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by Esther_te82 » Mon Mar 30, 2015 7:19 pm
Reggio Emilia approach is easily adopted to yoru classroom because the set of principles is quite general. This is my takeaway from research I did a few weeks ago.
I hope it helps!
the 5 principles of reggio emilia
1) all children are competent, curious and creative
How this is put into action:
When a child asks a Reggio teacher a question about why the sky is blue, rather than answering the question (assuming you could), that teacher joins the child in the act of wondering.
Child: Why is the sky blue?
Adult: Hmmmmm, great question. I’m not sure, why do you think it’s blue?
2) essential learning takes place within a system of relationships
How this is put into action:
Using our example of the sky, a classroom teacher sees that child’s questions and ideas as full of potential. She might ask the child to draw a picture illustrating her theories. Then great importance is placed on the next step in the process— sharing this picture and the child’s thoughts with the class. The conversation that it sparks would add more questions, facts and theories to the conversation, adding to the group’s knowledge base about all things related to the sky, and leading to more questions.
3) children’s questions and interests are a foundation for learning experiences
How this is put into action:
Supportive discussion techniques are encouraged through the use of language like, “I think,” or “I disagree” rather than discounting what someone knows might not be a “correct” theory. This is how curriculum is co-constructed (another progressive buzz word). The ideas are generated by the children, but given structure and purpose by the teachers. Teachers are continually asking the children to reflect on their old theories as they are faced with new information, feeding into the formulation of new theories.
4) children express themselves through many languages
In traditional U.S. schools, children are judged by their success using verbal and written forms of expression above all others, in part because test taking depends on these skills. In Reggio schools, all forms of expression are valued equally.
How this is put into action:
Children in a Reggio school begin to learn there are multiple ways to express an idea— whether it be visual, verbal, written or through movement and music. Through the use of multiple mediums, children develop expressive competence. As the children grow, the hope is that drawing a picture to express an idea will always be an option and an ability.
The guiding belief for the Reggio Approach is that children’s ideas are worthy of deep consideration. In a more traditional system, it’s the opposite— we take away the child’s role in developing the direction of their education. Instead of using their curiosity, we’re telling them at every age, through predetermined curriculum, what they should be wondering about at every stage of their growth. Rather than embedding literacy and math instruction within their interests, we disconnect them, creating boring and difficult exercises for skill acquisition without capitalizing on the motivation that joy and curiosity naturally provide.
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