Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Education Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Pre-Elementary, Early Childhood, Kindergarten Teacher Education

St. Catherine University

Theses/Dissertations

Montessori

Publication Year

Articles 1 - 12 of 12

Full-Text Articles in Education

Nudging Parents Towards Parent Education Emails, Lauren P. Sitarz Jun 2018

Nudging Parents Towards Parent Education Emails, Lauren P. Sitarz

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This research studied the effects three different styles of email content has on sustained parent interest. Emailing is a cost-effective way of offering parents a glimpse inside their child’s classroom; but if parents do not engage with the emails or correspond with the teacher, the effort may be ineffective.. Over six weeks, 81 primary (3 to 6 years-old) parents at a small suburban Montessori school received one of three weekly emails containing photos or text intended to teach parents about Montessori education. The data suggests parents value photos rather than text. Teachers may see sustained engagement by sending regular photo-heavy …


Using Ipads To Increase Students’ Letters And Letter Sounds Knowledge, Jessica Isgett, Leslie Mann May 2018

Using Ipads To Increase Students’ Letters And Letter Sounds Knowledge, Jessica Isgett, Leslie Mann

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research was carried out to determine if the use of an application named Phonics Island would help student knowledge of letters/letter sounds increase. The research was completed in a full day Primary Montessori classroom of 4k and 5k students. Data was gathered using teacher observation and teacher made checklists. Data on students’ feelings toward learning letters/letter sounds was also assessed to see if students’ thoughts about letters changed after incorporating technology. Students were given an iPad for approximately fifteen minutes per day. The letters were grouped in categories, and the researchers chose which group the student needed to …


The Effect Of Engaging In Food Prep On Willingness To Try New Food, Alyssa Stahl May 2018

The Effect Of Engaging In Food Prep On Willingness To Try New Food, Alyssa Stahl

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research project sought to determine the effects implementing food prep activities in the Montessori primary classroom (ages 2.5-6) had on children’s willingness to try new food. Before the food prep activities were implemented, parent questionnaires and student conferences were used to better understand the children’s food preferences. During the intervention, tally sheets and observation forms were used to track student participation and their reactions to the foods. After the intervention, additional parent questionnaires were distributed and student conferences were conducted to determine current food preferences of the four foods that were included in the food prep activities. The …


Montessori Family Education, Katharina Vidojevic May 2018

Montessori Family Education, Katharina Vidojevic

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Montessori family education is a stepping stone in forming a bridge between school and home. This action research is focused on increasing familial attendance in Montessori education classes. Using quantitative and qualitative research methods are important tools in discovering the needs of the school community. Attendance, Likert scales and feedback questionnaires were useful tools in reaching out to the familial community. Implementing the changes based on the research results showed a drastic increase in attendance. With families leading busy lives, the school meeting them half way showed positive quantitative and qualitative results. This study had a maximum of 28 families …


Improving Teacher-Efficacy, Gillian K. Jones May 2018

Improving Teacher-Efficacy, Gillian K. Jones

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The study was designed to investigate the effects of daily readings on teacher-efficacy within a Montessori environment. This self-study used daily Montessori readings, recording of mastery experiences, scales of accomplishments, surveys of confidence and daily reflections as a way to increase teacher-efficacy over the course of five weeks. I conducted the research in two different Montessori schools. The study highlighted teacher-efficacy in working with children and in working to build a new school. Both schools were located in the Midwest. The first portion of the study was conducted in an established Montessori classroom with 28 children ranging from 2.5-6. The …


The Effects Of A Peer-Supported Mindfulness Practice On Teacher Stress Reduction, Dana Vitolo May 2018

The Effects Of A Peer-Supported Mindfulness Practice On Teacher Stress Reduction, Dana Vitolo

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this action research project was to measure the effects of daily mindfulness practice with peer-support on teacher stress reduction. Nine female Montessori teachers participated in study and taught at private Montessori schools in suburban or rural settings. The participating teachers practiced a short mindfulness activity daily such as the body scan, sitting meditation, yoga, or mandala coloring and wrote reflections in their daily journal for four weeks. The teachers also participated in a weekly peer support group for community building and wrote reflections in their weekly journal. The teachers participated in a pre- and post- intervention stress …


The Effects Of Social Stories On The Problem Solving Skills Of Preschoolers, Sara Cramer Dec 2016

The Effects Of Social Stories On The Problem Solving Skills Of Preschoolers, Sara Cramer

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research project examined the effects of social stories on the problem solving skills of preschoolers in a Montessori classroom. The classroom was in a private school in Arizona led by a lead Montessori trained teacher and an assistant teacher. The study spanned seven weeks and the subjects were 22 three to five year old children. Three stories were read to the children. Each story was read at circle time daily for a two week interval. Data collected included the observations of the lead teacher, observations of the assistant teacher, and one-on-one conversations with each child at the end …


Peer Tutoring And Cooperative Groups In The Dual Language Classroom, Cristina I. Celis Aug 2016

Peer Tutoring And Cooperative Groups In The Dual Language Classroom, Cristina I. Celis

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

How do we help children practice and retain the second language in a Dual Language program? We must find effective and fun ways, like Peer Tutoring and Cooperative Groups. This research was conducted with a group of 21 six and seven year olds in a Dual Language Immersion classroom in a Title 1 school. There was a mixture of boys and girls, Latinos, African-Americans and Caucasians. Data collection was done through surveys, observations, artifacts and narratives. The data showed that while these strategies did increase vocabulary, they did not inspire the children to speak more Spanish. They still reverted back …


Filling The Gap: Phonological Awareness Activities For A Montessori Kindergarten, Shauna A. Aranas May 2016

Filling The Gap: Phonological Awareness Activities For A Montessori Kindergarten, Shauna A. Aranas

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Phonological Awareness in Kindergarten 2 Abstract This action research was conducted to determine if small group explicit phonological awareness (PA) instruction using materials from Early Reading Mastery (Klein, 2015) and Words Their Way (Bear et al., 2006) would increase students’ ability to segment phonemes (i.e., break words into sounds) and build three letter consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words. The research was completed in a full-day public suburban Montessori kindergarten. Data was collected using phonological awareness tests, a teacher adapted spelling test, tally sheet, and researcher’s log. Pre-test data was used to create homogenous small groups for the four-week intervention. Explicitly worded lessons …


Help Me Help Myself: The Role Of Helper Flags As Tools For Self-Regulation, Lara G. Bergman Dec 2014

Help Me Help Myself: The Role Of Helper Flags As Tools For Self-Regulation, Lara G. Bergman

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Abstract The purpose of this action research was to determine if using flags, created as tools for signaling for help, was an effective way to develop persistence and encourage children to complete their chosen work. The study was conducted in a preschool classroom at a private Montessori school. Participants included 15 children aged three to five and three teachers. Data was collected in the form of student interviews, tallies, and observations made during the period of research. The results indicated that the helper flags increased the children’s persistence with their work and increased the likelihood they would complete their chosen …


The Effects Of The Implementation Of The Conscious Discipline Program On Social Emotional Learning In An Early Childhood Classroom, Ashly Chavez Dec 2014

The Effects Of The Implementation Of The Conscious Discipline Program On Social Emotional Learning In An Early Childhood Classroom, Ashly Chavez

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE 2 Abstract This study investigates the efficacy of Conscious Discipline’s teaching strategies to enrich social-emotional learning and establish a positive classroom climate in an early childhood Montessori classroom. Conscious Discipline is a written program, of instructional and behavioral strategies created by Dr. Becky Bailey (2011). The question throughout this research project was “Does teaching Conscious Discipline strategies enhance social-emotional learning in preschool aged children?” The study was conducted in a Montessori classroom, the participants being both boys and girls ranging in age from 3 to 4 years. For six weeks, Conscious Discipline strategies were being implemented on a …


The Effects Of A Book Club On Montessori And Parent Education, Stevie A. Harrison May 2014

The Effects Of A Book Club On Montessori And Parent Education, Stevie A. Harrison

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Abstract This study was implemented to research the effects of parent education and parents understanding of Montessori, in the form of a parent book club. The aim of this action research project was to improve parents understanding of the basic concepts of the Montessori Method with the goal to persuade parents to keep their students in a Montessori environment as long as possible. This study was conducted in a small private Montessori school. All participants had children that were enrolled in the Montessori school. Data collection was gathered using a pre/post survey, self-assessment surveys, videotaping of the book club sessions, …