I don't get this Reggio thing...

[Anonymous]

This sounds similar to what is called emergent curriculum at our school, minus the "atelier"although the actual art projects and display sound similar.

Is emergent essentially the same as Reggio, or is there an actual distinction?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I taught at a school on the west coast which practiced a Reggio Emilia philosophy and also visited the city in Italy as a work related study. A school which truly understands this methodologie will have a deep understanding of the innate curiously of children and how to honor that. They also follow the practice of the environment as the third teacher which translates to a true devotion to a thoughtfully and beautifully put together environment that allows children to truly explore with accessible materials that are more open ended. So yes it is about playing but teachers act more like guides observing children playing and building a curriculum around their interests and discoveries rather than some random theme. For me what sets apart a true Reggio program is a beautiful environment and the atelier... you can look that up to learn more.

With all due respect, it still sounds like the kids are playing. Sounds like daycare instead of preschool to me. Needs to be a balance or play based curriculum. Just because you put a nice name to it, doesn’t mean it is a good philosophy.

Perhaps you should do some reading beyond DCUM. In The meantime...
If you read the post above, it’s NOT all play. It’s about infusing the curriculum and following the kids’ lead. For example, if the kids are playing in the dramatic play area in the classroom and become engaged by creating their own pet hospital, the teacher could then take that lead. So when choosing a read aloud, she might select books about animals and taking care of them. They might write a book together about animal care. In math, they might be studying geometry and the concept of longer than, shorter than, etc. The teacher might use the stuffed animals from the “pet hospital” the students created as objects for students to measure with nonstandard units and then compare. The following year, the teacher is still going to teach math and reading and writing. But it may have nothing whatsoever to do with a pet hospital because that’s not what the kids are interested in.
Does that make sense?

What happens to the 3 kids that we’re playing construction site and not pet hospital? Does the teacher guide them in their own interests or is it one topic per class?

Wonderful point! Not all of the children will have the same interests so unless you have six teachers in a 12 child classroom to work on interests, then how does this work effectively? Also, children interests change in a matter of minutes. How does that work? Again, this seems like an excuse to have the teacher do less and the children play more. Why send them to school? Home daycare will be cheaper and give same result. Really? Letting a two year old or three year old direct instruction? Ridiculous.

If you want to send your kid to a preschool where he's going to get bored learning letters by using worksheets instead of making a giraffe artwork while learning about the letter G, by all means...

[Anonymous]

Both of my children went to Reggio preschools. I thought at the time it was a load of crap and I continue to think so. Put whatever label on it you need to but at the end of the day it's still preschool.

I agree that kids learn through play. And all that reggio is saying is teach them by listening to what they're interested in. It's a no brainer that anyone is more interested in learning about something they are interested in. But any good teacher knows this and can do it.

I do not believe that in this area, there are drill and kill preschools teaching numbers and letters via worksheets only. Children learn the ABC song, how to count to 10. Teachers take them outside and tell them to find 10 leaves.

Hiring an alterier is the equivalent of hiring an art teacher. There is no need for fancy labels. Just call her what she is. I disagree that preschool teachers need to go on overseas trips to learn about the reggio philosophy. That's a lot of money for a training seminar.

And when my kid wanted to do worksheets both of them were denied. My kids wanted to learn math and were told no. Perhaps it was our center or our teachers, but it seems to me, that my kid was "interested in playing school" and that experience was denied to them.

[Anonymous]

Wow pp, you sound quite bitter. If you did not like your Reggio school, you should have taken your kids out of it. The training that those of us who have been fortunate enough to go to Italy, has been invaluable in making us better teachers. That can only benefit the children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow pp, you sound quite bitter. If you did not like your Reggio school, you should have taken your kids out of it. The training that those of us who have been fortunate enough to go to Italy, has been invaluable in making us better teachers. That can only benefit the children.

What training did you receive in Italy that made you invaluable to becoming a better teacher? How was that content not able to be delivered stateside?

[Anonymous]

What training did you receive in Italy that made you invaluable to becoming a better teacher? How was that content not able to be delivered stateside?

The real question is why do you care about this? If you don’t like the training/philosophy, put your kid in a different school. Your aggressive behavior is not acceptable.

[Anonymous]

This is so weird. I did not send my kid to a Reggio school, but it sounds fantastic. I think we get odd and hostile questions and responss like this when people are threatened by anything that appears to demean or diminish their chocies,. Or they are stuck on the idea that their way is the only way...

The same mentality the questions vegetarians or people who like to exercise or do or do not allow their kids screen time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What training did you receive in Italy that made you invaluable to becoming a better teacher? How was that content not able to be delivered stateside?

The real question is why do you care about this? If you don’t like the training/philosophy, put your kid in a different school. Your aggressive behavior is not acceptable.

The questions she asked were pertinent. Why do you say she is being aggressive? Your response was the aggressive one. I would like someone to answer why you have to go to Italy to learn the philosophy as well and how that makes you a better teacher. Does a teacher who teaches to Piaget need to go to France? Here’s the rub. Reggio is child guided. I do not trust a two, three or four year old to guide a curriculum especially as a preschool’s purpose is to get children Kindergarten ready. Children do not know what they need to learn to be Kindergarten ready. Teachers do. This can be done with a happy medium of learning through play. But to have children run this process is only allowing for one thing: the child will enjoy playing. Again, why pay for your child to just play? My opinion. No need to tackle me PP with your aggressive response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What training did you receive in Italy that made you invaluable to becoming a better teacher? How was that content not able to be delivered stateside?

The real question is why do you care about this? If you don’t like the training/philosophy, put your kid in a different school. Your aggressive behavior is not acceptable.

I was awaiting the answer to this also. I guess it's a secret.

[Anonymous]

At the Reggio inspired School my DC went to 1st grade was the beginning of school (kindergarten was considered early childhood and lumped in with the preschool). There was very little academics until 1st grade.

Honestly, it worked because these kids were selected for the school. It was a selective school. They took as 3yos. There were smart. And it was an expensive school. Parents were UMC and educated.

It did not work as well for the children who were later diagnosed as having dyslexia. But they would have struggled in any environment, and they eventually hit the help they needed.

It is a great school. It is the school I wanted to go to as a child. The teachers work harder than most. (I’m a teacher at public school and would not even try to get a job there. They are always reflecting, reevaluating, and creating lesson plans, because it is child led but teacher guided. I don’t have to do that and I couldn’t if I wanted to.)

They do strangely go to Reggio Emilia in Italy. I have no idea why. They also go to other places around the country to visit the best schools. It’s a little culty. Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What training did you receive in Italy that made you invaluable to becoming a better teacher? How was that content not able to be delivered stateside?

The real question is why do you care about this? If you don’t like the training/philosophy, put your kid in a different school. Your aggressive behavior is not acceptable.

I was awaiting the answer to this also. I guess it's a secret.

There can't possibly be many schools flying teachers, or even directors to Italy. That just doesn't make sense and I can't believe there aren't comparable but training opportunities nearby.

Our school actually spends a lot of time and money sending teachers to training somewhere on a nearby coast, but there is no way they would send folks to Italy. And I wouldn't want them to; it would only increase costs and time closed for training.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously, if you don't like it OP, choose a different preschool.

+1
I don't get the hostility. My kid attends an emergent-curriculum kindergarten, and we've been nothing but pleased with the quality of the instruction. She's learning all the literacy and math skills she needs and is totally on track for first grade, but the way the curriculum is structured is really thoughtful and engaging. If you think it's overblown hype, just don't send your kid there. I think it's a great way to approach teaching little kids, but I also don't think there's a single best way to teach little kids.

[Anonymous]

There are several reasons for teachers to go to Italy. Observing the approach in its' place of origin helps deepen the understanding of the approach and how it is implemented. Questions can be directly asked of those who use the approach every day. Many people learn best using hands on, first person observation. There are some misconceptions about the approach (outside of Italy) and seeing the approach in action can clear those misconceptions up. Teachers can also observe the environment, getting ideas for room set up and materials and their use.

[Anonymous]

DD went to a Reggio preschool. She is now heading to college. Several posters have described Reggio here quite accurately.

It was a lovely experience for her and truly a gift as others have pointed out. They had 2 teachers/12 kids. She didn't need any academics at that age although she learned a ton through experience, entered school and did fine.

Most all of her class ended up in the GT or AAP programs at the public schools they attended and others entered top privates so clearly it worked for them as did their home environments. This was a preschool run at our church and one of the earlier Reggio schools in this area from what I recall. They followed Reggio closely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What training did you receive in Italy that made you invaluable to becoming a better teacher? How was that content not able to be delivered stateside?

The real question is why do you care about this? If you don’t like the training/philosophy, put your kid in a different school. Your aggressive behavior is not acceptable.

I was awaiting the answer to this also. I guess it's a secret.

There can't possibly be many schools flying teachers, or even directors to Italy. That just doesn't make sense and I can't believe there aren't comparable but training opportunities nearby.

Our school actually spends a lot of time and money sending teachers to training somewhere on a nearby coast, but there is no way they would send folks to Italy. And I wouldn't want them to; it would only increase costs and time closed for training.

A Beverley hills church preschool in Alexandria sends teachers there.
I’ma special educator, not trained in the Reggio method but I’ve seen it done. it is actually quite difficult. One must be creative, guide kids without being explicit and be fully engaged. No tossing worksheets on the table or helping make macaroni”art” that all looks the same. It’s not free play.