Date of Award

8-2019

Document Type

Action Research Project

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Education

Department

Education, Montessori

First Advisor

Amanda Perna

Department/School

Montessori Elementary Education, Elementary Education

Abstract

The following research assesses how the daily integration of singing and listening to music helps to construct a socially cohesive, cooperative and joyful classroom during clean up time. This study combined group singing opportunities, a music listening station and music played during clean up time. The songs used for this study included lyrical themes of cooperation, happiness, overcoming obstacles and/or friendship. The thirty-day study involved twenty-one participants between the ages of six and nine at a public, Montessori school in Missouri. Each individual completed a pre- and post-survey, as well as a survey each time they used the music listening station. During clean up time, observations were taken daily to record instances of helpful behaviors and joy amongst the participants. Results of the surveys showed that the intervention was successful at increasing positive experiences during clean up time and including a Music Listening Station as an available work choice. The intervention was not successful in creating positive experiences when singing together as a group. Further research may include the use of other mediums to promote community and collaboration like the fine arts, sports or other group oriented activities.

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