin in toddlerhood. This action research study was designed to assess the impact of Grace and Courtesy lessons on toddler behavior. Students participated in lessons on how to greet a friend, how to ask for a turn and how to express affection. The study took place in a Montessori toddler classroom of 14 children, aged 26-36 months old. The classroom was part of a half-day Montessori preschool located in the South Eastern United States. I used field notes and tally marks to observe behavior in the classroom. Observations were done daily, and the data collection …


"What Are The Effects Of Goal-Setting On Motivation And Academic Achievement In A Fourth Grade Classroom?", Danielle Mcmillan Dec 2019

"What Are The Effects Of Goal-Setting On Motivation And Academic Achievement In A Fourth Grade Classroom?", Danielle Mcmillan

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this action research was to study the effects of goal-setting as a strategy on student motivation and academic achievement in a fourth-grade classroom. The study was performed at a rural public elementary school in South Carolina, consisting of eighteen students in a general education classroom. This study used a preassessment/post-assessment set-up in order to collect data for math achievement and reading comprehension. An attitude survey was used to collect data on student’s motivation towards academic work. The data shows that the goal-setting strategy had a positive effect on math achievement and motivation towards academic work and may …


The Impact Of Anti-Bias Literature Small Groups On Children's Understanding Of Themselves, Their Families, And Others, Rosabeth Birky Koehn Dec 2019

The Impact Of Anti-Bias Literature Small Groups On Children's Understanding Of Themselves, Their Families, And Others, Rosabeth Birky Koehn

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this action research study was to explore how sharing anti-bias children’s books in literature small groups in a lower elementary Montessori class affects children’s perceptions of and ability to communicate about themselves, their families, and others, as well as the classmates with whom they choose to associate. The sample studied in this research was a class of 20 children aged six to nine at a private Montessori school located in a small town adjacent to a large Midwestern city. Data was collected through pre and post oral interviews, written reading reflection worksheets, and daily teacher observations of …


The Effects Of Tootling Without External Rewards On Whole-Class Lessons In A Lower Elementary Classroom, Anita Lynette Goss Dec 2019

The Effects Of Tootling Without External Rewards On Whole-Class Lessons In A Lower Elementary Classroom, Anita Lynette Goss

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

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 …


Authentic Montessori (In A De/Colonializing World), Lily Schweitzer Dec 2019

Authentic Montessori (In A De/Colonializing World), Lily Schweitzer

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This six-week qualitative action research self-study investigated how critically reflecting upon personal heritage while engaging with decolonial, antiracist perspectives would affect perception and attitudes towards Montessori materials, pedagogical philosophy and methodology. With critical pedagogy as a theoretical framework, the researcher surveyed decolonial scholarship for recommendations. She followed a program revealed by the literature. She took two tests at the beginning and end of the study to establish a baseline of bias. For the first two weeks of the study, she engaged with Indigenous peoples' cultural production. She studied ancestral trauma for the following two weeks. To provoke equal understanding and …


"The Impact Of Trauma-Informed Strategies On Self-Regulation And Sense Of Belonging In Elementary Students", Sakeenah M. Franzen Dec 2019

"The Impact Of Trauma-Informed Strategies On Self-Regulation And Sense Of Belonging In Elementary Students", Sakeenah M. Franzen

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this action research was to determine the effects of trauma-informed strategies on self-regulation and sense of belonging in elementary students. The research took place over a six-week period in an upper elementary classroom in a public Montessori school in the MidAtlantic. The population included 20 students ages 9-11. The intervention utilized traumainformed strategies such as mindfulness, yoga, community building, a calm box, and solo time. Data was collected through daily observations, a daily log, pre- and post-intervention questionnaires, and student journals. The repertoire of interventions proved to be beneficial in positively affecting self-regulation among students. Some positive …


Modeling Grace And Courtesy In A Montessori Classroom And Its Influence On Children’S Social Behavior, Minhui Zhang Dec 2019

Modeling Grace And Courtesy In A Montessori Classroom And Its Influence On Children’S Social Behavior, Minhui Zhang

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

It has long been known that teachers have a large influence on students, however, little is known about the effect that teachers may have on students’ ability to develop positive social behaviors. Accordingly, there is a need to collect data regarding the effect that a teacher modeling grace and courtesy may have on how students interact with their peers and teachers. Therefore, the purpose of this action research is to analyze the effects of intentional teacher role modeling of grace and courtesy on children’s social behaviors. A classroom of 24 lower elementary, mixed age children from five to eight years …


The Relationship Between Using Conceptual Language And The Depth Of Student Understanding Of Dynamic Addition And Multiplication In 4-9-Year-Old Montessori Students, Quinn Moncada, Karin Riggs Woessner Dec 2019

The Relationship Between Using Conceptual Language And The Depth Of Student Understanding Of Dynamic Addition And Multiplication In 4-9-Year-Old Montessori Students, Quinn Moncada, Karin Riggs Woessner

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This study aims to bring clarity to the relationship between procedural mathematical work and abstracted math learning when carrying in addition and multiplication. To explore this relationship, researchers employed both quantitative and qualitative data tools that unearthed the nuances within this specific process of math learning. Participants in the study included twenty-nine students from two different schools in different mixed age groups including ages three-to-six-years-old and six-to-nine-years-old. Students participated in a six-week intervention process, working on dynamic addition and multiplication using conceptual mathematical language to support the process. The findings indicate an overall two-point increase across learning variables post intervention. …


Increasing Motivation Toward Math In A Montessori Lower Elementary Classroom, Caitlin Sweeney Aug 2019

Increasing Motivation Toward Math In A Montessori Lower Elementary Classroom, Caitlin Sweeney

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

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. …


Building A Cohesive Classroom: The Effects Of Music On Cooperation And Community In A Public, Lower Elementary, Montessori Classroom, Julia E. Jones Aug 2019

Building A Cohesive Classroom: The Effects Of Music On Cooperation And Community In A Public, Lower Elementary, Montessori Classroom, Julia E. Jones

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The following research assesses how the daily integration of singing and listening to music helps to construct a socially cohesive, cooperative and joyful classroom during clean up time. This study combined group singing opportunities, a music listening station and music played during clean up time. The songs used for this study included lyrical themes of cooperation, happiness, overcoming obstacles and/or friendship. The thirty-day study involved twenty-one participants between the ages of six and nine at a public, Montessori school in Missouri. Each individual completed a pre- and post-survey, as well as a survey each time they used the music listening …


Physical Activity Improving Executive Functioning Behaviors In Montessori Children Ages 3-12, Melissa Patten, Amanda Bodden May 2019

Physical Activity Improving Executive Functioning Behaviors In Montessori Children Ages 3-12, Melissa Patten, Amanda Bodden

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Executive function refers to the intellectual processes necessary for goal-directed cognition and behavior, which develop across childhood and adolescence. This study focused on the effects of physical activity on concentration and focus, prior to academic lessons, in urban Montessori classrooms ages 3-12. This study was administered for six weeks utilizing a thematic calendar of physical activities. The tools used for data collection were: a pre-dialogue with teachers, pre and post-assessments, control tallies, on and off-task observation counts and a post-satisfaction survey. Movement interventions improved focus and concentration by an average of 27%. The data collected supported our hypothesis that purposeful …


Mathematical Literacy: The Effects Of Mathematics Journals On Student Understanding Of Fractions In A Montessori Classroom, Eileen Bechler May 2019

Mathematical Literacy: The Effects Of Mathematics Journals On Student Understanding Of Fractions In A Montessori Classroom, Eileen Bechler

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

It is a typical Monday morning. As students enter the classroom wearing brightly colored polo shirts embroidered with the school logo, their smiles are equally bright. This Title I public school in the heart of the city where 96% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch has recently opened a Montessori option. Walking into the classroom, one 5th grade student eagerly asks, “Who’s on the bread committee this week?” Baking bread is a weekly occurrence in the upper elementary (4th – 6th grade) Montessori classroom. During the first week of school, this same student vehemently threw materials to …


The Effects Of Coding Integration On Student Engagement And Academic Achievement In A 5th Grade Mathematics Class, Sinead Meehan May 2019

The Effects Of Coding Integration On Student Engagement And Academic Achievement In A 5th Grade Mathematics Class, Sinead Meehan

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research project investigated the effect coding integration had on student engagement and academic achievement in a fifth-grade mathematics class. Research was conducted on a group of 20 fifth grade students performing on grade level, in a suburban school outside of Philadelphia. Four data collection tools were used: A student survey, teacher observations and reflections, pre and post-test data, and a tally chart. Data was categorized into two domains: student engagement and academic achievement. Coding follow-up works using Scratch, Wonder Workshop, and Turtle Academy were provided to students over the course of two mathematical topics created by Pearson Education, …


Effects Of Mentorship On Empathy Development And Civility In An Upper School Community, Cassella M. Slater May 2019

Effects Of Mentorship On Empathy Development And Civility In An Upper School Community, Cassella M. Slater

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research project investigated the effects of mentorship on empathy development and civility in an upper school classroom. The environment was a Montessori upper school with 21 children ages 6 through 13. It is a newer classroom; however, there is a level of incivility and indifference in their social behaviors. Data was collected using an interactions matrix, pre and post surveys, classroom behavior tally, and the Developmental Environmental Rating Scale before and after the intervention. Results showed civility and joy greatly increased over time. Individuals’ understanding of empathy showed a positive change. Overall, the classroom became more civil and …


You Don’T Need To Speak To Be Heard: The Effects Of Using American Sign Language With Hearing Lower Elementary Montessori Children, Rachel A. Murnane, Lisa M. Wolfe May 2019

You Don’T Need To Speak To Be Heard: The Effects Of Using American Sign Language With Hearing Lower Elementary Montessori Children, Rachel A. Murnane, Lisa M. Wolfe

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

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 …


Effects Of Social/Emotional Lessons In An Elementary Montessori Environment, Lauren L. Kolb May 2019

Effects Of Social/Emotional Lessons In An Elementary Montessori Environment, Lauren L. Kolb

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

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 …


Breaking Gender Barriers Through Literature In The Elementary And Pre-School Classroom, Bonnie J. Frieden, Jenna G. Laffin May 2019

Breaking Gender Barriers Through Literature In The Elementary And Pre-School Classroom, Bonnie J. Frieden, Jenna G. Laffin

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The following research assesses how reading and discussing stories that counter gender stereotypes can increase cooperation and decrease conflict between primary- and elementary-aged students of different genders, as well as to expand students’ conceptions of self and others beyond traditional gender expectations. The six-week study involved 50 participants total, 21 between the ages of 3 and 6 and 29 between the ages of 6 and 9 at two separate Montessori public charter schools in Minnesota. Each participant completed an activity pre- and post-intervention concerning the feminine and masculine traits that they would choose to describe themselves and those that could …


The Relationship Between Anti-Bias Curriculum And Cultural Competency Among Middle School Students, Nicole Conyers May 2019

The Relationship Between Anti-Bias Curriculum And Cultural Competency Among Middle School Students, Nicole Conyers

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Implementation of an anti-bias education framework is relatively new in the history of cultural competence movements. While some research has been done, sighting positive effects for K-12 students, few studies exist within the Montessori pedagogy. Furthermore, little research has been done in the effects of implementing this type of curriculum within a Montessori adolescent environment. Consequently, there is a need to gather information on effective anti-bias education best practices and how to introduce these strategies in a classroom environment. The purpose of this action research study is to explore how implementing anti-bias activities including literature, journaling, and Socratic discussions affect …


The Effects Of Implementing Montessori At Home On Children’S Independence And Self-Regulation In A Montessori Classroom, Betty Namuddu, Emily Vance, Victoria Litton May 2019

The Effects Of Implementing Montessori At Home On Children’S Independence And Self-Regulation In A Montessori Classroom, Betty Namuddu, Emily Vance, Victoria Litton

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The ultimate goal of Montessori educators is to prepare the child, the whole child. One who is not only excelling academically, but also is independent, a critical thinker, and can collaborate with people from all different walks of life. The role of the Montessori educators is to prepare and guide children to independence, this is an increasingly difficult goal to achieve independence and self-regulation especially in the three to six, and six to nine age group. The Montessori guides have grappled with the disconnect between the home environment and school environment, citing it as the major obstacle to children’s independence. …


Behavioral Effects Of Outdoor Learning On Primary Students, Makena Cameron, Samantha Mcgue May 2019

Behavioral Effects Of Outdoor Learning On Primary Students, Makena Cameron, Samantha Mcgue

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Children have an innate sense of curiosity about nature. “When children come in contact with nature, they reveal their strength” (Montessori, 1967, pg. 69) and therefore, outdoor education can be a useful learning tool for students. Whether being outdoors or bringing the nature-based activities inside, children have the opportunity to work with all of their senses. A growing number of schools around the United States have begun adding outdoor learning to their curriculum (Lieberman & Hoody, 1998) to bring a positive outcome to students’ behavior. Outdoor learning provides another environment that children can thrive in and hopefully benefit from. As …


Cross-Age Connections: The Effects Of A Peer Mentoring Program On Students’ Connectedness To Self, Others And School, In Two Public Elementary Schools In The American West, Joy Baty, Lindsay Wilwol May 2019

Cross-Age Connections: The Effects Of A Peer Mentoring Program On Students’ Connectedness To Self, Others And School, In Two Public Elementary Schools In The American West, Joy Baty, Lindsay Wilwol

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this research was to determine if participation in a cross-age, peer mentoring program affected student connectedness to self, others and school. The research took place at two public elementary schools in the western United States. Eighty-three students in grades K-1 and 4-6 participated. Data on student connectedness was collected before and after implementation of the mentoring program using multiple measures including student self-assessments, student and teacher prompted journals, observational field notes collected by researchers and attendance. Participation in the mentoring program was found to increase student connectedness to self, others and school for both mentees and mentors. …


Effects Of Mindfulness Strategies On Student Self-Regulation Skills In Primary And Elementary Students, Kandace Alphonso, Saboohi Durrani, Monika Sood May 2019

Effects Of Mindfulness Strategies On Student Self-Regulation Skills In Primary And Elementary Students, Kandace Alphonso, Saboohi Durrani, Monika Sood

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of mindfulness-based interventions, such as the MindUP curriculum and Exercises of Practical Life, on primary and elementary aged students’ self-regulation skills. This study consisted of a sample size of 38 students from three different Montessori environments. The data was collected over a period of four weeks using a pre and post parent assessment, observational field notes and tally sheets, and a behavioral student self-assessment tool. Results show a connection between the mindfulness interventions implemented and the children’s ability to self-regulate their behaviors and emotions. The data shows positive effects on …


The Impact Of Of Grace And Courtesy Lessons On Independence In Elementary Aged Children, Hayley Bahnemann May 2019

The Impact Of Of Grace And Courtesy Lessons On Independence In Elementary Aged Children, Hayley Bahnemann

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

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 …


The Effects Of Songs On Hmong Vocabulary Acquisition, Julie Thao May 2019

The Effects Of Songs On Hmong Vocabulary Acquisition, Julie Thao

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research assessed the effects of singing a song to learn language in a bilingual classroom. The research took place at a bilingual Hmong-English Montessori preschool program. 28 preschool-aged children participated in the research which was conducted over five weeks. Data sources included a parent questionnaire, vocabulary pre-test, vocabulary post-test with a follow-up conversation, daily observation logs, and tally sheet. The children were taught 16 Hmong vocabulary words with half the words sung to the tune of a common children’s song and the other half by simple reciting. The results from the vocabulary post-test showed that there was an …