Reggio Emilia Approach

Our approach to education is based on a variety of principles. The first principle is an emergent curriculum. An emergent curriculum is one that builds upon the interests of children. In our schools topics of study are created from the talks a teacher has with children, through community and family events and was wells as the known interests of children such as dinosaurs, transportation, etc. Teachers work as a team to create and formulate hypotheses about the directions of the project, the materials needed and possible parent and community support and involvement.
The next principle is project work. Projects are in-depth studies of concepts, ideas and interests that arise within the classroom. These projects may last one week or could continue throughout the school year. It is through these projects that teachers help children make decisions about the direction of study, the ways the class will research the topic, how they will represent and demonstrate the topic.
The third principle is collaboration. Students work in collaborative groups. This is considered valuable and necessary to advance their cognitive development. In our approach we collaborate with families and the community in order to form a team to support the learning of the child.
The fourth principle is teachers as researchers. A teacher’s role is somewhat complex compared to that of a teacher in a traditional learning environment. The teacher is seen as a researcher. Teachers listen, observe and document children’s work and the growth of community in their classroom. They provoke, co-construct and stimulate thinking in collaborative groups.
The fifth principle is documentation. Our teachers document their students learning through a process that is very similar to a portfolio approach. This is a very important tool in the learning process for children, teachers and parents. In our class, you would see a teacher taking lots of pictures to document students learning. Documentation is not only used for assessment but for advocacy.
The final principle is the environment and considered the “third teacher”. The set up of our classrooms differ from a traditional classroom. Our classes are very warm and inviting. Teachers organize space for small and large group projects. Documentation of children’s work, plants and collections that children have made from former projects are displayed both at the children’s and adult’s eye level.
Our approach to education is quite different from the traditional early childhood approach. If you walk into our classrooms it may seem we are only playing but, we use this as a way to build a child’s learning. Teachers are guides that create their instruction based on children’s interests rather than instructors who teach a set curriculum. Do you feel our teachers can be effective educators? The community and parents play a very vital role in our approach. What are your thoughts on community and parent involvement in a child’s education?