{"id":1915,"date":"2021-11-17T13:29:56","date_gmt":"2021-11-17T13:29:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teachlands.com\/?p=1915"},"modified":"2022-09-24T22:23:17","modified_gmt":"2022-09-24T22:23:17","slug":"the-reggio-emilia-approach-my-4-initial-impressions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teachlands.com\/the-reggio-emilia-approach-my-4-initial-impressions\/","title":{"rendered":"The Reggio Emilia Approach: My 4 Initial Impressions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Since we moved<\/a> to Reggio Emilia, I\u2019ve dreamed of exploring the city\u2019s renowned preschools. You can find the Reggio approach throughout the world, but it originated in the city of Reggio Emilia. (The first Reggio preschool opened in 1971.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the pandemic started, visits to the city\u2019s preschools came to a grinding halt. Reggio preschools have remained closed to visitors this fall, but I\u2019m hearing that they may reopen in the spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside of Reggio preschools, the best place in the world to learn about the Reggio Way is the Loris Malaguzzi International Center in Reggio Emilia. Loris Malaguzzi<\/a> (1920-1994) an Italian pedagogist, is widely recognized as the forefather of the Reggio approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week, I visited the Malaguzzi Center with a group of educators from around Europe. I heard a presentation from Lorella Trancossi, a pedagogist. I, also, participated in a guided tour. According to our tour guide, we were among the first to visit since the pandemic began. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this blog, I’ll share four of my initial impressions of the Reggio Way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Inquiry is at the heart of the Reggio approach.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Loris Malaguzzi believed that the primary work of children and teachers is research. Lorella Trancossi shared this Malaguzzi quote with me:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe art of research already exists in the hands of children acutely sensitive to the pleasure of surprise. The pleasure of learning, of knowing, of understanding is one of the first, fundamental sensations each human being expects from experiences faced alone or with others.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Reggio is widely known as \u201cthe pedagogy of listening.\u201d As children study the world through inquiry-based research, teachers study the children and their process of learning. Reggio teachers focus their attention on making observations and asking questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. \u201c100 Languages\u201d is Reggio\u2019s guiding metaphor.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Malaguzzi\u2019s poem, \u201c100 Languages<\/a>,\u201d encapsulates the Reggio approach. Here\u2019s how it begins:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo way. The hundred is there.<\/p>

The child<\/p>

is made of one hundred.<\/p>

The child has<\/p>

a hundred languages<\/p>

a hundred hands<\/p>

a hundred thoughts<\/p>

a hundred ways of thinking<\/p>

of playing, of speaking\u2026\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The poem eloquently reminds us that children have numerous ways of expressing themselves. This poem, also, articulates a provocative, subversive message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Malaguzzi, \u201cthe school and the culture\u201d have drastically restricted the creativity of children. Metaphorically speaking, they\u2019ve stolen 99 of their languages, leaving kids with just one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reggio classrooms seek to be places where children can freely express themselves, wielding their \u201c100 languages.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Reggio is a flexible approach, not a rigid methodology.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Malaguzzi insisted that the Reggio Way is an approach, not a set of methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve learned that the Reggio classroom is a dynamic learning environment where children determine their learning outcomes through inquiry-based research. It beckons children to wonder and learn through exploration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reggio educators consider the classroom to be \u201cthe third teacher<\/a>.\u201d (Parents and teachers are the first two.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reggio teachers strive to make the learning environment welcoming and beautiful. They offer a variety of natural materials for children to create with. Teachers may leave examples of creations on the tables, but these are simply recognized as \u201cpossibilities\u201d for the children to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Reggio children serve the community.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before visiting the Malaguzzi center, I strolled through downtown Reggio Emilia with my family and we noticed colorful banners, featuring drawings and precepts from Reggio preschoolers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had stumbled upon another key aspect of the Reggio approach: children engage in service learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several years ago, Reggio officials started asking themselves, \u201cWhat can the children do for our city?\u201d Since asking this question, the city has intentionally involved Reggio preschools in different service projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I heard the following example from Lorella Trancossi at the Malaguzzi Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few years ago, several groups of Reggio children (1.5-5 years old) and their teachers left the confines of their classrooms and ventured into the city for fieldwork. They visited public and private spaces, including libraries, museums, and shops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One group of 5-year-olds visited a shoe shop. They interviewed the owner and recorded observations. When they returned to their classroom, they shared findings and began to draw conclusions about what they had seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The children identified a problem. They believed that there were very few people visiting the shoe shop. Many people had walked past the store, observed the children, but few had stepped inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The teachers asked the children what they might be able to give as a gift to the shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 5-year-olds suggested that the shoe store needed something inviting that would attract more customers. So, over the school year, the children worked with their teachers to create an attractive platform leading to the shop\u2019s entrance. The 5-year-olds, also, noticed that the store lacked a sign to advertise shoes. They designed a banner, which featured different types of footwear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I visited the Malaguzzi Center, I noticed another sign of service-learning: a stunning theater curtain<\/a>, designed by Reggio 5-year-olds. A company produced the actual curtain for the theater, but the final draft and the original idea for the curtain were derived from the children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beginning the Journey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In summary, these are my initial impressions of the Reggio Way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Inquiry is at the heart of the Reggio approach.<\/li>
  2. \u201c100 Languages\u201d is Reggio\u2019s guiding metaphor.<\/li>
  3. Reggio is a flexible approach, not a rigid methodology.<\/li>
  4. Reggio children serve the community.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    This is just the beginning of my journey to grasp the Reggio approach. If you\u2019re intrigued by the Reggio Way, consider subscribing<\/a> to this blog. I’m hoping to explore the city’s preschools as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Do you have any questions about or insights into the Reggio approach? I welcome you to share your thoughts in the comments section below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    ***<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Tim Walker is an American teacher, writer, and speaker living in Connecticut. He is the author of Teach Like Finland: 33 Simple Strategies for Joyful Classrooms and he created two online courses: The Finnish Education Insider<\/a> and The Joyful Reader<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Su<\/em><\/a>bscribe<\/a> to the Teachlands blog and follow Teachlands on Instagram<\/a> and Facebook<\/a>. And register for Tim’s free webinar about Finnish education here<\/a>!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Since we moved to Reggio Emilia, I\u2019ve dreamed of exploring the city\u2019s renowned preschools. You can find the Reggio approach throughout the world, but it originated in the city of Reggio Emilia. (The first Reggio preschool opened in 1971.) When the pandemic started, visits to the city\u2019s preschools came to a grinding halt. Reggio preschools…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1918,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Reggio Emilia Approach: My 4 Initial Impressions - Teachlands.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We moved to Reggio Emilia to learn more about the Reggio Approach. 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