EFFECT OF MONTESSORI IN NURSERY PUPILS AS IT PROMOTES THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH IN PRIMARY CLASSES

Project Topics

EFFECT OF MONTESSORI IN NURSERY PUPILS AS IT PROMOTES THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH IN PRIMARY CLASSES (A CASE STUDY OF FOUR SELECTED PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN ADO-ODO OTA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA IN OGUN STATE)

 

ABSTRACT

  The study examines the effects of Montessori in Nursery pupils as it promotes the teaching of English in primary classes (a case study of four selected schools in Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area in Ogun State.)

The study sought to find out the relevance of the Montessori approach in Nigeria curriculum, the role of a Montessori teacher, the reaction of parents towards the teaching of Montessori and how Montessori can be used in teaching English.

From the discussion, some of the Montessori materials used in teaching English are nomenclatures cards, word study cards, a consonant blends game and all sorts of pre-reading activities, and grammar and punctuation work. Also movable alphabet and sand paper letters are used in teaching the child literacy.  The materials mentioned lead to greater literacy achievement on children’s literacy ability in Montessori classroom from infancy to age 6. Maria Montessori recognized that children as young as they had an interest in written letters. The “sand paper letters” (letters cut out of sand paper that can be traced) were developed to take advantage when teaching English. Once the basic phonetic sounds were learned, reading proceeded quite easily. Montessori also observed that in teaching English writing usually precedes reading.

Nursery education is a global trend to provide pre-primary or nursery education for children and it has been discovered that nursery education lays a good and solid foundation for primary education level. Teachers should take passive role while the child takes the active role in the teaching and learning process. Learning environments should also be conducive for learning to take place.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page                                                                 i

Certification                                                             ii

Dedication                                                               iii

Acknowledgement                                                    iv

Abstract                                                                   vi

Table of contents                                                     vii

CHAPTER ONE

  • Introduction/ Background of the study 1
  • Statement of the Problems 4
  • Purpose of Study 5
  • Research Questions 6
  • Research Hypothesis 7
  • Significance of the Study 7
  • Scope of the Study 8
  • Limitation of the Study 8

CHAPTER TWO

  • Literature Review 10
    • Concept of Education 11
    • Nursery Education                                          13
    • Teacher Education 15
    • The Learning Environment 18
    • Concept of Montessori 21
    • History of Doctor Maria Montessori 22
    • The Basic Elements of the Montessori

Approach to Education                                    24

  • Montessori Education System in Nigeria 27
  • Relevance of Montessori approach in

Nigeria Curriculum                                          30

2.10 Training of Montessori Teacher                               32

2.11         The Role of a Montessori Teacher                    35

2.12     Influence or Effect of Montessori Teaching  38

2.13 The Reaction of Parents towards the

Teaching of Montessori                                    41

2.14 The Differences between Children taught

with Montessori and those taught with

other Methods of Teaching.                             42

2.15 How to use Montessori Method in

Teaching English.                                                    45

CHAPTER THREE

  • Research Methodology 49
    • Research Design 50
    • Population of the Study 50
    • Sample of Study 51
    • Sampling Techniques 52
    • Instrument for data collection 52
    • Validation of the instrument 53
    • Reliability of the instrument 53
    • Method of data collection                                        54
    • Method of data analysis 54

CHAPTER FOUR

  • Presentation of result, data analysis

and discussion                                                        55

  • Administration of Questionnaires 55
  • Analysis of pupils responses on the

questionnaires and discussion of result          56

 

CHAPTER FIVE

  • Summary, conclusion and

Recommendations                                           78

  • Summary 78
  • Conclusion 80
  • Recommendations 81

Reference                                                         83

Appendix                                                         86

 

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

  • BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Education is a continuous process which takes place from birth to death. This shows that education is passed from one generation to another i.e. from the educated to the uneducated. Alison Gopnik et al asserted “Babies minds are at least as rich, as abstract, as complex, and as powerful as ours. Children consider evidence, draw conclusions, do experiments, solve problems and search for truth”.

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In her book titled “The Absorbent Mind” Doctor Maria Montessori, sees the child’s mind as a sponge between the ages of 0-3 years, which predate the primary classes. This indicates that the child easily considers what goes on in his society and stores at unconscious state. Andre Roberfrold, President of ‘The Association Montessori Internationale’, 2012; says “Montessori is a practice that shows that the children can be the agents of change, leading to more harmonious and peaceful society”. Montessori uses auto-corrective measures which help the children to teach themselves even when the teacher is not there. Also Michael Cove declares that Montessori is an educational movement that explicitly wants to do things differently. They engage the passions of teachers and learners as pupils “say teach me to do it myself”.

The best goal of the Montessori education is to make a child independent and prepare the most suitable environment to support the child’s development. Doctor Maria Montessori founded a theory of education that has had a profound influence on the lives of thousands of children throughout the world since the beginning of the 20th century. She wrote that education should “help the individual from birth and protect his environment”. The Montessori Method is an approach to education used predominantly in the pre-school field. The approach requires that children are placed in a well-planned and structured environment which will meet their individual educational and cultural needs. Montessori also believed that the classroom needed to be designed strictly for the needs of every child by fostering independence and self-direction. “She believed that if children were able to spontaneously choose their own work and return it when they were finished, a sense of pride and love of order would develop in them, and their self confidence and independence would be fostered” (Standing 1957).

There are three basic elements of the Montessori approach to education. They are:-

  • The Structured Environment
  • The Montessori Curriculum
  • The Montessori Teacher

In Montessori class, the children begin to make free choices and interact and also discover the materials. The teacher just facilitates and guides their learning. As a result, children who experience a Montessori education are highly motivated and learn to be independent, self-confident and self-disciplined. Doctor Maria Montessori stressed the importance of children taking an active role in their learning. She did not design the classroom around the teacher but rather around the learners. The children are able to move freely about the classroom respectfully, explore the prepared environment and use the teacher as a guide. Montessori stated that, “The children should be encouraged to explore and investigate at their own pace” (Standing 1951).

However, there is a big question about how to teach English as a second language with Montessori material. Basically, the child needs to first learn vocabulary through go-together, opposites, rhymes, memory cards, songs, games and life experiences. We need to apply poems, stories and lesson ideas in teaching themes, grammar and concepts of English with Montessori. The best result will occur in pupil’s performance in English when we use Montessori approach in teaching English, in the sense that the Montessori Method of teaching differs from all other methods of teaching and it gives room for pupil’s participation and lastly it gives children room to work on their own.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 

Using Montessori approach to the teaching of English in primary schools will help in enhancing smooth and effective teaching of English in primary classes. Proper Montessori education offers children opportunities to develop their potentials as they step out into the world as engaged, competent, responsible and respectful citizens with an understanding and appreciation that learning is for life. The adoption of Montessori in schools will help the learning and teaching ability of the children and teachers. Pupils perform better when they are exposed to Montessori education from Nursery classes to Primary classes.

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The problem under investigation will discuss further on elements of the Montessori approach to education such as; The Structured Environment, the Montessori Curriculum and the Montessori Teacher. It will also discuss how Montessori can be used in promoting the teaching of English in primary classes.

The study will seek to find out the relevance of Montessori approach in Nigeria curriculum, the role of a Montessori teacher, the reaction of parents towards the teaching of Montessori and how Montessori can be used in teaching English

1.3   PURPOSE OF STUDY

The focus of the study is to find out the effect of Montessori in nursery pupils as it promotes the teaching of English in primary classes. The study will make parents and teachers realize and understand the importance of Montessori Method of teaching as it promote teaching and learning processes.

Therefore, the study was designed to:-

  1. Find out the relationship between Montessori and other methods of teaching
  2. Find out the difference between children taught with Montessori method and those who are not taught with Montessori method
  3. Find out the reaction of parents and teachers towards Montessori approach in teaching English in primary classes.
  • RESEARCH QUESTION
  1. Are there any significant effects of Montessori education on pupils’ performance in English?
  2. Will there be differences between the performance of children taught with Montessori Method and children taught with other methods of teaching?
  3. Is there any relationship between Montessori Method of teaching and other methods of teaching?
  4. What will be the reaction of parents towards Montessori Method of teaching?
  5. Does the role of a Montessori teacher differ from any other teacher?
  6. Is there room for pupils’ participation in a Montessori class?
  7. Will the use of Montessori Method and materials improve or promote the teaching of English in primary classes?
  8. Do parents have interest in “Montessori schools” in Nigeria?

1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

HO – There will be significant effect of Montessori education on pupil’s performance in   English.

HA – There will be no significant effect of Montessori education on pupil’s performance in   English.

HO – There will be significant relationship between Montessori Method of teaching and other methods of teaching.

HA – There will be no significant relationship between Montessori Method of teaching and other methods of teaching.

1.6   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY    

The main role of this study is that it shows how Montessori would have an effect in nursery pupils and how Montessori would promote teaching of English in primary classes. Also, the study will explain how the three basic elements of the Montessori approach to education would promote the teaching of English in primary classes.

On the other hand, the study will help teachers and parents to realize and understand the importance of Montessori Method of teaching in teaching primary school pupils. The study will also help school practitioners, caregivers to determine the importance of Montessori education in various level of education.

  • SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope will cover some selected schools in Ado-Odo, Ota Local Government of Ogun State. It was designed to determine or understand the effect of Montessori in Nursery pupils as it promote teaching of English in Primary classes and how to implement Montessori Method of teaching English.

The study also looked into how some major elements of Montessori promote the teaching of English in primary classes. It is also limited to primary school pupils and not secondary school student.

1.8   LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The constraints faced in the course of this study include:-

  • Financial constraints
  • Transportation problem
  • Inadequate time
  • Attitudes of teachers and pupils to the questionnaire