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For more information on professional development initiatives related to the Reggio Emilia philosophy of education, log onto the Conferences & Initiatives page in the Professional Development section of the NAREA website
"The Wonder of
Learning - The Hundred
Languages of Children"
Exhibit
Tulsa, Oklahoma
January 16 -
June 30, 2009
Atelier and Languages
of Materials
Study Group
Reggio Emilia, Italy
April 5 - 9, 2009
North American
Study Group
Reggio Emilia, Italy
May 3 - 8, 2009
The Fifth NAREA
Summer Conference
Dialogues for Quality
in Education:
The School as a
Place of
Relationships and
Connections
Tulsa, Oklahoma
June 27 - 30, 2009 |
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CONFERENCE
Front entrance of
Riverfield Country
Day School - 2009 NAREA Summer
Conference Host
Aerial view of
Riverfield Country Day School campus
including Tulsa skyline
The Fifth NAREA Summer Conference, "Dialogues for Quality in Education: The School as a Place of Relationships and Connections" will be held in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 27-30, 2009, in connection with the presence of "The Wonder of Learning - The Hundred Languages of Children" exhibit. Speakers will include educators from Reggio Emilia, Italy and North America. For ongoing information about the NAREA Summer Conference, log onto the Annual Conference section of the NAREA website.
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Fundamental Workshops
Fundamental Principles of the Reggio Emilia Approach Workshops
The Fundamental Principles of the Reggio Emilia Approach Workshops began in the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2004. The workshops stemmed from a desire to create an opportunity for educators, parents and advocates across the continent to engage in conversations surrounding the philosophical values and underpinnings of the Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education. The initial premise of the workshops was the need for more accessible and affordable professional development initiatives for educators, parents and advocates in order to initiate and maintain local networks and support systems. Over the years, the Fundamental Principles Workshop Series has evolved and expanded.
This springtime workshop series has become an annual NAREA tradition. Many educators offer workshops as a way to begin sharing their work and thinking with colleagues. For many, participation in the Fundamental Workshops initiatives has lead to the creation of additional professional development opportunities for educators in their unique contexts. We encourage you to open your doors and start conversations. If you are interested in hosting a Fundamental Workshop, go to the Fundamental Workshops - Hosting page of the NAREA website.
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Membership
Would you like to be the 2009 winner of a free study tour to Reggio Emilia, Italy?
You must be a NAREA member to be eligible to win.
You may join or renew your membership online on the
Join NAREA page of the NAREA website. All memberships are for the calendar year. Contact
if you have a question about NAREA membership.
Is your contact information in the NAREA database correct?
The NAREA Membership Office would like to ensure that your contact information in the NAREA on-line data base is accurate and up-to date. To view your membership record, log onto the Members Only Area of the NAREA website. In the Membership Directory section, you will find the Update Your Profile page, on which your contact information will automatically appear. Review the information, make edits, if necessary, and click on "submit update." If you have a change in your contact information in the future, you can edit your record in this way.
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Study Groups
During Spring 2009, there will be two study groups at the International Center Loris Malaguzzi in Reggio Emilia, Italy that are open to North American participants.
The Atelier and Languages of Materials Study Group will be held April 5 - 9, 2009. This is a special study group led by Vea Vecchi. See Study Groups - Current section of NAREA website for further information.
A general North American Study Group will take place May 3 - 8, 2009 for those interested in developing a deeper understanding
of the Reggio Emilia philosophy.* See Study Groups - Current section of NAREA website for further information.
A discount of $100 U.S. is available to members of NAREA who are participating in the April or May 2009 Study Groups. For information about membership, please visit the Membership page of the NAREA website. If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Angela Ferrario, 508-473-8001.
*Attention New Jersey Educators
Fifty spaces within the May 2009 North American Reggio Emilia Study Group have been allocated to the group, New Jersey Educators Exploring the Principles of Reggio Emilia (NJEEPRE). For more information about how to register as part of the New Jersey/NJEEPRE delegation, contact: Alba DiBello, Chair NJEEPRE, Inc., 732-842-9434 or Angela Ferrario, U.S. Liaison for Study Groups to Reggio Emilia, 508-473-8001. You can also download the May 2009 NJEEPRE Registration Form from the the Study Groups - Current page of the NAREA website.
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Innovations in Early Education:
The International Reggio Exchange
The winter 2008 issue of Innovations, v. 16, n. 1, will focus on the the Fourth NAREA Summer Conference, "Dialogues for Quality in Education: The School as a Place of Research" and the opening of "The Wonder of Learning - The Hundred Languages of Children" in Boulder, Colorado in June/July 2009. This issue will include: · "The Exhibit Seen as a Tool for Professional Development and Documentation" by Vea Vecchi · "One School's Response to State Standards" by Judy Graves & Susan MacKay · NAREA Column: "Panel Discussion and International Dialogue Featuring the Denver, Colorado Opening of 'The Wonder of Learning - The Hundred Languages of Children' Exhibit" by Angela Ferrario, Ellen Hall & Beth MacDonald · Book Review of We Are All Explorers: Learning and Teaching with Reggio Principles in Urban Settings by John Nimmo The winter 2009 issue of Innovations will be published and mailed to subscribers in March. The PDF file of this issue will also be accessible to NAREA members on the Members Only Area of the NAREA website. |
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New to NAREA Website: Map of Contexts
In September, NAREA unveiled the Map of Contexts feature of the NAREA website www.reggioalliance.org. The idea behind the Map of Contexts is to create a visual representation of schools, centers, universities and programs in North America whose work is inspired by the experiences and philosophies of Reggio Emilia, Italy. Inclusion in the map is a self-nominating process and, therefore, the map will represent a diverse range of work in terms of experience, depth, interpretation and quality. NAREA members can submit their schools, centers, universities or programs on the Map of Contexts Information page in the Members Only Area. NAREA member contexts will appear on the Map of Contexts page in the NAREA section of the public part of the website. | |
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"The Wonder of Learning - The Hundred Languages of Children" Exhibit Opening in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Main entrance to the exhibit in Tulsa
"The Wonder of Learning - The Hundred Languages of Children" exhibit made its Oklahoma debut in Tulsa on January 15, 2009 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and two-day professional development initiative. Hosted by Riverfield Country Day School, the exhibit is located at Northeastern State University-Broken Arrow through the beginning of July 2009.
Lella Gandini officially opens the exhibit as (L to R)
Jennifer Kesselring, Kacey Davenport, Marty Clark and
Jerry Bates hold the banner.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Lella Gandini, Reggio Children United States Liason for the Dissemination of the Reggio Emilia Approach, introduced the exhibit and the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education to 175 community leaders and special guests. Oklahoma's Secretary of State and former Tulsa Mayor, Susan Savage, reiterated the state's commitment to quality early childhood education and delivered a message from Oklahoma's First Lady, Kim Henry, commending the important role this exhibit could play in opening dialogue around early childhood education. Also attending was Ellen Hall, Executive Director of the Boulder Journey School, who spoke of the impact the exhibit had while in Boulder and Denver, Colorado.
(L to R) Ellen Hall, Alison Maher, Jennifer Azzariti,
Jennifer Kesselring, Lella Gandini, Kacey Davenport,
Marty Clark and Andrea Sisbarro
participate in the opening of the exhibit.
The two-day professional development initiative featured keynote speakers Lella Gandini and Jennifer Azzariti, Educational Consultant and former Atelierista. In addition to time at the exhibit, the initiative included formal presentations about the values of the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education, the history and stories of the exhibit, documentation, and the role of materials and the atelier. Participants also had opportunities to engage in encounters with clay and thread as examples of expressive and symbolic media.
On Saturday, Riverfield's Drum Line opened the day when Riverfield staff and families welcomed participants to a study tour of the preschool, supporting the messages of the exhibit and the initiative as a context of ongoing dialogue with Reggio Emilia. The 150+ participants who attended this initiative included professors from five major state universities, two undergraduate classes of students, and one masters level class as well as many administrators, public and private school educators, and museum educators from all over the region. The community took notice of this event with local television news coverage as well as articles in several local newspapers. Media coverage and feature stories are planned in many other publications in the coming months.
In a letter she wrote following her visit to Tulsa, Lella Gandini reflects, "I am still thinking about the beauty of the installation of "The Wonder of Learning - The Hundred Languages of Children" exhibit; how well it can be seen and studied; and how much it will be possible to learn from the many sections and themes in the excellent setting of the Northeastern State University - Broken Arrow. I am so glad to have been invited to be part of this opening. I had the experience of being present for the openings at 28 of the 37 venues where the previous versions of "The Hundred Languages of Children" exhibit were shown. Here I realize how powerful and multifaceted this complex new version is, and I am aware that this unique novel creation by the educators, children, family and community of Reggio Emilia is in good hands." In addition to private study tours, Riverfield has designed a six-month professional development series that will include at least one initiative each month. February's focus will be in conjunction with the Oklahoma University at Tulsa "Seed Sower Series," a community outreach lecture series bringing three speakers and supporting panels on the topics of the Reggio approach and the importance of quality early childhood education. Other initiatives include various local materials workshops, a community day at the exhibit planned collaboratively between undergraduate students and Riverfield families, an exchange initiative featuring a variety of Reggio-inspired North American contexts and a Teacher Educators forum. The exhibit will close in Tulsa in conjunction with the annual NAREA Summer Conference at the end of June featuring educators from Reggio Emilia and other North American contexts. For more information on study tours or any of these initiatives, please contact Jennifer Kesselring or Kacey Davenport at Riverfield Country Day School, 100languages@riverfield.org or 918.446.3553. |
"The Wonder of Learning - The Hundred
Languages of Children" A New Exhibit from Reggio Emilia, Italy -
North American Version
NAREA Professional Development Series:
Dialogues for Quality in Education
"The Wonder of Learning - The Hundred Languages of Children" exhibit is in Tulsa, Oklahoma from January 16-June 30, 2009. The exhibit is hosted by the Riverfield Country Day School and located at Northeastern State University. On June 27-30, 2009, the Fifth NAREA Summer Conference will take place in Tulsa and will coincide with the closing of the exhibit there.
From July-December 2009, the exhibit will be located in Indianapolis, Indiana. From January-June 2010, the exhibit will be located in Santa Monica, California. From July-December 2010, the exhibit will be located in Chicago, Illinois.
The NAREA Exhibit Committee is currently accepting proposals to host "The Wonder of Learning - The Hundred Languages of Children" in 2011, 2012, 2013 or 2014 from communities throughout North America. If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please contact Judith Allen Kaminsky, NAREA Exhibit Project Coordinator.
For ongoing information about "The Wonder of Learning - The Hundred Languages of Children" Exhibit and the NAREA Professional Development Series initiatives, log onto the Exhibit pages in the NAREA section of the NAREA website.
For information on the NAREA Summer Conference, log onto the Annual Conference pages in the NAREA section of the NAREA website. | |
HOSTING A
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
OF THE REGGIO APPROACH WORKSHOP The NAREA Professional Development Committee would like to encourage NAREA members to participate in the annual "Fundamental Principles of the Reggio Approach Workshop" Initiative in the spring of 2009. This NAREA professional development initiative is an opportunity to connect our work across the U.S, Canada and Mexico. We are looking forward to increasing the number of Fundamental Principles Workshops to be offered in 2009 and the coming years.
With the group of regional Membership Coordinators growing, our potential to add locations has expanded. As in prior years, we would like to invite NAREA Membership Coordinators and Board Members to be involved in hosting a Fundamental Principles Workshop in their geographic location in 2009.
The Fundamental Workshops pages of the NAREA website are located in NAREA section. For a listing of 2009 Fundamental Principles Workshops scheduled to date, go to the Fundamental Workshops - Current page. For a listing of Fundamental Workshops since 2004, go to the Fundamental Workshops - Historical page. If you are interested in hosting a Fundamental Workshop in your community, go to the new Fundamental Workshops - Hosting page, where you will find the content below as well as links for resources that will support you in the planning of a Fundamental Workshop.
Considerations when Planning a Fundamental Workshop
· Will your workshop be a half-day, evening or full-day event?
· Who will do presentations at your workshop and on what topic(s) will they focus?
· Will you schedule a school tour as part of the workshop?
· What experience with Reggio principles and the Reggio philosophy do you anticipate participants will have?
· Will you charge a fee for the workshop and if so, will you offer a reduced fee to NAREA members?
Resources for Fundamental Workshop Planning and Participants
The following articles are recommended as references while planning your workshop and copies of these articles can also be distributed to workshop participants. Click on the name of the article to be linked to the appropriate NAREA website page to download. You must be a NAREA member to link to the second, third and fourth articles as they are located on the Read Innovations page of the Members Only Area of the NAREA website. These three articles have also been translated into Spanish and are available for NAREA members to download on the Read Innovations in Spanish page of the Members Only Area of the NAREA website.
· "Introduction to the Fundamentals of the Philosophy and Practice of the Reggio Emilia Approach" by Lella Gandini, adapted from "Introduction to the Schools of Reggio Emilia," Insights and Inspirations from Reggio Emilia: Stories of Teachers and Children from North America, 2008.
· "The Pedagogy of Listening: The Listening Perspective from Reggio Emilia" by Carlina Rinaldi from Innovations in Early Education: The International Reggio Exchange, Fall 2001, v.8, n.4.
· "The Path Toward Knowledge: The Social, Political and Cultural Context of the Reggio Municipal Infant-Toddler Center and Preschool Experience" by Sergio Spaggiari from Innovations in Early Education: The International Reggio Exchange, Spring 2004, v.11, n.2.
· "The Evolution of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia: An Interview with Sandra Piccinini" by Amelia Gambetti from Innovations in Early Education: The International Reggio Exchange, Summer 2002, v.9, n.3.
Scheduling a Fundamental Workshop
To schedule a Fundamental Workshop in your community, send the following information to Julie Sewell, NAREA Communication Coordinator:
· Name of host school, city, state/province
· Workshop date(s)
· Contact person, phone number, e-mail address
· School/organization website (optional)
Scheduled Fundamental Workshop organizers will receive an e-mail communication from Julie Sewell that will include the following materials for your Fundamental Workshop: sample promotional materials (brochures/flyers), an "In Partnership with NAREA" logo for your promotional materials, a template for a Certificate of Participation and an Evaluation Form, contact information for assistance in planning your workshop and information about an on-line survey to complete after hosting a Fundamental Workshop. You can send Julie the electronic file of your workshop brochure/flyer once it is completed so that it can be available to download from the schedule on the Fundamental Principles - Current page of the NAREA website.
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New "In Partnership with NAREA" Logo
NAREA has developed an "In Partnership with NAREA" logo for Fundamental Principles of the Reggio Emilia Approach Workshop organizers to use on promotional materials (brochures and flyers). The purpose of this logo is to distinguish initiatives organized by NAREA with those organized by schools, centers and organizations in collaboration with NAREA. A PDF file of this logo will be included in the materials sent to workshop organizers by Julie Sewell, NAREA Communication Coordinator, after she receives notification of a community's intention to host a Fundamental Principles Workshop.
The "In Partnership with NAREA" logo can also be used on promotional materials for other Reggio-related professional development initiatives organized by schools, centers and organizations. To receive a PDF file of this logo, organizers must communicate plans for their initiative to Judith Allen Kaminsky, NAREA Communication & Information Committee, and offer a discounted registration fee for NAREA members.
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Insights and Inspirations from Reggio Emilia: Stories of Teachers and Children from North America
Edited by Lella Gandini,
Susan Etheredge and
Lynn Hill
Major Themes
· Loris Malaguzzi: "the image of the child" · A renewed image of the teacher · Children, thought, and learning made visible through documentation · The hundred languages of children: the role of materials and the atelier
· The power of communication
· History and civic awareness: building environments and communities
Insights and Inspirations from Reggio Emilia$27.95 To place an order, contact Davis Publications, 800-533-2847, davisart.com
Susan Etheredge
visits Umbria
September 2007
Susan Etheredge, Ed.D., is Associate Professor of Education and Child Study, and Director of First Year Seminars at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. At Smith, Susan teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in early childhood foundations and issues, literacy, curriculum methods, child development and children's literature. She works primarily with Smith students who are preparing to be teachers of young children. Susan's research and publications address inquiry-based teaching and learning in the early childhood and elementary classroom, with a particular focus on science education in the early years. She is co-author of Introducing Students to Scientific Inquiry: How Do We Know What We Know? and co-editor (with Lella Gandini and Lynn Hill) of Insights and Inspirations from Reggio Emilia: Stories of Teachers and Children from North America. Susan works with teachers in public and independent schools in areas related to professional development and teacher education. A former K-3 classroom teacher, Susan also served as Interim Associate Dean of the Faculty at Smith, is a past president of the New England Educational Research Organization and co-directs the Coral Reef Ed-Ventures Program for children in San Pedro, Belize. During the 2007-08 academic year, she spent a sabbatical year observing and studying the innovative early childhood schools in Pistoia, Italy.
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