Reggio Emilia
General Philosophy
Children's individual interests drive the curriculum. They work in groups to hypothesize and solve problems. Creativity is encouraged, aesthetics are important, and classrooms are uncluttered.
How It Plays Out in the Classroom
Teachers document children's progress with frequent note taking and photo snapping. They decide what to teach based on what the kids express interest in: a unit on trains, for instance.
The Fine Print
There are truly no wrong answers in a Reggio Emilia classroom: If a child believes in the tooth fairy or announces that rain comes from a pitcher in the sky, the teacher will not correct her.
Sticks and Stones (and Criticism)
A typical complaint: The time teachers spend documenting the child, à la Dian Fossey, comes at the expense of direct interaction. (And don't we have enough photos of our kids anyway?)
Next Page: Waldorf
