All signed up and ready to roll on down to Reggio Emilia, Italy....otherwise known as the 'Mecca' of many Early Childhood teachers! The place where Loriz Malaguzzi and the parents of the villages around Reggio Emilia developed an educational philosophy focused on Pre-school and Primary education. They called it "The Reggio Emilia Approach." (Aptly named, don't you think?)
Why is a PYP teacher working in Moscow, Russia, packing up her cool(er) clothes and flying to Italy for a week long Study Group? To see first hand the Reggio environments, learn about the instructional strategies, and see the children at work in full-swing play! The PYP values play in early childhood classrooms and promotes play/project-based learning. The developers of the IB PYP had their eyes on Reggio Emilia when writing their philosophy of the Early Years Program. I am on my way to Italy to learn more about this innovative approach to education and apply its strengths in our classrooms, making our PYP program stronger.
What is the Reggio Emilia Approach? Here is a quick descriptor
Reggio Emilia created a program based on the principles of respect, responsibility, and community through exploration and discovery in a supportive and enriching environment based on the interests of the children through a self-guided curriculum.
- Children must have some control over the direction of their learning
- Children must be able to learn through experiences of touching, moving, listening, seeing and hearing
- Children have a relationship with other children and with material items in the world that children must be able to explore
- Children must have endless ways and opportunities to express themselves
The Reggio Emilia approach to teaching young children puts the natural development of children as well as the close relationships that they share with their environment at the center of its philosophy. Early childhood programs that have successfully adapted to this educational philosophy share that they are attracted to Reggio because of the way it views and respects the child.
Parents are a vital component to the Reggio Emilia philosophy. Parents are viewed as partners, collaborators and advocates for their children. Teachers respect parents as each child's first teacher and involve parents in every aspect of the curriculum.
So, there you have it! Who wouldn't want to go?
I'm off on October 15th!
5 more sleeps....
Why is a PYP teacher working in Moscow, Russia, packing up her cool(er) clothes and flying to Italy for a week long Study Group? To see first hand the Reggio environments, learn about the instructional strategies, and see the children at work in full-swing play! The PYP values play in early childhood classrooms and promotes play/project-based learning. The developers of the IB PYP had their eyes on Reggio Emilia when writing their philosophy of the Early Years Program. I am on my way to Italy to learn more about this innovative approach to education and apply its strengths in our classrooms, making our PYP program stronger.
What is the Reggio Emilia Approach? Here is a quick descriptor
Reggio Emilia created a program based on the principles of respect, responsibility, and community through exploration and discovery in a supportive and enriching environment based on the interests of the children through a self-guided curriculum.
- Children must have some control over the direction of their learning
- Children must be able to learn through experiences of touching, moving, listening, seeing and hearing
- Children have a relationship with other children and with material items in the world that children must be able to explore
- Children must have endless ways and opportunities to express themselves
The Reggio Emilia approach to teaching young children puts the natural development of children as well as the close relationships that they share with their environment at the center of its philosophy. Early childhood programs that have successfully adapted to this educational philosophy share that they are attracted to Reggio because of the way it views and respects the child.
Parents are a vital component to the Reggio Emilia philosophy. Parents are viewed as partners, collaborators and advocates for their children. Teachers respect parents as each child's first teacher and involve parents in every aspect of the curriculum.
So, there you have it! Who wouldn't want to go?
I'm off on October 15th!
5 more sleeps....
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