Date of Award

12-2014

Document Type

Action Research Project

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Education

Department

Education, Montessori

First Advisor

Irene Bornhorst

Department/School

Montessori Early Childhood

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this action research was to determine if using flags, created as tools for signaling for help, was an effective way to develop persistence and encourage children to complete their chosen work. The study was conducted in a preschool classroom at a private Montessori school. Participants included 15 children aged three to five and three teachers. Data was collected in the form of student interviews, tallies, and observations made during the period of research. The results indicated that the helper flags increased the children’s persistence with their work and increased the likelihood they would complete their chosen work. Therefore, it was concluded that the flags were effective tools for the children. Additionally, the flags proved to be a useful classroom management technique. However, because the research was conducted at the beginning of the school year in a class of children new to the Montessori environment, it is unclear whether or not the results would apply to other classrooms. Therefore, further research is recommended in other classroom environments and at a later point in the school year.

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