Reggio Emilia Approach: What is it?

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Reggio Emilia’s approach is an alternative form of education that focuses on teaching children through a strong sense of community. It usually applies to young kindergarten and primary school students. This philosophy proposes interactive teaching methods, which often involve parents, educators and the environment in various ways.

This approach originated in the Italian city of Reggio Emilia after World War II. At the time, some schools in the city rejected the traditional approach of teaching children through strict discipline and guidelines and embraced a more flexible method. Gradually, this new way has gained worldwide popularity because it encourages child development through exploring interests and building relationships with others.

One of the key elements of the Reggio approach is the school environment. Small, colorless classrooms are believed to be unproductive and limiting to a child’s imagination. This philosophy suggests that classes are held in much larger rooms with lots of light, space, and live plants. The idea behind the principle is to stimulate a student’s sense of exploration from an early stage. Some schools that follow the Reggio Emilia approach try to limit the barriers between classes to encourage interaction between students.

Parents and friends are very important to this alternative form of education. Children’s development is often seen as the responsibility of the whole community. Parents are strongly encouraged to assist their children, not only with homework but also by participating in the child’s school activities. Reggio Emilia’s approach places a high value on parental input and most school councils hold open meetings on issues such as school curriculum and policies.

One of the main innovations brought about by this type of philosophy is the role of educators. Educational materials are typically designed to enhance the education of teachers, to enable them to learn alongside their students. Many of these teaching methods include learning from physical experience, such as touching, hearing or seeing. Exams, like performance tests, are often limited and more emphasis is placed on helping children understand practical ways they can use what they are learning.

Another important aspect of the Reggio Emilia approach is that it gives children some control over how they learn things. Parents and teachers are often instructed to find ways to incorporate individual student interests into a child’s learning process. Children are also motivated to express themselves through various mediums, such as writing, drawing and acting. These works are often shared, and even reviewed, by their peers to encourage collective participation.

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