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Early Childhood Education Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Early Childhood Education

Spanish Vocabulary Acquisition And Implementation: The Effect In A Mixed-Aged Montessori Primary Classroom, Nadhira Hathotuwegama May 2021

Spanish Vocabulary Acquisition And Implementation: The Effect In A Mixed-Aged Montessori Primary Classroom, Nadhira Hathotuwegama

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research project studied the effects of introducing Spanish vocabulary words to a mixed-ages Montessori primary classroom on Spanish vocabulary acquisition and implementation. Spanish vocabulary words were presented in group lessons in half-hour intervals twice a week for four weeks using flashcards. There were three sets of cards –color, fruit, and grace and courtesy. Lessons were given in the Montessori three-period lesson format. Data collection tools provided data that supported successful results with a steady increase in Spanish vocabulary acquisition and implementation. At the conclusion of the study, future research could explore the use of real objects, using extensions …


The Impact Of A Social Justice-Oriented Mindfulness Practice On The Self-Efficacy Of An Early Childhood Montessori Teacher, Quiana Myers-Vandrovec May 2020

The Impact Of A Social Justice-Oriented Mindfulness Practice On The Self-Efficacy Of An Early Childhood Montessori Teacher, Quiana Myers-Vandrovec

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this action research was to explore how a social justice-oriented mindfulness practice would impact the self-efficacy of an early childhood educator. This self-study, with the researcher as the sole participant, took place over a six-week period while the researcher was working in a private Montessori school in the Northeastern United States in a classroom of 20 students aged 3-5. The intervention included breathwork; both walking and seated meditation paired with articles, essays, interviews, and poetry relevant to social justice; meditation; and mindfulness. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through reflective journaling, a record of feelings scale, an …


Self-Efficacy: A First-Generation American Educator Teaching In A Culturally Diverse Montessori Classroom, Esmeralda Cuevas May 2020

Self-Efficacy: A First-Generation American Educator Teaching In A Culturally Diverse Montessori Classroom, Esmeralda Cuevas

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research project investigated my teacher efficacy in a multicultural classroom with children ages 3 to 6. This was a self-study that I started during my first year of teaching in a private school in downtown Chicago. As a first generation American, I was the only participant. Throughout the four-week study, I responded to journal prompts where I reflected on daily readings of anti-bias literature and my past schooling experiences. I measured my teacher efficacy and confidence levels through weekly attitude scales and pre and post self-assessments. My emotions were tracked with tally sheets. The data showed an increase …


The Impact Of Nonviolent Communication In An Early Childhood Montessori Environment, Amanda Britt Hadsall Jakowich May 2020

The Impact Of Nonviolent Communication In An Early Childhood Montessori Environment, Amanda Britt Hadsall Jakowich

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The researcher examined how Nonviolent Communication (NVC) incorporated into a Montessori primary classroom would impact student’s social-emotional learning. The students participating in this research came from multiple ethnic groups and nine were non-English speakers. Some showed evidence of trauma that resulted from living in home environments that experienced instability. The researcher modeled NVC communication in her interactions with students whenever possible and then observed and documented their reactions and behaviors during lessons on social skills in 15-minute intervals over 3 weeks. She observed students engaged in describing their feelings and concluded that NVC can be effective with consistency and guidance …


Anti-Bias Multicultural Education Using Children’S Literature, Rebecca Yates May 2019

Anti-Bias Multicultural Education Using Children’S Literature, Rebecca Yates

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research project was completed to test the effects of reading and discussing multicultural children’s literature on young children’s positive self-concept and appreciation of human differences. The setting was a Montessori primary (preK-K) classroom of 18 children, ages two years 10 months to five years 10 months. Ten children were White, four were biracial, three were Asian American, and one was Latin American. Data was collected using a tally sheet, picture test, self-concept test, discussion log, and self-assessment journal. Readings took place each day and books centered on topics such as individuality, race, skin color, diversity, inclusion, and activism. …


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 …


"Effects Of Front-Loading Vocabulary For English As A Second Language Learners, Mandy L. Downs May 2017

"Effects Of Front-Loading Vocabulary For English As A Second Language Learners, Mandy L. Downs

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research investigated the effects of front-loading vocabulary on four-year-old English as a second language learners (ESL). Fourteen 4-year-old children were included in the study. Two were native English speakers and the remaining 12 were ESL students. The sources of data included a daily log of the children’s attention during a read aloud, parent feedback, a personal field journal and pre and post intervention vocabulary assessments. Children with stronger English language knowledge displayed an increase in their vocabulary and participation. Due to the increase in vocabulary and participation in English speaking children, I will continue to front-load vocabulary while …