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Cultivating a Writer’s Identity: The Effect of Writing Workshop on Writing Proficiency and Confidence in an Intermediate Montessori Classroom
Get PDFThis action research investigated the effect of Writing Workshop on the writing proficiency and confidence of intermediate Montessori students. The study took place in a public community school of a major Canadian city with 24 participants of a grade 4, 5, and 6 Montessori classroom. Research was conducted over a six-week period and implemented Calkins, Ochs, and Luick’s (2017) Up the Ladder Writing Workshop Narrative Unit. Data was collected using writing samples scored by adapted 6+1 Traits of Writing Rubrics and students’ self-assessed scores using adapted 6+1 Traits of Writing Student Rubrics, adapted Bottomley et al.’s (1997/1998) Writer Self-Perception Scales, writing surveys, and observational field notes. The data demonstrated an increase in writing proficiency in 96% of students and feeling confident most of the time or always when writing by 31%. This action research recommends further research be done to supplement the Montessori language arts curriculum with Writing Workshop
The Impact of a Social Justice-Oriented Mindfulness Practice on the Self-Efficacy of an Early Childhood Montessori Teacher
Get PDFThe purpose of this action research was to explore how a social justice-oriented mindfulness practice would impact the self-efficacy of an early childhood educator. This self-study, with the researcher as the sole participant, took place over a six-week period while the researcher was working in a private Montessori school in the Northeastern United States in a classroom of 20 students aged 3-5. The intervention included breathwork; both walking and seated meditation paired with articles, essays, interviews, and poetry relevant to social justice; meditation; and mindfulness. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through reflective journaling, a record of feelings scale, an attitude scale, and a pre- and post-intervention survey. While the data did not reflect any substantial impact with regards to teacher self-efficacy, the study was transformative in many ways. The intervention resulted in a deeper understanding of social inequities and a heightened sense of self-reflection. A more focused and comprehensive selection of content relevant to equity in the educational setting would likely have allowed for a more guided learning experience. Additionally, community organized events and workshops relevant to this work could play a crucial role in encouraging the need and responsibility to take action in establishing more equitable schools
The Relationship Between Creativity and Teamwork: The Effect of Improved Teamwork on the Creative Output of Gifted Students
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was twofold. First, it sought to determine how to improve students’ cooperative learning skills and the ability to work in teams among gifted students. Secondly, whether and to what effect improved cooperative learning skills had on creativity among gifted students. Teamwork was improved through a direct instruction unit on teamwork, where students participated in coding activities, role-plays, and other cooperative games. Destination Imagination challenges were used to determine teamwork and creativity scores and students participated in a survey of their own and their teammates performance on the challenges. The participants were 38 gifted students from a mid-Atlantic school district ranging in grades from 2- 5. The results showed a statistically significant improvement in students’ ability to work cooperatively as well as a promising link between teamwork and creativity scores
The Effects of Discussion Groups on Teacher Confidence and Comfort-Level with Anti-Bias Education at a Private Urban Montessori School
Get PDFThis action research was conducted to examine the effects of peer discussion groups on the comfort and confidence of lower-elementary Montessori teachers in conducting literaturebased anti-bias lessons. The intervention was conducted in a private, urban, Montessori school, serving students from toddler to middle school. The participants of this study were five first-third grade teachers, including the participant researcher. Data was collected through pre- and postintervention surveys, teacher post-lesson self-assessments, transcription coding of discussion groups, and researcher self-reflection rating scale and journal prompts. Three discussion groups were scheduled two weeks apart, with teachers giving literature-based, anti-bias lessons between the first and second discussion groups and the second and third discussion groups. Data indicated that teachers became more comfortable and confident in their anti-bias teaching practice and that the discussion groups created a space for reflective dialogue. The action plan suggests that this intervention could have a farther reach if it were conducted for a longer period of time, across a wider age range, and in multiple schools
Music Album - Música Cañari: Indigenous Music from the Highlands of Ecuador
No full textThough I recorded the majority of the music on this playlist, the music belongs to Cañari (indigenous) musicians from the highlands of Ecuador. The album was made possible by an agreement between me and my colleagues at Instituto Superior Quilloac Pedagógico in Cañar, Ecuador - in particular Pedro Solano Falcón and Andres Quinde - and all of the musicians who permitted me to record their music making.The majority of the recordings derive from two agrarian festivals: Inti Raymi – “the Festival of the Sun” in June and Lalay Raymi (Carnaval) in February. They represent just two of four annual agrarian festivals celebrated in the Andes.Inti Raymi is celebrated near the solstice. Originally derived from the Inca indigenous festival and celebrated in Peru – the seat of the Inca Empire - Inti Raymi is now widespread throughout Ecuador. Cañaris use the opportunity to relive the history of their ancestors, practice their spirituality, create music, and honor the natural world.Carnaval, or Lalay Raymi [festival of the “lalay” song] in Cañar, is a 5-day celebration that combines the indigenous agrarian celebration of Pawkar Raymi with Catholic pre-Lenten festivities. Pawkar Raymi marks a period of fertility and flowering in the agricultural cycle, as well as in romantic relationships. As in many Carnival celebrations across the global Catholic world, norms about appropriate behavior are suspended, and many social roles are reversed.Unless otherwise noted in the track descriptions, the tracks were recorded by Allison Adrian. The descriptions were written and translated by Allison Adrian, Erika Contreras, and Rebecca Gibson with the editorial assistance of Antonio Guamán, Pedro Solano, Marcos Aguayza, Juan Carlos Solano, and Judy Blankenship
The Effects of Using Nature-Based Space & Materials on the Children’s Concentration Levels in an Early Childhood Montessori Environment
Get PDFThis research study explored the effects of using nature-based space and materials on the children’s concentration levels in an early childhood Montessori environment. Nineteen 3-6-year-olds participated in the study for four weeks. The researcher designed and implemented two interventions, nature-based space and nature-based materials, inside an early childhood Montessori environment. The purpose was to holistically improve the children’s concentration levels by being exposed to a nature-based area and materials. The data collection process relied on four qualitative and quantitative data tools: tally sheets, general observational notes, rate sheets, and measurement notes. The data analyzed in this research study suggests exposing young children to both nature-based space and materials in the learning environment is beneficial to their concentration levels. Lastly, the researcher considers further investigation of the effects of being exposed to nature and technology on the children’s brain by using scientific devices to read and interpret the brain activity
Reducing Surgical Site Infections in the Bariatric C-Section Patient
Get PDFBackground: Background evidence of surgical site infections (SSI) among bariatric c-section patients identified four themes, including risk factors, assessment, interventions, and education. Each theme guided the project intervention and recommendations for practice improvement.
Purpose: The original purpose of the project included four aims: educate nursing staff on the obstetrics unit about post-operative surgical site incision care through a 30-minute education session during annual training, administer a knowledge survey pre-education session, post-education session, and toward the end of project implementation to assess post-operative surgical incision care knowledge, establish ability to recognize risk and initiate prevention strategies for surgical site infection, and initiate focus group and anonymous feedback methods to gather information regarding barriers to practice change, feasibility, and for continuous quality improvement. The original purpose was adapted and instead focused on creating a practice protocol and education based on multiple Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycles to determine organizational need and gaps in practice.
Method and Results: The project used the Model for Improvement framework to design multiple PDSA cycles. The PDSA cycles established gaps between unit practice and best practice literature. The results of the project included development of a practice protocol.
Recommendations: The project included five recommendations related to returning to the original interrupted, repeated measures design to determine baseline knowledge, the efficacy of an education curriculum, knowledge retention, contribution of knowledge to adherence, and reductions of surgical site infection in bariatric patients
Transitions of Care for Geriatric Patients in Assisted Living Facilities: Acute Care Transfer Pilot Project
Get PDFBackground: Information gaps for geriatric residents of extended care facilities transferred to the emergency department are prevalent, increasing the risk of adverse health events. Poor communication during care transitions is the leading cause of medical errors in healthcare systems, accounting for 50% of all communication errors in health care and 80% of severe medical errors (Britton et al., 2017, Joint Commission, 2017, Li et al., 2017, Rosenthal et al., 2018).
Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement pilot project is to implement a standardized acute care transfer packet to increase the amount of essential patient health information shared with emergency room providers during a transition of care from an assisted living facility.
Methods: The quality improvement team implemented a standardized acute care transfer packet in an assisted living facility. Pre-and post-implementation data assessed average amount of essential patient health information shared during each transfer, a post-transfer debriefing survey, post-implementation staff satisfaction surveys, and qualitative interviews with assisted living and local emergency room staff. The standardized packet included 14 health information data points deemed essential for a safe care transition.
Results: Of then two patients transferred during the implementation period, there was an increase in the amount of essential patient health information shared, from an average of 8.4 data points in the pre-implementation period, to 14 in the post-implementation period.
Conclusion: Implementation of a standardized acute care transfer packet increases the amount of patient information shared during a transition of care between medical providers. This transfer strategy can successfully be utilized in assisted living settings. Qualitative interviews revealed four care transition themes including time, staffing levels, technology, and bidirectional communication. Post-implementation satisfaction surveys revealed a positive experience with the new transfer process
“What is an education for? Change and adaptation for a culture of inquiry”
No full textWhen you think about your education, what comes to mind? Whether painful or ecstatic, what episodes emerge as particularly resonant? How might such episodes become sources of wisdom in greater self-awareness and accountability? This talk assumes that we – staff and faculty alike – are all educators in the lives of our students. It recognizes that we are each called to respond to the needs of our time and the changing demographics of who our students are, how they learn, and what they need to live full and free lives. It also advocates for a culture of inquiry as a crucial condition for change and adaptation in our ways of knowing. Rooted in a personal narrative of lived experience as a White educator of settler-colonial descent, I offer some responses to the question – What is an education for? – while recognizing that I have much to learn. Ultimately, this talk aims to demonstrate that there can be no substitute for learning in community
New and interesting aerial diatom assemblages from southwestern Iceland
No full textExamination of algal assemblages from aerial environments around the globe, especially those from pseudoaerial habitats found on moistened rocks underneath waterfalls or around springs and seeps, reveals the presence of unique diatom floras. Yet, diatom assemblages from northern regions like Iceland remain understudied, especially those from the volcanic rock outcrops and boulders that create euaerial habitats where biota receive moisture from the atmosphere or the rock itself. During the summers of 2013 and 2015, we examined the biodiversity of mostly euaerial, but also pseudoaerial, diatom assemblages collected from volcanic rock outcrops or large boulders on the landscape from southwestern Iceland. We used light and scanning electron microscopy to document the biodiversity of common, smaller, new, or interesting specimens, such as Humidophila and Eunotia. We describe one new Humidophila species, H. eldfjallii sp. nov., with triundulate valve margins and include information on another unidentified taxon, Humidophila sp. 1, naviculoid in shape with tapering to rounded ends, continuous striae through the length of the valve, and a circular central area. We formally transfer Diadesmis contenta var. biceps to Humidophila biceps. To correct the nomenclature, we recognized Humidophila parallela at the species level. Relative abundance estimates of diatom populations provided further characterization of the assemblages on these habitats. Humidophila taxa, especially H. gallica dominated the diverse diatom flora. We discuss adaptations for survival with access to mostly atmospheric water. The diatom flora described here adds to the flora for this region, highlights the diversity of diatom assemblages that can inhabit euaerial environments, and provides evidence of adaptive success of diatoms in extreme habitats with limited moisture and nutrients