It has been challenging contacting and communicating with early childhood professionals from around the world. I have been lucky enough to connect with an early childhood educator in Italy and one from Ghana. This week, I heard from Barbara in Mestre, Italy where she works in a private preschool.
Barbara shared that since she works in a private Kindergarten only families who are working or who can afford the tuition attend their program. She said that the number of jobless in Italy is growing, but that so far it has not affected the families who attend her program.
 |
| Outdoor Play in Mestre, Italy. |
However, preschool/Kindergarten is optional and provided free in Italy for all children ages three to five that do not choose to attend a private program. As for excellence in early childhood education, Italy established the "Reggio Emilia Approach," in which documentation on children focuses more intensively on children's experience, memories, thoughts, and ideas in the course of their work. In addition children's work is displayed, often in stages of progression.
(Barbara. Personal Communication, March 31, 2015)
Hello Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI read an article about "Reggio Emilia Approach" very interesting. Have you ever heard of a program called "High Scope"? It has a similar approach where the environment is student-centered and the focus is all about their experiences.
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI work in a Reggio Emilia inspired program.I must say it may sound easy, but it can be very complicated, especially if you have documented children in a different way (I am still learning this method). But, I feel you did a wonderful job explaining how educators document in Reggio. Do you know if all of the schools in Italy are Reggio? or just private schools? Also, did Ms. Barbara mention if there were many differences in the public and private early childhood programs?
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of the program " Reggio Emilia Approach" but it sounds very effective in getting the children and families focused in the classroom. By displaying the children's work you are reinsuring them that their work its going unnoticed. Also, focusing on a child's experiences, memories, thoughts and ideas can help educators become aware of the areas that need improvement and ways that educators can effectively communicate to the children. All children are different and learn in different way.
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of the program, but it looks to be a good program for children to learn and maintain the information that is taught in class. I have learned a lot about different programs that is implemented into the classrooms to help the children learn. And, how the teachers are changing the way they are teaching to meet each child's need.
Kristal