Arts integration in Montessori mathematics

Author / Creator

Carlson, Emily A., author

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Summary

This Action Research study incorporates key art concepts into Montessori mathematics. The purpose of the study was designed to measure student engagement in mathematics and whether engagement incre...

This Action Research study incorporates key art concepts into Montessori mathematics. The purpose of the study was designed to measure student engagement in mathematics and whether engagement increased as a result of art integration. A ten-week study was conducted in a fourth, fifth, and sixth grade classroom in a suburban, public Montessori Charter school in the Midwest. The researcher, a Montessori teacher, discovered ways to integrate art concepts into Montessori mathematics lessons. Data was collected by having students fill out pre- and post-surveys about their general feelings towards math, follow-on work, and observations. The focus group of five students met twice a week for 30 minutes. One lesson focused specifically on math instruction, while the other lesson focused on math instruction with an emphasis on art. Portfolios of the students' artwork were created. The research showed that students' general feelings towards math changed throughout the study. Keywords: art integration, Montessori, mathematics.

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