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Early Childhood Education Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Early Childhood Education

The Effects Of Book Workshops On Emergent Reading Skills In Montessori Early Childhood, Antonia Rebori Dec 2020

The Effects Of Book Workshops On Emergent Reading Skills In Montessori Early Childhood, Antonia Rebori

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this action research study was to increase preliteracy skills, confidence, and interest in reading in a Montessori early childhood environment through a reading workshop model. Given the pressure on teachers to create stronger readers at younger ages, this work discusses developmentally appropriate language tasks for children ages three- to six-years-old using the Montessori method and emergent literacy theory frameworks. Research suggests children who exhibit confidence and interest in reading develop strong preliteracy skills. These factors predict capable and active readers. For six weeks, a Montessori early childhood classroom of 14 students and three adult guides participated in …


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 …


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 Effects Of Earth-Conscious Art Materials On Early Childhood Montessori Students’ Environmental Awareness, Danni Wei May 2020

The Effects Of Earth-Conscious Art Materials On Early Childhood Montessori Students’ Environmental Awareness, Danni Wei

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research project investigates the effect of providing earth-conscious materials in the art curriculum on early childhood Montessori students' environmental awareness. The participants for this study were seven preschool students at a private, home-based Montessori school in the urban Western United States. The research design was qualitative and quantitative, utilizing field notes, observational notes, behavioral tally sheets, and group conversational questionnaires to gather information on students' environmental awareness. The students' mean eco-affinity responses increased by 16%, while their mean environmental awareness responses increased by 23%. The frequency of material usage positively correlated with the frequency of environmental actions. The …


Witnessing The Unlimited Potential Of Children Being Peaceful: Impact Of Proactive Restorative Circle Practice On Early Childhood Students In A Montessori Setting, Maya Soriano May 2020

Witnessing The Unlimited Potential Of Children Being Peaceful: Impact Of Proactive Restorative Circle Practice On Early Childhood Students In A Montessori Setting, Maya Soriano

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this action research was to study the effects that daily proactive restorative circle practice (PRCP) had on speaking skills, listening, and positive classroom culture amongst Montessori Children's House students. The research took place over a four week period of time in a two way immersion Children's House in a Montessori public charter school in the Midwest. The population included 8 students ages 4-5.5 years. Students participated in a daily proactive restorative circle each afternoon. The researcher also observed students during lunch to collect data on any influence the PRCP had outside of circle time. Data was collected …


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 …


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 …


The Effects Of Connecting Rituals On Verbal Conflicts In The Montessori Preschool Classroom, Dave Budish May 2020

The Effects Of Connecting Rituals On Verbal Conflicts In The Montessori Preschool Classroom, Dave Budish

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this action research project was to see if a program through Conscious Discipline called Connecting Rituals would decrease the number of verbal conflicts in a Montessori preschool classroom. Conscious Discipline is a non-punitive, non-adversarial behavior program that is backed by current brain science. One aspect of the Conscious Discipline model is Connecting Rituals. Connecting Rituals are short games, nursery rhymes, and finger plays that adults and children do together in large or small groups. The Connecting Rituals would increase self-regulation and social skills in a Montessori preschool classroom. The study was conducted in a Montessori preschool classroom …


The Effects Of Community Building Music On Transition Time In An Early Childhood Montessori Classroom, Rachel Branum, Brady Howard May 2020

The Effects Of Community Building Music On Transition Time In An Early Childhood Montessori Classroom, Rachel Branum, Brady Howard

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this action research study was to determine how community building music would affect the transition time in a primary Montessori classroom. The researchers were two female preschool teachers in public Montessori schools. The participants, aged three to six years old, were involved in a daily clean-up time, which took place before the study began. The teachers added a music intervention for four weeks to see if the dynamics of clean-up time would change. The teachers documented the research study using qualitative and quantitative data tools. The data tools included student surveys, teacher journals, a timer log, and …


Cultivating Toddler Emergent Literacy Behaviors Using The Montessori Sandpaper Letters, Elizabeth Norman May 2020

Cultivating Toddler Emergent Literacy Behaviors Using The Montessori Sandpaper Letters, Elizabeth Norman

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The Montessori Sandpaper Letters are a powerful, multi-sensory tool which can cultivate emergent literacy behaviors. A half-day Montessori classroom of 17 students between the ages of 2.4 years old and 3.5 years old in a private, accredited, suburban Montessori school participated in this action research study. Participants completed a four-week intervention that implemented daily use of the Sandpaper Letters. Data was collected through daily observations, tally charts, individual lesson logs, and a modified pre- and post-assessment of the ability to identify letter sounds. Thirteen out of 17 participants, or 76%, showed an increase in letter sound identification. In addition there …


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 …