Montessori education has been acclaimed as one of the best methods of training students. Despite its widespread, little is known about Montessori education and its effects in mainland China. This research aims to spur more research on Montessori education outcomes in China. A quasi-experimental method was applied in this study, to compare the executive function (EF) development of children who had attended Montessori preschool to their non-Montessori peers. The study used a behavior rating inventory of executive function, second edition (BRIEF2) Parent Form to compare parents' observations of their child's executive functions (EF). Parents of Chinese elementary-aged children (6-8 years old) at the time of the study of both Montessori and non-Montessori preschool backgrounds participated in the survey. According to the results, children of Montessori preschool backgrounds had some statistically significant better-scored EF indexes than their non-Montessori peers. While the remaining indexes were not statistically significant, mean scores were still better for children who had attended Montessori preschool overall. Keywords: Educational software; executive function; Montessori; perceptions; teacher.
This descriptive research work highlights the implementation practices of Montessori education in mainland China and the concerns over Montessori education’s localization in mainland China. Localization can be understood as the adaptive process Montessori education undergoes in order to fit within Chinese culture. Two hundred and ten in-service Montessori teachers and administrators in China were surveyed to discover information concerning implementation practices in the following areas: mixed-aged classrooms, whether classrooms were co-teaching, student-to-teacher ratios, and morning and afternoon work cycles. The study found that the majority of classrooms were mixed-aged, reflecting high-fidelity Montessori practices. However, it also found that classrooms are co-teaching, have lower student–teacher ratios, and shortened work cycles, reflecting a departure from high-fidelity Montessori implementation. While localization should be considered to safeguard Montessori education’s sustainability, Chinese Montessori educators should also reflect on these findings as high implementation fidelity has been linked to better student outcomes.
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