5 Core Principles of Reggio Emilia Inspired Teaching
1) All children are competent, curious, and creative
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At the very core of the Reggio Approach is the concept of wonder.
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Children are natural scientists; driven by curiosity, with tremendous observational skills and an ability to form strong theories about the world around them.
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A child’s creative expression (especially in preliterate stages) is their way of communicating what they understand about the world around them.
2) Essential learning takes place within a system of relationships
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When children share their wonder with other children, their parents, or teachers, they engage in a richer and deeper learning process.
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Skills: social-emotional, collaboration, language, trust, and connection with others
3) Children’s questions and interests are a foundation for learning experiences
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Collaborative wonder and the sharing of ideas plants the seeds for the class curriculum.
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Co-constructed curriculum – Ideas are generated by the children and then given structure and purpose by the teacher.
4) Children express themselves through many languages
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All forms of expression are valued: visual, verbal, written, movement and music.
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Children develop expressive competence and self-confidence.
5) Documentation allows children and adults to remember and reflect on learning experiences
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Throughout the learning process, teachers document the children’s experience through photographs, note-taking, child language, and through artifacts the children make themselves. It is compiled and shared with the focus on process, rather than product.
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Documentation gives children, their parents, and teachers a shared language and understanding for the children’s learning process.
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Illustrates to children that their work and ideas have great value.