A Study into the Reggio Emilia Approach

Childs are adventurers and love to look into what is traveling on around them. Imagine if their whole twenty-four hours was spent in anA environment with beautyA formed by their ain creativeness? A Having the chance to play with natural and unfastened endedA stuffs of their ownA involvements, guidanceA from pedagogues to build their acquisition and believing on exciting subjects, and most significantly holding their households be greatly involved in their twenty-four hours, the larning results of each kid would be concrete and long lasting. These are the sorts of chances provided by pedagogues from the Reggio Emilia Approach, found by research worker and instructor Loris Malguzzi. “ Creativity seems to emerge from multiple experiences, coupled with a well-supported development of personal resources, including a sense of freedom to venture beyond the known ” ( Loris Malaguzzi, The Hundred Languages of Children, ch. 3, by Carolyn Edwards ( 1993 ) .
This essay will be discoursing what the Reggio Emilia Approach is, and which constructivist theories influence the Reggio Emilia course of study. It will besides bring out the course of study elements and cardinal scheduling used in the attack and in conclusion how its attack supports the six rules of the ELECT papers used in Ontario. The subjects discussed in this paper will be based on the research found in the book Authentic Childhood Experiencing Reggio Emilia in the Classroom by Susan Fraser and besides on-line beginnings.
A A A A A A First of all, what is the Reggio Emilia Approach? This inquiry arises amongst many people like, research workers in kid surveies, parents looking for child care, pedagogues looking to work, the authorities when looking to see statistics to see what course of study theoretical account has a successful result of quality child care and many more individuals who are interested in what different child care attacks provide.A In relation to this, the Reggio Emilia Approach was found by an early instruction specializer from a town in North Italy called Reggio Emilia his name was Loris Malaguzzi ( 1920-1994 ) . Malaguzzi ‘s vision attracts the universe through his drama and undertaking based course of study, kids play and pedagogues guide their drama into undertakings that involvement them.

The attack is a combination of rules that build the kid centred environment and course of study. “ Collaboration ” is when everyone works together and includes parents, pedagogues, communities and the kids ; “ the image of the child-conceptualizing an image of the kid as competent, imaginative, and full of thoughts ” ( Fraser, 2000, Page 8 ) . The “ environment ” is known as the 3rd instructor as it is carefully set up by pedagogues to dispute the kid ‘s wonder and acquisition. “ Documenting ” is a show of what the kid ‘s experiences are shown through linguistic communication and creativeness. “ Aggravation ” is when pedagogues listen carefully to what the kids are stating and farther steer the ideas and achievements. Plans and probes are besides made by everyone involved, which is known as “ progettazione ” . A alone rule found in the Reggio Emilia attack is the “ one hundred linguistic communications of kids ” which means that the kids use many different resources and stuffs to “ do symbolic representations of thoughts that may originate ” ( Fraser, 2000, Page 8 ) . The rules from the Reggio Emilia Approach besides include uninterrupted drama. As a whole it is an exciting acquisition environment for the kids, pedagogues and parents all co-learning together.
As a 2nd point, allow ‘s discourse which theories influence the Reggio Emilia course of study. For case in a Montessori school the doctrine will be of Maria Montessori and the twenty-four hours will be planned out utilizing didactic stuffs and consecutive stairss based on her research on kid surveies. The Reggio Emilia Approach is non merely based on one doctrine like the Montessori but it is really based on a figure of different philosophers. including Jean Piaget ‘s theory for the sequences of cognitive development, Lev Vygotsky theory for the societal facets of acquisition and the importance of drama, Jean Dewey ‘s theory for the function of drama, human nature and “ sing the kid in the context of the household and society ” ( Fraser,2000, Page14 ) , Hugh Gardiner ‘s theory of multiple intelligences, Urie Bronfenbrenner ‘s theory on the environment, Barbara Biber ‘s theory included coaction and positive ego image, and there may be more. As a consequence of holding so many doctrines combined in the Reggio Emilia Approach, it is known to be a theoretical account, concentrating on the whole kid, development, environment, drama, household engagement, self image controlled by pedagogues truly understanding how to steer kids to show their feelings, and how kids use their multiple intelligence and symbolic linguistic communication.
The 3rd subject this paper is turn toing, what are the course of study elements and cardinal scheduling used in Reggio Emilia Schools? Curriculum is what the kids learn from and the experiences they have when being cared for in a kid attention Centre. Key scheduling is the ends and agendas that a school may hold.
Traditionally a batch of early child care Centres would be after what toys and activities the kids would play with and so assist and learn the kids how to utilize them or how to make an activity and so a study may be written to demo parents how the kid is acquiring along harmonizing to the kid ‘s development phase.
In the Reggio Emilia Approach the course of study is really different to traditional instructor taught course of studies. It is planned by what the kids are interested in while playing and prosecuting in activities of their pick.
Appraisal is used to be after what to make in the schoolroom based on a kid ‘s involvements. Its function in the undertaking procedure is to larn the kids ‘s behavior, to detect kids ‘s involvements, to revisit undertakings with the kids, to derive cognition on the kids ‘s capablenesss and as a tool to analyze kids. The Reggio Approach suggests that by measuring undertakings over and over once more, kids understand their ain inquiries. It besides stresses that parents, kids and pedagogues are co-learners.
Additionally the principle for pedagogues is to measure alongside the kids. Educators facilitate instead than directing the kids. Educators assess by detecting and stepping in or stepping back whenever they need to. They besides ask of import inquiries that challenge the kids to calculate things out by their ain wonder.
Documentation is besides used to be after the Reggio Approach. Here there are many different methods of certification from simple note signifier to “ the more sophisticated electronic equipment, such as digital cameras, webs, audio recording equipments, and picture recording equipments ” ( Fraser, 2000, Page 83 ) depending on what sort of observations are being made. The different experimental techniques are running records which are the method used more frequently, clip sampling, art shows, event sampling, anecdotal records, tape recording, sequences of exposure, shows of undertakings, and picture tapes. In the Reggio Approach certification is used every bit shortly as something happens, The journal of Laura a diary taken from a Reggio Centre in Italy provinces that instructors work closely with the kids taking notes, entering observations they think have intending toward the acquisition of that kid.
Documentation is done when needed there ‘s non merely specific timings, notes can be taken at any clip, Documentation is done to further appraisal and planning towards undertakings that kids want to get down or are already working towards.
The Reggio Emilia Approach does non hold an organized planned course of study it is really really self-generated and is built harmonizing to single or group involvements of the kids. To stress that the course of study is self-generated and is planned on the involvement of the kids pedagogues use different methods of observations at any clip. There are many ways to detect in the Reggio Approach. Note pickings is one manner to detect, they besides use journals to compose contemplations on observations, picture taking, picture, sound, written, watching drama and careful hearing to conversations. Parental observations are taken at place and noted. The principle for the parent appraisals are that they know their kids best and kids are carefully observed on how the environment is used. The Reggio Emilia Approach suggests that kids speak one hundred symbolic linguistic communications and they use observations to find and understand what these linguistic communications are. To clear up, observations are used for appraisal, certification, planning and implementing the course of study. With this in head the pedagogue ‘s function is to steer the natural wonder and acquisition of the kids, and the environment is known as the 3rd instructor. “ The kids are small research workers. They can and desire to pass on with the environing universe ” ( Reggio Emilia Philosophy, www.education.com ) .
There are many factors that have to be taken into history when it comes to the function of observations and implementing. “ The determination to transport out observations is normally the consequence of a inquiry that has arisen about a kid or a group of kids and their behavior or activities in the Centre ” . ( Fraser, 2000, Page 81 ) Similarly, other factors have of import functions in implementing the acquisition procedure, for illustration clip is of import. Children need tonss of clip to work on on-going undertakings. In the Reggio Emilia Approach there are no clip limits on undertakings. Children work on undertakings every bit long as they are still interested. Space and layout is carefully set up for dramatic drama, H2O drama, block drama, physical and use, art and creativeness, out-of-door drama, and quiet clip country. This encourages societal accomplishments, job work outing accomplishments, doing personal picks and squad work methods. “ Teachers carefully form infinites for little and big group undertakings and little confidant infinites for one, two and three kids ” . ( About Reggio Emilia doctrine, www.education.com ) The environment is made to look beautiful and inviting.
Another factor in implementing the course of study procedure is that the resources that are provided by the pedagogue, another of import function of the pedagogue. Materials are carefully chosen they can be natural stuffs, playthings, games, H2O drama, originative stuffs, unfastened ended stuffs, blocks, mystifiers, books, sand playthings, or even dress up apparels for dramatic drama. Children use the stuffs so they can play and foster their acquisition. To pull strings and get down the procedure of undertakings the pedagogues use positive linguistic communication and encouragement to assist kids larn how to show their emotions.
Educators plan team meetings to discourse the observations and planning. Parents are ever welcome to fall in or assist do determinations. Meetings are used to be after what stuffs need to be taken out, how the environment should be set up, what is needed for undertakings that are emerging and besides what things need to be changed.
The Reggio Emilia Approach is really similar to the emergent course of study. A batch of the factors used in Reggio are used in the emergent course of study, but the emergent course of study emphasizes development and involvement and Reggio emphasizes on involvement.
The concluding point to discourse in this paper is about how the Reggio Emilia Approach uses all six rules of the ELECT papers.
In the Reggio Emilia Approach there is a nexus to the first rule of the ELECT papers which is “ Early kid development sets the foundation for womb-to-tomb acquisition, behaviour and wellness ” An illustration of this is that journals are shown to parents, each undertaking is based on being kid centered and play based which means that it has to be developmentally appropriate, each appraisal is done to calculate out the involvements of the kid and each kid is observed to their ain developmental phase and long term undertakings are used so pedagogues can see how kids are turning and are developing their acquisition. Besides there are assorted doctrines used in the Reggio Approach one in peculiar linked to the different phases and sequences of development are the doctrine of Piaget.
The 2nd rule of the ELECT papers is “ Partnerships with households and communities strengthen the ability of early childhood scenes to run into the demands of kids ” . The nexus to the Reggio Emilia Approach to the 2nd rule are that parents work as carbon monoxide scholars with pedagogues and kids in the Reggio Emilia attack and exposure are displayed around the Centre for the kids to hold a reminder of place.
The 3rd rule of the ELECT papers is “ Respect for diverseness, equity and inclusion are requirements for honouring kids ‘s rights, optimum development and acquisition: . The following nexus to The Reggio Emilia Approach is parents are of import, one influence is the doctrine of Bronfenbrenner, “ everyone involved -children, parents and teacher pay an built-in portion in what is known as the circle of we ” ( Fraser, page.102 ) Reggio Centre ‘s regard and support households, civilizations and all diverse state of affairss, in add-on to this, the Approach besides brings households together, larning about the different households, civilizations, nutrient and dressing up.
The 4th rule of the ELECT papers is “ A planned course of study supports early acquisition ” . This rule is met by the undertakings that take topographic point in the Reggio schools, undertakings are worked on in deepness and item, the kid centered attack and kids ‘s involvement program the course of study. “ The Reggio Emilia Approach can be defined hence as “ contextual ” , that is, it is determined by the duologue among kids, instructors and the environment environing them ” ( The Reggio Emilia Approach – Truly listening to immature kids, www.oecd.org ) .
The 5th rule is “ Play is a agency to early acquisition that capitalizes on kids ‘s natural wonder and exuberance ” , this rule is linked to the Reggio Emilia Approach The Reggio Approach is play based and has the same doctrine to the ELECT and the Emergent which is that kids learn and grow through different types of drama.
“ The word “ drama ” is non a often used word in The Reggio Approach, although as seen above, self-generated drama and drama valued as “ meaningful acquisition ” figure among the ends for larning and development. ( The Reggio Emilia Approach – Truly listening to immature kids, www.oecd.org ) , in add-on to this the Reggio Emilia Approach besides states that drama is used to picture 100 different linguistic communications through symbolic linguistic communications.
The last rule, rule six is “ Knowing, antiphonal early childhood professionals are indispensable ” . This rule is besides linked to Reggio Emilia ‘s Approach, as Reggio Centers have instructors with extended staff development ; instructors make ends for them self and instructors besides learn alongside the kids heightening their apprehension of kids. Another illustration of this rule is that the pedagogues of Reggio schools sometimes are non qualified but learn from the other instructors and through each day-to-day experience with the kids.
In decision to this paper it shows that it can take a figure of doctrine ‘s to make a high quality theoretical account, and that non merely one doctrine is better than another, but each doctrine really compliments one another, likewise it proves that kids do n’t needfully necessitate to be taught by a instructor but can larn by holding the chance to build their ain acquisition through a kid centered attack. In add-on this paper besides shows that the function of drama, civilization, parents, pedagogues, the environment, observations, appraisal, certification, and planning are all really of import to implement a kid ‘s acquisition to do up a theoretical account like the Reggio Emilia Approach. Finally this paper proves that the Reggio Emilia Approach follows an emergent course of study that can associate to all six rules of the model provided by the ELECT papers.