I arrived at the airport in Milan and was working up the nerve to find my way to the train station when a lady approached me to ask if I was with the Reggio Children Group...
How is it that we can spot a teacher in a crowd? What is it marker that lets us know? The paint stains in our clothes? The 'I'm exhausted and strung-out' look? The very practical and comfortable sweaters we wear? I didn't have my halloween earrings on...or any kind of holiday garment for that matter. How did she know? I decided not to ask and just followed her out to the shuttle she had waiting.
Reggio Emilia is a great little city - pretty industrial - but like any place in Italy, a walk toward the centre of town and you'll found the square with great restaurants and good wine. I've met up with a groovy gal who is German/Columbian and living and working in the States. She and I and three other Canadians met in the hotel lobby and headed out to see the sights. We had dinner with our Study Group leaders last night and everyone got to know each other a bit.
I already have the sense that although we are in a location to see and find out more about this play-based approach to teaching, I will also be gathering a lot of learning from my fellow Study Group members. I met one couple, he is a lawyer and she is a director of an early years centre, who collaboratively write books on the rights of children in education. Another friend teaches dance and movement in an arts based school in a very 'Reggio' way. One gal is writing her thesis for her masters and is taking part in teaching two classes - one with the play-based approach and one with instruction-based approach - comparing and contrasting the two.
Tomorrow is a walk around the city with the big group of 75.
I'm so happy I've come.
How is it that we can spot a teacher in a crowd? What is it marker that lets us know? The paint stains in our clothes? The 'I'm exhausted and strung-out' look? The very practical and comfortable sweaters we wear? I didn't have my halloween earrings on...or any kind of holiday garment for that matter. How did she know? I decided not to ask and just followed her out to the shuttle she had waiting.
Reggio Emilia is a great little city - pretty industrial - but like any place in Italy, a walk toward the centre of town and you'll found the square with great restaurants and good wine. I've met up with a groovy gal who is German/Columbian and living and working in the States. She and I and three other Canadians met in the hotel lobby and headed out to see the sights. We had dinner with our Study Group leaders last night and everyone got to know each other a bit.
I already have the sense that although we are in a location to see and find out more about this play-based approach to teaching, I will also be gathering a lot of learning from my fellow Study Group members. I met one couple, he is a lawyer and she is a director of an early years centre, who collaboratively write books on the rights of children in education. Another friend teaches dance and movement in an arts based school in a very 'Reggio' way. One gal is writing her thesis for her masters and is taking part in teaching two classes - one with the play-based approach and one with instruction-based approach - comparing and contrasting the two.
Tomorrow is a walk around the city with the big group of 75.
I'm so happy I've come.
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