Insights and Inspirations from Reggio Emilia: Stories of Teachers and Children from North America

This session was presented by the amazing educators and editors of Insights and Inspirations from Reggio Emilia: Stories of Teachers and Children from North America. I found it challenging to take notes while Lella Gandini spoke. She has a soft, calming voice and such powerful insights to share. She, and the other presenters, were truly inspirational!

The above mentioned book is organized by the following themes:
1. Child image
2. Teacher image
3. Children and being respectful
4. The hundred languages of children
5. Power of communication
6. History, civic awareness, environments, and community

Respect of children, intelligence of teachers.
If we are doing this for the children we should be able to collaborate.

Lynn Hill
Virginia Tech Child Development Laboratory School
-Adult day services is right next door for older adults with varying levels of dementia.
-What would be the experience of an older generation interacting with a younger generation through materials in an atelier?
-Review of literature in the area of intergenerational programming was negative. School motto - “Make the problem the project.”
-Education based on relationships.
-Environment to reflect ownership.
-The documentation process as a "cycle of inquiry."
Framing questions
Observing, recording, and collecting artifacts
-Discovered need to get more personal as children and adults were guarded around each other. It was at that time face paints were presented. Suddenly giggles were heard!
-How do I get the glue off my fingers? Affection showing.
-During a group walk a rabbit nest was discovered. This led to the “Think like a bunny project.”
Children dressed like bunnies.
As they worked together they told stories.
Adults weren’t remembering what happened the prior day. Brought out Reggio-style documentation. Photos, books, etc.
Clifton, older adult, noted about first frost coming, flower salvaging activities then followed.
Adults and children taking ownership of time together.
“The grandmas and grandpas like to be silly just like us kids.”
-The benefits were multiple including adults displaying an increased sense of well being and children genuinely comfortable and affectionate with the adults.

Susan Etheredge
Space and Connection and Transformation
-Vision statement for the Center of Early Childhood Education at Smith College: “It is our vision that each child who comes through our door joins a community of children, families, and teachers engaged in the joy, work, and wonder of childhood.”
-Wanted to support cohesion and collaboration.
-A new physical space was created that was inspired by Reggio.
-Nine principals for guidance
1) Softness (texture, color, light, harmony)
2) Relational space (communication & connections, glass windows & doors, when you enter building you see through to the outside, invite engagement for all -- children and adults)
3) Continuity with surroundings and environments (exploring campus gardens and cultivating enriching relationships)
4) Flexibility and adaptations (common area with piazza for inspiration, heart, center for all ages)
5) Community building and participation (supports dialogue among children, teachers, and parents)
6) Multiple sensorial experiences
7) The school as a laboratory (learning spaces that inspire and invite)
8) Narration (communicating multiple ways)
9) Rich normality (sense of well-being and harmony)

Pauline Baker
The Ochoa Early Childhood Studio
-Pauline suggests reading article by Margie Cooper in Innovations magazine http://www.reggioalliance.org/membership/innovations.php
-Materials can bring people together.
-The Color of our Dreams Project
Part of hopes and dreams project.
Entire community worked on weaving project.
Symbol of connections. Tabs include handwritten notes with hopes and dreams.
Approved to stay open and is now a Reggio-inspired school.
A fifth grader wrote, “It was like a place where only people who believed in things could see how beautiful things are.”

Interconnect is the watchword that we need to understand deeply and in all its forms.

Lynn Hill, Rainbow Riders Childcare Center
Lella Gandini, Lesley University
Susan Etheredge, Smith College
Pauline Baker, Tucson Unified School District