Date of Award
12-2021
Document Type
Action Research Project
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Education
Department
Education, Montessori
First Advisor
Emily Leutgeb
Department/School
Montessori Early Childhood
Abstract
The purpose of this project was to study the impact of professional development on early childhood educator practice and its subsequent effects on toddlers’ experiences with Risky Play in the outdoor environment. The setting of this project was a toddler classroom within a Montessori school in Missouri. The population for this action research study was three adult assistant guides with varying levels of experience with Montessori and early childhood education and 10 students in a Montessori toddler classroom between the ages of 17 and 32 months. The intervention consisted of a professional development workshop related to Montessori philosophy and benefits of outdoor Risky Play paired with daily reflective journaling. Data collection included my observations, participant journals, interviews, and an attitude scale. As a result of the study, adult participants intervened with children’s play less often and in more constructive ways, and children had more positive experiences in the outdoor environment. In response to this study, future actions include implementing a classroom culture of continued coaching and reflection.
Recommended Citation
Mohr, Hannah. (2021). Impacts of Early Childhood Professional Development on Educator Practice and Subsequent Student Experience in the Outdoor Environment. Retrieved from Sophia, the St. Catherine University repository website: https://sophia.stkate.edu/maed/428
Included in
Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Early Childhood Education Commons, Educational Methods Commons, Outdoor Education Commons, Pre-Elementary, Early Childhood, Kindergarten Teacher Education Commons