We believe that the Salwan Reggio Emilia collaboration is the beginning of a new era. It has made learning visible for all of us. Now, we no longer understand just one language (verbal one) but see the world in a hue of colours, spaces, images, feelings, emotions and physical languages. The interesting aspect is that the entire process is research based, well documented, based on listening, observing and above all freedom to express. Through Reggio we have experienced the positive and optimistic approach towards the young ones.
WHAT IS REGGIO EMILIA APPROACH ?
The Reggio Emilia Approach is an educational philosophy focused on preschool and primary education. It
was started by Loris Malaguzzi and the parents of the villages around Reggio
Emilia in Italy after World War II. The
destruction from the war, parents believed, necessitated a new, quick approach
to teaching their children. They felt that it is in the early years of
development that children are forming who they are as an individual. This led to
creation of a program based on the principles of respect, responsibility, and
community through exploration and discovery in a supportive and enriching
environment based on the interests of the children through a self-guided curriculum.
PHILOSOPHY
The city of Reggio Emilia in Italy is
recognized worldwide for its innovative approach to education. Its signature
educational philosophy has become known
as the Reggio Emilia Approach which many preschool programs around the world have adopted. The Reggio Emilia philosophy is based upon
the following set of principles:
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Children must have some
control over the direction of their learning;
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Children must be able to learn through experiences of touching, moving,
listening, seeing, and hearing;
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Children have a relationship with other children and with material items in the world that children must be
allowed to explore and
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Children must have endless ways and opportunities to express themselves.
The Reggio Emilia approach to teaching young children puts the natural development
of children as well as the close relationships that they share with their
environment at the center of its philosophy. Early childhood programs
that have successfully adapted to this educational
philosophy share that they are attracted to Reggio because of the way it
views and respects the child.