What is the Reggio Emilia approach to early education?

The Reggio Emilia approach is an early education or preschool philosophy that uses four key principles to focus on a child’s natural development.

What does the workshop mean in Reggio Emilia?

This is a French word meaning workshop. In Reggio programs, this space is actually a display area where the works of art of the children are displayed and informal meetings of staff, students and parents.

How old do children have to be to go to Reggio Emilia?

Working in groups requires children to learn and show respect, responsibility and community. Children in a Reggio Emilia school will attend each “grade” for three years, similar to a Montessori classroom. The first group includes three months to three year olds. The second group includes three year olds to six year olds.

Who are the staff of Reggio Emilia schools?

The schools are run by a council with representation from all of these groups. The staff is made up of two teachers for each classroom, an artelierista (an art teacher) for the entire school, a nutritionist, a cook, and an administrator.

What are the different forms of Reggio Emilia?

The Reggio Emilia approach invites children to present their ideas and learning in many forms: print, art, drama, dance, music, puppetry, and so on. The belief that learning and growth can take many forms is also an issue of equity for Meyers.

Who are the important people in Reggio Emilia?

A central figure in the history is Loris Malaguzzi, who together with the Municipality and several local administrators and citizens, especially women, contributed to the birth and development of Reggio Emilia’s network of municipal Infant-toddler Centres and Preschools.

What did Reggio Emilia mean by the hundred languages?

Meyers says a shorthand reference for the Reggio Emilia philosophy is “the hundred languages,” a belief that children use art, language, physicality, experimentation, relationships and so many other avenues as forms of communication and expression.

Where can I get a Reggio Emilia model?

“A Reggio-inspired model treasures the many ways children explore their worlds and express themselves,” says Chelsea Meyers, ECE educator at Hilltop Children’s Center.

Why did Loris Malaguzzi start the Reggio Emilia school?

Founder Loris Malaguzzi believed children were in need of a more holistic kind of education after World War II. He began the Reggio Emilia style based on the belief that every child is unique and will express their interests in many different ways.

Is it possible to replicate the Reggio Emilia philosophy?

Due to the unique nature of the Reggio Emilia community in Italy, and how tightly woven the approach is in the fabric of the local government, community, and people, it is difficult to exactly replicate this approach in the United States.

What is the Reggio Emilia philosophy at the Compass School?

At The Compass School, we practice a Reggio-Inspired approach by adopting the core values of the Reggio Emilia philosophy. These guiding principles allow us to focus on the whole child, empowering their thoughts, questions, interests, and in turn hopefully fostering a lifelong love of learning.

Who are the influential people in Reggio Emilia?

Influential to the experiences in the schools in Reggio Emilia has been the theory and practice of two American educators, David and Frances Hawkins. At the Reggio Emilia-Inspired Pre-Institute in 2010, the Hawkins’ influences were introduced to us through the work of Hawkins Center of Learning