The Reggio Emilia approach to
preschool education first began in the northern parts of Italy after the end of
the Second World War. It was the creation of a teacher named Loris Malaguzzi who lived in the area of Reggio
Emilia in Italy. With the passage of time, this alternative approach became
highly popular and eventually towards the last quarter of the century, it
attracted worldwide attention.
So what are the benefits of the
Reggio Emilia approach that it is implemented by the preschools at Williamsburg
Northside and other areas around the world?
This blog deals with all that and
much more. Read on to find out -
One of the key principles of the
Reggio Emilia approach is that it encourages children to take part in
activities, explore and question what they see happening around them. These are
what every preschool in Williamsburg Northside actively promotes.
Some of the other practices
involved in Reggio Emilia approach are as follows –
Expressive Arts
The Reggio Emilia approach is
based on the premise that children use a number of ways to express their
creativity, thoughts, and understanding. These various methods of exploring,
learning and thinking are expressed through dance, drama, drawing, painting,
pretend-play and sculpturing.
Long-Term Projects
The learning projects in the
Reggio Emilia approach provide ample scope for research opportunities for young
learners. These include real-life problem-solving among peers, opportunities to
think creatively and explore. Children are made to take part in small groups
and begin with teachers questioning children about their topic of interest.
After this, materials and
opportunities in their area of interest are
introduced by the teachers. The curriculum is designed in a manner to strike a
balance between the instructions of the teacher and the activities which are of
interest to the children.
Tracking Individual Journeys
Another key element in the Reggio
Emilio approach happens to be documentation. It serves a plethora of purposes
but is primarily used for analyzing the learning patterns in children. The
focus area of documentation happens to be the experiences the children are
involved in and the skills which they acquire. It also helps teachers in
assessing the understanding of the children and develop the curriculum
accordingly.
