WHAT IS
THE REGGIO EMILIA APPROACH?
The Reggio Emilia Approach is an innovative and inspiring approach
to early childhood education which values the child as strong, capable, and
resilient; rich with wonder and knowledge. Every child brings with them deep
curiosity and potential and this innate curiosity drives their interest to
understand their world and their place within it.
Children can construct their own learning. They are driven by
their interests and their interactions with others. Children form an
understanding of themselves and their place in the world through their
interactions with others
There is a strong focus on social collaboration, working in
groups, where each child is an equal participant, having their thoughts and
questions valued. The adult is not the giver of knowledge. Children search out
the knowledge through their own investigations.
Children are amazing communicators. We are all aware that communication
is a process, a way of discovering things, asking questions, using language as
play. Playing with sounds and rhythm and rhyme; delighting in the process of
communicating.
Children are encouraged to use language to investigate and
explore, to reflect on their experiences. They are listened to with respect,
believing that their questions and observations are an opportunity to learn and
search together. It is a process; a continual process. A collaborative process.
Rather than the child asking a question and the adult offering the answers, the
search is undertaken together.
For children at such an early age, the environment is the
third teacher.
The environment is recognized for its potential to inspire
children. An environment filled with natural light, order and beauty. Open
spaces free from clutter, where every material is considered for its purpose,
every corner is ever-evolving to encourage children to delve deeper and deeper
into their interests.
The space encourages collaboration, communication, and
exploration. The space respects children as capable by providing them with
authentic materials & tools. The space is cared for by the children and the
adults.
The adult or parent is a mentor and guide. Our role as adults
is to observe (our) children, listen to their questions and their stories, find
what interests them and then provide them with opportunities to explore these
interests further.
The Reggio Emilia Approach takes a child-led project approach.
The projects aren’t planned in advanced, they emerge based on the child’s
interests.
Probably the most well-known aspect of the Reggio Emilia
Approach. The belief that children use many, many, different ways to show their
understanding and express their thoughts and creativity.
A hundred different ways of thinking, of discovering, of
learning. Through drawing and sculpting, through dance and movement, through
painting and pretend play, through modelling and music, and that each one of
these Hundred Languages must be valued and nurtured.
These languages, or ways of learning, are all a part of the
child. Learning and play are not separated.
The Reggio Emilia Approach emphasizes hands-on discovery
learning that allows the child to use all their senses and all their languages
to learn.
Enjoy,
Ms. Nora Sierra
EC Assistant Principal
Discovery School
No comments:
Post a Comment