 |
|
 |
 |
 |
||||||||
What is the Reggio Emilia Approach? The Children’s Garden of Learning primarily follows the Reggio Emilia Approach in working with our children. We have embraced this concept because it fosters independence, self-help skills and creativity. The Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education is named after the town of Reggio Emilia in the Emilia Romagna province of northern Italy. In Reggio Emilia, fifty four publicly funded schools provide education for children from birth through to 6 years. These schools have been described as among the best in the world. The schools of Reggio Emilia began as a parent initiative. With the end of World War II, the parents banded together and with the proceeds from the sale of surplus war materials founded the town’s first pre-schools. They had a vision for a new kind of school where children would be treated with respect and parents would be active participants in their children’s education. The parents found the help of educator Loris Malaguzzi to set up schools that reflected their vision. From those early schools grew the framework for a new model in education for young children. The Reggio Emilia approach offers a way for teachers to harness their young charges’ natural curiosity and creativity by encouraging them to work on projects that interest them. The approach also encourages children to communicate their new found knowledge and understanding in a variety of media, often with creative results. Parents are also encouraged to be actively involved in all aspects of the school and their child’s learning.
|
