To What Extent Do Parents of Montessori-Educated Children “Do Montessori” at Home? Preliminary Findings and Future Directions

Abstract

Few, if any, empirical studies have explicitly examined the home environments of Montessori-educated children, and specifically whether or not Montessori parents reinforce or undermine their children’s Montessori education at home. With a sample of 30 parents of Montessori-educated toddlers and preschoolers attending a private Montessori school in the Midwest, this cross-sectional study examined Montessori parents’ knowledge of Montessori methods and their parenting beliefs and behaviors at home. Results suggested that Montessori parents from the targeted school were knowledgeable about and valued Montessori methods, even though few had a Montessori education themselves. Parents in this sample varied in their parenting behaviors and choices at home, with some parents who intentionally reinforced Montessori principles and others whose behaviors were inconsistent with a Montessori approach. Findings from this preliminary study provide a first glimpse into the beliefs and behaviors of Montessori parents from which future studies can build upon. Montessori educators and administrators will benefit from future research involving Montessori parents, particularly for those who offer Montessori-based parent education sessions to the families they serve.

Theoretical Approach to Enhance Information Literacy and Lifelong Learning Through Montessori Methodology

“…Thus, the use of the senses while using the software is particularly based in the use of colours; sense perception is one of the aspects also mentioned in the Montessori methodology (Drigas and Gkeka, 2016). On the other hand, adults who decide to pursue lifelong learning are very likely to be unfamiliar with the Montessori Method (Walls, 2018). This may not necessarily influence a person's training, but it can help to improve information literacy.…”

Ebeveynlerin çocukları için Montessori yöntemi uygulayan anaokulu seçme nedenleri

“…Parents are able to help to develop home-school relationships by means of parent-training workshops built on the principles of the philosophy of Montessori education. Parents' role in the home environment is very important to ensure that children are more experienced and consistent in applications performed in the Montessori classroom environment (Walls, 2018). The reason behind parents' preference for Montessori schools for their children is that they adopt practice-based learning approach, offer individualized teaching and foster child characteristics conducive to the personal development of the child (Parker, 2007).…”

“…Montessori eğitim felsefesi ilkelerini veli-eğitim atölyeleri sayesinde ev-okul ilişkilerini geliştirilmesine yardımcı olmaktadır. Ebeveynlerin ev ortamındaki rolü Montessori sınıf ortamında gerçekleştirilen uygulamalarda çocukların daha deneyimli ve tutarlı olmasını sağlaması adına oldukça önemlidir (Walls, 2018).…”

“…Çocuklarını isteyerek Montessori eğitimini seçen ebeveynlerin, evde "Montessori"yi ne ölçüde kullandıklarını inceleyen çalışmalar çok azdır. Bu durum çocukların eğitsel çıktılarının amaca ulaşmasında ev ve okul bağlamında kilit görevde olan aile ve ev faktörlerinin tanımlamalarını sınırlandırmaktadır (Walls, 2018 (Merriam, 2018). Bu araştırma kapsamında katılımcıların Montessori okulunu seçme nedenlerini anlamak üzere bu yöntem benimsenmiştir.…”

The effects of Montessori training program for mothers on mathematics and daily living skills of 4-5 year-old Montessori children

“…It is significant that a mother receives essential education and puts it into practice in this period which is critical for the mother's education. But as of 2014 year, little to no research has been done specifically on the impact parent education programs have on boosting parents' knowledge of the Montessori Method or involvement (Meert, 2014).Since then, there has been research in the Montessori schools where the studies on parental education and participation are scientifically evaluated (Lau and Yau, 2015;Irving, 2017;Walls, 2018).Actually, these are rather reports than research studies.…”