Education Commons^™

Yoga Before Naptime, Natalie L. Henderson

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Naptime is a part of a developing child’s day. At school, a child may face a lot of stimulation before transitioning into naptime. Due to the high state of stimulation, a child may need to be shown a way to help self-calm to prepare the child for a period of rest. This research focused on using yoga as a transitional activity and as a way to help children self-calm before naptime. For eight weeks, 12 children between the age of three and four in a Midwest Montessori school participated in a five-minute yoga session before naptime. Through the first four …

The Effects Of Teaching Nonfiction Text Structure Reading Strategies And Thinking Maps On Writing Quality In Sixth-Grade Ela And Science Students, Kyle Bracchi, Stephan Grandpre

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this action research study is to examine the use of nonfiction text structures (i.e. mentor texts, signal words, and thinking maps) in both English language arts (ELA) and science classes to evaluate the comprehension of topics and concepts through student writing samples. The researchers used multiple data sources to better understand how the instruction of nonfiction text structures affects the ability of sixth-grade students to express their comprehension through writing. Confidential preand post-feedback forms were used to gauge student perceptions of writing improvement and comprehension. Each teacher also conducted confidential student conferences twice during the study and …

Confidence And Common Challenges: The Effects Of Teaching Computational Thinking To Students Ages 10-16, Chris Belanger, Hannah Christenson, Kathleen Lopac

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This Action Research Project provides data from three different instructors teaching Computational Thinking (CT) to better understand the effects of CT instruction. The researchers focused on identifying problem-solving strategies used by students, what affect teaching CT has on student confidence and ability to problem solve, and what common challenges can be found at different age levels. The study used student pre and post-reflection to measure understanding and comfort with problem-solving. Researchers taught three common lessons of CT including the following concepts: algorithms, loops, conditional statements, and debugging. For data collection, each student was asked to work on a computer game …

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 …

Effects Of Storytelling On Emotional Development, Elizabeth Erickson

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research project was completed to test the effects of storytelling on the emotional development of three to six-year-old children in a Montessori primary (PreK-K) environment. The setting was a rural school, and this study took place in an environment with 28 children who are predominantly Caucasian and come from upper-middle-class families. Data was collected using a tally sheet, observational field notes, a small group discussion rubric and an observational rubric. Storytelling took place each day and stories centered around emotions like anger, sadness, and frustration. The adult would share a story first, then invite the children to share …

What Effects Will Collaborative Art Have On Social Cohesion?, Nadine Clarke-Manning

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this project is to determine the effects of group art on social closeness in the early childhood Montessori classroom. The study had nineteen participants ranging in age from three years to six years old and their parents. The data was collected by means of parent pre and postproject questionnaires, student feedback forms, observations and tallies, and reflective teacher journals. The intervention spanned over a six-week period in an established Montessori school in a rural area of Ontario, Canada where social connection and bonding had not been reached. In small groups, students completed a cohesive group art project …

The Effect Of Small, Flexible Grouping On Academic Achievement In The High School Social Studies Classroom, Chris Merrigan

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Teachers utilize formative assessment and differentiation as tools to meet diverse needs in the classroom, maximize engagement, and promote student learning. Teachers can effectively use formative assessment and differentiation through the ability to measure student understanding and use it to drive instructional decisions, implement multiple strategies to reach more students, and note the critical challenges in meeting the needs of students with multiple learning needs and skills. Using a mixed-methods study design, the researcher studied the ways in which the introduction of small flexible grouping, based on formative assessment, affected academic achievement and students’ understanding of the essential learning outcomes …

The Effects Of Digital Portfolios And Flipgrid On Student Engagement And Communication In A Connected Learning Secondary Visual Arts Classroom, Megan Johnson, Maia Skarphol

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Visual art education is advancing through digital media ( text, audio, video, and graphics) and technologies (digital devices, software, and learning platforms that offer options to each student) in ways that impact student engagement and communication. Through the practice of connected learning in a secondary art classroom environment, individual students can bring their strengths and ideas into a community of peers to create a better understanding of complex concepts that individuals could not have reached alone (Cantrill et al., 2014). The purpose of this research study was to understand what effects digital portfolios and Flipgrid have on student engagement and …

The Effects Of Learner-Generated Multimodal Video On Student Laboratory Reflections In A High School Chemistry Classroom, Cassidy Javner

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research project looked at the effect of implementing learner-generated multimodal video projects on students’ laboratory reflections in a high school chemistry class at a suburban high school. Fifty students in a 10th-11th-grade chemistry class completed digital video projects in the form of an iMovie or multimodal Google Slides presentation in place of a traditional written laboratory report. Data was collected in the form of a common rubric, unit exam scores, pre- and post-survey data, and teacher observations over the course of two units of study. The analysis of the rubric and survey data showed that the use of …

Mindfulness And Its Effects On Self-Regulation In A Lower Elementary Classroom, Jennifer Yenter

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

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 …

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 …

The Impact Of Teacher Collaboration On The Implementation Of Best Practices With A Learning Management System In A Public School Setting, Sarah Vycital, Nicholas Zwick, Ross Nelson

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this research project was to study the impact of teacher collaboration on

implementation of best practices with a learning management system (LMS) in a public school setting. Three researchers, 21 kindergarteners, 29 second graders, 113 eighth graders, and parents participated in this study for four weeks. During this study, quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed. This data included: three parent assessments and researcher-completed observations . As a result, the researchers found that collaboration improved their personal attitudes, parent involvement, student engagement, and student learning outcomes.

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 …

Conflict Resolution With Grace And Courtesy Lessons, Natalie Friesen

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Conflicts are a natural part of life. The study was designed to investigate if Grace and Courtesy lessons improved children’s ability to independently resolve conflicts. The study took place in a Montessori school with 22 participants aged 2.5-6 years. The researcher used tally marks to record the number of conflicts, observations on each conflict, and how the conflict was resolved data collection methods. In addition, observational noted included whether the children utilized a Grace and Courtesy lesson to resolve the conflict. At the end of the morning, the researcher reflected in a daily journal. Baseline data collection continued for two …

The Effect Of Nature Work In A Primary-Aged Montessori Environment, Dorothy R. Lerma

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This study investigated how children responded to participating in twenty minutes of nature-based activities that involved direct contact with dirt. The study took place in a Primary Montessori school with 27 children ages 3 to 6 years. The research was conducted over a six-week period in which a pre-assessment was conducted in the first week, followed by four weeks that consisted of presenting 20 minute Nature Work lessons on a daily basis. Once children were shown how to use the materials, data was collected regarding their participation and independent use of the materials. In addition, daily journaling by the researcher …

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 …

Effects Of Pencil Grasp Exercises On Handwriting In Sixth Grade Resource Students, Karen Galloway

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of pencil grasp exercises on the handwriting of sixth-grade resource students. This action research project took place in a public middle school resource classroom located on the outskirts of a suburb. The six-week study had seventeen student participants, ranging between the ages of eleven and twelve years. During the study, the researcher collected data on the placement of the hand and fingers on the pencil, grasp, legibility, letter placement, fluency, and perception of abilities. The data utilized pre and post questionnaires, observations, matrixes, and assessments. Results showed that sixth-grade resource …

Rest And Independence In The Daytime Nap, Maisah S. Outlaw

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects that daily diffusion of lavender oil and adult led breathing exercises would have on the daytime nap in a Montessori early childhood classroom. Specifically, the study targeted the length of time needed for each child to fall asleep, in addition to independence in the children themselves. There were 14 participants, ages 3 to 5 years old, in an early childhood Montessori classroom. The researcher diffused lavender essential oil each day during the nap period, and led the participants in one-minute breathing exercises at the beginning of nap. The researcher collected …