Additional settings for Safari Browser.
Reggio Inspired Model
What Does It Mean to be Reggio-Inspired at GRCDC?
The Reggio Emilia approach (or philosophy) is an early childhood approach to education that comes out of the Reggio Emilia municipality in northern Italy. This approach began after the Second World War and grew in its application in the 1960s-1980s. Loris Malaguzzi is considered the preeminent thinker and writer in the historical context of this approach. This approach is rooted in principles and ways of thinking that are meant to be contextual- applied to the time and place of the children in the community. This approach is continuously adapted, experimented with, and improved upon throughout the world, including here!
GRCDC bases our Reggio-inspired approach on 5 main principles:
The Image of the Child
The child is strong, powerful, and full of potential. Children have a right to be heard and represented in their education and to have experiences at school that speak to them.
The Environment is the Third Teacher
We learn from the environment and our learning impacts the environment. The classroom tells the story of the learning and the needs of children and resources are created by children. Children interact with the environment in order to learn.
Documentation Process
Children’s learning is documented and shared in many different ways and phases. This documentation helps teachers and children ask and explore questions around the learning- resulting in a year-long project to be shared with the community.
The 100 Languages of Children
There are 100 (and many more!) ways for children to learn, share their learning, and express themselves- talking, writing, singing, using many different materials, exploring the natural world, etc. Space should be made in the school for all of these.
The Three Subjects: Teachers, Families and Children
The relationship that is most important at school is the relationship between the teacher (and other school adults), the family, and the child- the content is at the center of that. Children, parents and teachers have the right to safety, care and welfare, the right to be involved and the right to grow.