Date of Award

12-2017

Document Type

Action Research Project

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Education

Department

Education, Montessori

First Advisor

Karen Anway

Department/School

Montessori Elementary Education, Elementary Education, Education

Abstract

This study sought to determine if the implementation of a cyclical process of student goal setting, monitoring of progress, and reflection would improve task performance and intrinsic motivation in middle school learners. Fifteen upper-elementary children in a public Montessori classroom were selected and grouped according to student and teacher perception of their performance the previous year. Prior to the intervention, students completed an assessment of their self-regulation abilities. All students received lessons on goal setting, monitoring, and reflection with the use of a self-regulation notebook to make themselves aware of the standards, set goals, track their progress, and reflect on performance. Teachers collected data regarding on-task performance and on-task behavior. The results showed an increase in both on-task behavior and task completion, but no consistent increase in students’ perception of their self-regulation abilities. A suggestion for further research could be conducting a study of the effect that intentional conversation and student interviews would have on student self-perception of their ability to self-regulate.

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