Ideas of Reggio Emilia: Studying By Collaboration
By Stephanie Rino, Director of Curriculum and Studying
Hey, I’m Stephanie Rino, Director of Curriculum and Studying at Little Sunshine’s Playhouse. As a longtime Reggio Emilia–impressed educator, I’ve spent a lot of my profession observing how youngsters make which means collectively, via shared questions, collective problem-solving, and moments of real connection. Collaboration has at all times been one of the crucial highly effective forces in early childhood studying, and it’s a precept that continues to encourage me day by day.
One of the significant beliefs inside the Reggio Emilia methodology is that studying is inherently social. Youngsters don’t assemble information in isolation; they construct understanding via relationships: with friends, educators, households, and the world round them. Studying comes alive when concepts are shared, explored collectively, and formed via collaboration.
Throughout the Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum, collaboration shouldn’t be an occasional group activity or a scheduled exercise. It’s a approach of studying that honors youngsters as thinkers who develop via interplay, dialogue, and shared discovery.
A Notice Concerning the “Reggio Emilia Curriculum”
We as academics at Little Sunshine’s Playhouse are Reggio Emilia-inspired, and it’s via our beliefs that we co-construct this studying in an emergent vogue, choose open-ended supplies, and nurture the Third Instructor: the atmosphere. In follow, there isn’t a such factor as a Reggio curriculum, Reggio materials, Reggio furnishings, or Reggio unfastened components. In contrast to Montessori, the place it’s the ‘Montessori Methodology’ with very clearly outlined studying and supplies, Reggio Emilia-inspiration lives inside us. After we use the phrase “Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum”, we imply solely to establish our emergent and project-based educating practices.
Collaboration Is How Concepts Develop
Within the Reggio Emilia methodology, collaboration permits youngsters’s considering to evolve. An concept supplied by one little one turns into a place to begin fairly than a conclusion. By shared exploration, youngsters pay attention to 1 one other, query assumptions, and refine their understanding collectively.
This course of helps youngsters see that studying shouldn’t be about discovering the “proper” reply, however about exploring prospects. When youngsters collaborate, they start to grasp that concepts are versatile, expandable, and strengthened via collective thought. Studying turns into deeper as a result of it’s constructed collectively.
What Collaboration Seems to be Like within the Classroom
Collaboration inside the Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum is seen in on a regular basis classroom moments, particularly in shared initiatives that invite youngsters to work aspect by aspect over time.
One in every of our favourite collaborative experiences is the creation of shared classroom murals. Utilizing a big poster board, youngsters collect round a single shared house the place everybody contributes. There are not any assigned sections or particular person possession of the work. As an alternative, youngsters negotiate house, reply to 1 one other’s concepts, and construct upon what already exists.
Because the mural grows, so does the collaboration. Youngsters make room for one another, borrow concepts, adapt their plans, and study that their work exists as half of a bigger complete. The main focus shouldn’t be on the ultimate product, however on the relationships and considering that unfold all through the method. Learn right here for directions on how you are able to do this at house!
Studying With Others Builds Empathy and Perspective
Collaboration in early childhood is deeply linked to social and emotional progress. When youngsters work collectively, they follow contemplating viewpoints past their very own. They learn to pay attention, find out how to compromise, and find out how to navigate moments of disagreement respectfully.
Throughout the Reggio Emilia methodology, these experiences are important. Youngsters start to grasp that their concepts matter, however so do the concepts of others. Collaboration helps youngsters develop empathy, persistence, and an appreciation for various views, laying the groundwork for significant relationships each inside and out of doors the classroom.
Collaboration Encourages Persistence and Downside-Fixing
The collaborative nature of the Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum additionally helps persistence. When challenges come up, youngsters aren’t dealing with them alone. Working alongside friends encourages youngsters to remain engaged, strive new approaches, and revisit concepts fairly than giving up.
By shared problem-solving, youngsters study that there are a number of methods to discover a query or overcome an impediment. They expertise the worth of teamwork and uncover that studying usually occurs via trial, reflection, and collective effort.
A Classroom Tradition Rooted in Belonging
Collaboration helps form a classroom tradition the place youngsters really feel a robust sense of belonging, and making certain that each little one belongs is our final mission at Little Sunshine’s Playhouse. When youngsters commonly contribute to shared initiatives and group experiences, they see themselves as valued members of a studying neighborhood.
Throughout the Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum, collaboration communicates an necessary message: each little one has one thing significant to supply. Studying turns into a shared accountability, and youngsters develop confidence understanding their concepts contribute to the collective expertise.
Maintain studying concerning the seven ideas of Reggio Emilia! We’ll be posting the next 5 shortly!
- (1) Youngsters Are Energetic Contributors in Their Studying
- (2) Studying Thrives By Collaboration
- (3) Youngsters are Pure Communicators
- (4) The Classroom is the Third Instructor
- (5) Lecturers are Companions and Guides
- (6) Documentation is Communication
- (7) Mother and father are Companions in Studying
