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A Critical Review of Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction in Montessori Classrooms

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Title: A Critical Review of Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction in Montessori Classrooms
Language: English
Authors: Shannon Manley (ORCID 0009-0003-3557-2367)
Source: Journal of Montessori Research. 2026 12(1):1-13.
Availability: American Montessori Society. 116 East 16th Street, New York, NY 10003. Web site: https://journals.ku.edu/jmr
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Information Analyses
Descriptors: Literacy, Reading Instruction, Evidence Based Practice, Montessori Method, Literature Reviews, Reading Skills, Sequential Approach, Educational Strategies, Educational Research
ISSN: 2378-3923
Abstract: Persistent national declines in early reading outcomes demand rigorously evidence-based literacy instruction. Although Montessori education is dismissed as purely constructivist and child-led, its literacy practices incorporate explicit, systematic, sequential, and multisensory methods that align closely with contemporary science-of-reading frameworks. This critical review synthesizes existing literature to examine how Montessori classrooms cultivate foundational reading skills--including phonological awareness, decoding, vocabulary, and comprehension--through developmentally responsive, hands-on, and sequential experiences. Key elements such as control of error, child autonomy, and structured teacher guidance are clarified, demonstrating how Montessori education integrates learner independence with systematic skill development. Empirical evidence from randomized controlled trials, large-scale analyses, meta-analyses, and teacher perspectives consistently shows that high-fidelity Montessori literacy instruction supports reading growth, executive function, and social-emotional development, with gains amplified by sustained program exposure. These findings suggest Montessori education effectively bridges the perceived divide between child-centered pedagogy and evidence-based literacy instruction, offering a model that is developmentally responsive and academically robust. Ensuring teacher expertise, instructional fidelity, and multiyear engagement is essential to translating Montessori pedagogy's evidence-based practices into meaningful literacy outcomes for diverse and at-risk learners.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 20260101
Accession Number: EJ1516689
Database: ERIC
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  Data: A Critical Review of Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction in Montessori Classrooms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Montessori+Research%22"><i>Journal of Montessori Research</i></searchLink>. 2026 12(1):1-13.
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  Data: American Montessori Society. 116 East 16th Street, New York, NY 10003. Web site: https://journals.ku.edu/jmr
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  Data: Persistent national declines in early reading outcomes demand rigorously evidence-based literacy instruction. Although Montessori education is dismissed as purely constructivist and child-led, its literacy practices incorporate explicit, systematic, sequential, and multisensory methods that align closely with contemporary science-of-reading frameworks. This critical review synthesizes existing literature to examine how Montessori classrooms cultivate foundational reading skills--including phonological awareness, decoding, vocabulary, and comprehension--through developmentally responsive, hands-on, and sequential experiences. Key elements such as control of error, child autonomy, and structured teacher guidance are clarified, demonstrating how Montessori education integrates learner independence with systematic skill development. Empirical evidence from randomized controlled trials, large-scale analyses, meta-analyses, and teacher perspectives consistently shows that high-fidelity Montessori literacy instruction supports reading growth, executive function, and social-emotional development, with gains amplified by sustained program exposure. These findings suggest Montessori education effectively bridges the perceived divide between child-centered pedagogy and evidence-based literacy instruction, offering a model that is developmentally responsive and academically robust. Ensuring teacher expertise, instructional fidelity, and multiyear engagement is essential to translating Montessori pedagogy's evidence-based practices into meaningful literacy outcomes for diverse and at-risk learners.
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      – SubjectFull: Literacy
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      – SubjectFull: Reading Instruction
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      – SubjectFull: Evidence Based Practice
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      – SubjectFull: Reading Skills
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