Evaluation of 4-6 year old Quran Course Tree of Values Project according to the concept of reward in Montessori

In this study, it is aimed to evaluate the Values Tree Project applied to students attending the 4-6 age group Qur'an Course according to the Montessori approach. Mixed research method was used in the research, and observations and interviews were conducted in this context. Interviews were conducted with 11 instructors and 12 parents working in the 4-6 age group Qur'an Course, and observations were made on 17 students registered in the 4-6 age group. During the interviews, voice recordings were made and then transferred to the Microsoft Word program. Observation forms were filled out for observation and converted into numerical data. The SPSS package program was used for the analysis of numerical data. Descriptive and content analysis were applied in the research. Observations were made by evaluating how the given education was reflected in behavior after the subjects were covered within the framework of the project. The values of justice, honesty, cooperation, patience, love and compassion, and responsibility were covered in the research. Each positive behavior was rewarded with a reinforcer specified in the project. The Values Tree Project is considered an educational project that encourages children to learn, internalize the learned values, transform them into life experiences, and make behaviors permanent with reinforcers. However, it was concluded that because it is a reward-focused project, it did not achieve long-term behavior change in children and caused them to make inaccurate statements to receive rewards. Our research evaluated the Values Tree Project with the Montessori method, which aims to allow the child to discover themselves, move, and make choices, thus encouraging learning and developing self-discipline.