In the hands of a child...
Reggio Emilia Philosophy
At the Marvelous Child Development Center our curriculum is founded upon the world-renowned Reggio Emilia approach to early education. We understand that children are competent and active learners, from infancy. Infants and Toddlers deserve to have caring teachers and a positive early learning environment.
Our Educational Approach, Principles of Reggio Emilia
1. Children are capable of constructing their own learning.
Children are the main initiators of their own learning process and should be treated as active collaborators in their education, as opposed to passive observers.
2. Children are collaborators and learn through interaction within their communities.
Learning is based on relationships across all spectrums of learning. In Reggio Emilia there is a close interaction between teachers, parents, and children. It is the teachers and parents’ goal to ensure the well-being of the child.
3. Children are natural communicators who speak a 100 languages
Children should be encouraged to express themselves however they would like. Children learn through words, movement, drawings, paintings, through building, sculpting, and more. The Atelierista, also known as the studio teacher, ensures that children engage in various experiences as she works with her team to create intentional space consisting of materials and tools used to stir up thinking and concept comprehension.
4. The classroom environment acts as the third teacher.
Children thrive in welcoming, eco-friendly and aesthetically pleasing environments that are suited to their interests and developmental stages. Teachers plan and organize, and initiate child directed activities in designated spaces throughout the facility. Children are supported as they work individually, and in small and large groups. The layout of the classroom promotes relationships, communication, collaboration, and exploration through play.
5. Teachers are partners, nurturers, and guides who help facilitate the exploration of children’s interests.
Teachers guide experiences, discoveries and problem-solving scenarios. Teachers are researchers and documenters who look for opportunities to encourage further exploration of a child’s interests.
6. Documentation is a critical component of communication.
Teachers use documentation as means to collect information from the various ways children express themselves. It can be accomplished by collecting a variety of art pieces, verbal statements which are recorded by teachers, through photography and videos. Documentation is used to ascertain strengths, thoughts, interests and next steps to support learning.
7. Families are partners in education.
Family participation in their child’s education as an essential component of our philosophy. Family members play an active role in their child’s learning experiences as well as help to ensure the welfare of all children in the community around them
The 4 Principles of the Reggio Emilia Approach:
Emergent Curriculum is a curriculum thorough which topics are derived from the interests of children and their families (freedom, dinosaurs, gardening). Teachers compare notes and observations and decide on the next project, materials needed.
In-Depth Projects are born based on the information gathered about children’s interests. Topics are often introduced to children as adventures and can last anywhere from a week or two to the entire school year. Teachers observe turn in the direction children would like to take their research. They plan representation and materials used.
Representational Development means the presentation of new ideas and concepts in multiple forms, such as print, art, drama, music, puppetry, and so on shall be made available to kids. Varied presentations ensure that all children have the chance to understand and connect with the concepts being explored.
Collaboration furthers a child’s cognitive development. Groups both large and small are encouraged to work together to problem-solve using dialogue, comparisons, negotiations, and other important interpersonal skills. Each child’s voice is heard to promote a balance between a sense of belonging to the group and a sense of self.