Our Reggio Emilia Aproach

For several years now the Little Gate faculty has become more and more immersed in the Reggio Emilia approach. When first hearing of this progressive approach to early childhood education we read the book, Bringing Reggio Emilia Home by Louise Boyd Cadwell. This book presented the common principles of the Reggio Emilia approach and served as a guide and inspiration to our faculty on how to incorporate aspects of this philosophy here at Little Gate.

In Reggio Emilia, Italy, woman's organizations and women activists fought hard to create schools for the young children in their community following World War II. These women wanted different schools for their young children, ones that were progressive, innovative and focused on their families and communities. The preschools of Reggio Emilia are now world renowned. In response to the growing interest of the Reggio approach, the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance (NAREA) has formed a network of educators and created professional development initiatives.

For the past few summers McGehee School has sent several of our faculty members to NAREA conferences, school visits and workshops to further our education and commitment to this exciting early childhood approach.

At Little Gate, our Reggio focus is as follows:

• The idea that the young child is capable and intelligent. The child is born a learner and that we can learn from their experimentation and participation in their environment.
• The idea that the environment itself is a teacher.
• The interest and use of natural and recycled materials. Also the use of open ended materials that encourage children to create and define their purpose.
• The importance of reaching out to the community and bringing the community into the school for learning experiences.
• The idea of the teacher as facilitator, observer, recorder and enhancer.
• The interest and focus on nature in the child's surroundings.

At Little Gate, we look forward to continuing our Reggio Emilia philosophy and we are committed to future research and discussion in order to further our knowledge in this Reggio journey.