Possibilities and effects of using Montessori materials in teaching nature-related content in primary classroom education

235 listova

Biografija autora: list 232. Bibliografija: list. 199-204.

Methodology of class teaching

The main objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive examination of one of the most widespread and popular pedagogical concepts, defined by the Italian educational reformer Maria Montessori. This involves an in-depth analysis of the theoretical foundations of her method, the historical and social context in which it was developed, comparisons with other alternative pedagogical approaches from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and a comparison between Maria Montessori's developmental theory and those of other authors. Additionally, the study focuses on the practical application and educational effects of this alternative teaching approach. At the core of this research are Maria Montessori’s materials and the opportunities they provide in working with students, specifically the three-part Montessori cards in teaching nature-related content within the subject Social, Environmental and Scientific Education. While there is a vast number of studies worldwide confirming the effectiveness of Montessori materials and methods, there is a noticeable lack of extensive research on this method in our country. Therefore, this study aims to highlight the scope, aspirations, and achievements of Maria Montessori, primarily through its practical application in primary education. The research methodology involves defining the problem, which pertains to determining the effects of using Montessori materials in acquiring nature-related content in the third grade of primary school. The subject of the research focuses on assessing the effects of Montessori materials in acquiring knowledge about nature in the third grade through three thematic units. A descriptive method and an experimental method with a rotation of the experimental factor were used in the study. To assess the quantity, quality, and retention of students’ acquired knowledge, tests specifically designed for this research were applied, as they examine the exact curriculum content under study. The research sample consisted of six third-grade classes from two primary schools in Vranje, “Branko Radičević” Primary School and “Jovan Jovanović Zmaj” Primary School. After a detailed analysis of the research results, the main hypothesis—that using three-part Montessori cards in acquiring nature-related content positively affects the quantity, quality, and retention of students' knowledge—was fully confirmed. These findings pave the way for future research on the effectiveness of Montessori materials in primary education and serve as an invitation for practitioners/primary classroom teachers to consider implementing the didactic tools designed by Maria Montessori to enhance teaching quality.

Montesori materijali, trodelne Montesori kartice, nastava prirode i društva, sadržaji o prirodi, razredna nastava

Montessori materials, three-part Montessori cards, Social, Environmental and Scientific Education, nature-related content, primary classroom education

37.091.3:3/5(043.3)

S 270

S 270

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