Date of Award

12-2016

Document Type

Action Research Project

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Education

Department

Education, Montessori

First Advisor

Olivia Christensen

Department/School

Montessori Early Childhood

Abstract

This action research project examined the effects of social stories on the problem solving skills of preschoolers in a Montessori classroom. The classroom was in a private school in Arizona led by a lead Montessori trained teacher and an assistant teacher. The study spanned seven weeks and the subjects were 22 three to five year old children. Three stories were read to the children. Each story was read at circle time daily for a two week interval. Data collected included the observations of the lead teacher, observations of the assistant teacher, and one-on-one conversations with each child at the end of the study. The data showed an increase in the abilities of the children to solve problems without the need of an adult. Future research could be conducted on the effects on female versus male preschoolers to see if the stories affect the children differently depending on their gender. Future research could also be conducted using stories about different social issues.

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