Hundred Languages Of Children

On the opposite side of the continuum, the Reggio Emilia approach is a programme that is centred on the principles of respect, responsibility, and community. It is based on the interests of the children through a self-guided curriculum with no early learning goals or inspections.

There are many different theories of development that help us to understand children’s behaviour, reactions and ways of learning. All equally important as they influence practice. To begin with there is Piaget’s constructivist theories which look at the way in which children seem to be able to make sense of their world as a result of their experiences and how they are active learners. He also suggested that as children develop so does their thinking. Piaget’s work has influenced early years settings into providing more hands on and relevant tasks for children and young people. In other words the children are ‘learning through play’. Teachers are working out the needs of children and plan activities accordingly.

While there is no fixed curriculum or one specific model to emulate, the Reggio Emilia approach does have some essential components, some fundamental ideas about how children learn most effectively. The utmost is the idea that the young child is inherently competent not only as a learner but as an initiator. The child has preferences and opinions that have value and should be listened to with respect and care, knowing that they have much to offer their classroom community and community at large. This pedagogy plays a large role in shaping the Reggio classroom. It allows the children to pursue projects which are interesting and meaningful and then allowing adequate time to follow those projects with passion.

I was exposed to a complete range of early childhood studies, all of which solidified my ardent interest in the field. I also had the opportunity to study a handful of art and humanities subjects, which have given me a fresh perspective on the world we reside in. By the same token, I will be able to apply the knowledge gained from my ICT and Multimedia subject in creating a state-of-the-art medium apt for young children in this era of

When comparing and contrasting two teaching approaches, it is important to remember that although there is a myriad of different types i.e. Froebel, Montessori, Steiner etc., they all possess similarities and differences. Each individual approach has many fascinating points, however the Montessori and Steiner approach will be discussed in this essay. Montessori’s approach is based on the understanding that children have an inborn capacity to acquire information and to teach themselves when placed in an environment that allows freedom and independence to work at their own pace (Miller, 2010, p.71). Whereas Steiner’s approach is based on the understanding that children learn primarily through imitation and whatever is happening around them from

The teacher supports the children's right to be different as the children's art and crafts are being displayed in classrooms by the teacher and classroom assistant. The positive impact is that the children can feel a sense of achievement by looking at what they have done. The children are encouraged by teachers to express themselves though their school bags and lunch boxes. The positive impact is that children are able to feel comfortable as they have familiar objects around them. In doing these things the teacher also promotes creativity and individuality.

Maria Montessori and Jean Piaget are two educational philosophers whose theories are still being used and influence today’s educational system. Their theories and methods were revolutionary for their times, but they came to be greatly respected. Both of these theorist developed their own stages of child development and were able to base education on these stages. Although in many ways Piaget and Montessori were very similar in their thinking they were also very different in their teaching approaches. Piaget and Montessori are two main players in the early childhood education field and based most of their ideas on their observations of children.

At all stages (including very early mark making) the children’s work is positively encouraged, valued and exhibited.

They will analyze and describe this in the verbal and written communication. They will be able to continue the classroom experience in their own lives through discussions of the value of art that they will share with their families, friends and other acquaintances.

The Reggio Emilia Approach was founded by Loris Malaguzzi in Reggio Emilia, Italy in the 1960s. An Educational Psychologist, Malaguzzi created an approach to education that put the child at the center of it all (Reggio Emilia Approach). The Reggio Emilia Approach considers the child to have strong individual talents and potentials. The students are the most active, involved, and important members of the classroom. Students in Reggio Emilia schools learn about themselves in relation to other people and their environment. The child is seen not as an empty vessel that needs to be filled with facts and data, but an autonomous individual capable of great potential (Kelemen,

When children are able to show their creativity, their physical environment enhances their abilities to show what they can do. Having easily readily material that can be transformed into anything a child can imagine. The material should enhance a child’s ability to make things their imaginations

Therefore emphasis on the Reggio Emilia approach is placed upon children’s many ‘symbolic languages’; these languages help the child explore and being to develop their own view of the world. These languages are based on: drawing, sculpting, dramatic play and writing, in order to achieve the best in a child and basing activities on aspects of: creative thinking, exploration and discovery, free play, following the interests on the child, valuing and encouraging all ways children express themselves, allowing children to talk about their ideas and then to re-visit them. A child’s environment has always been considered important in their learning and features in the Reggio Emilia approach; this philosophy claims that a child’s environment is known as a ‘third teacher’ as children must be able to learn through their experiences of senses: touching, moving, listening, seeing and hearing; which all

Reggio Emilia is a child driven methodology where children are enriched within their environment as well as communication from their peers. Reggio Emilia schooling is an innovative approach for preschoolers and kindergarteners. Teachers are considered co learners with the children. The classroom environment is considered a “third teacher” while the children are seen as obtaining a “hundred languages”. Reggio Emilia schooling can be viewed as an out of the box and unorganized approach to learning due to excluding a written curriculum. Reggio Emilia has been viewed as highly unstructured with a high chance of bullying to develop. Reggio Emilia is an unconventional way of providing students with a manipulative environment including co-learners

Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.” During my past career as an art teacher at Intel Academy, introducing and demonstrating aesthetic techniques and materials have thrilled me as much as completing an art piece. Through workshops and demonstrations, I learned how to communicate and suggest better ways of developing their ideas and expressions. Some children had difficulties encountering art due to their behavioral problems; however, respecting their accomplishments and encouraging their process of following the curriculum became a part of the solution. My decision to apply to masters program in art education was pursued as I faced these

In order to create a positive classroom culture, teacher need to promote positive relationships between students and with students by taking an interest and have respect for each other. It is extremely important for teacher to get to know the students, their families, and their culture. When a student knows their teacher cares about them, then a relationship of trust will exist between a student and teacher. According to Sayeski and Brown (2011), “teachers who had positive relationships with their student had 31 % fewer discipline problems and rule violations over the course of the year than teachers who did not” (p. 12). In order to know more about them, I will send home a poster board where the students can fill it with any information they would like me and their classmates to know. This constructivist approach gives them the opportunity to be creative and choose what they want to share. The essentialist approach of sending home a questionnaire for the family to fill out will help collect information important to understanding the student. This is the only category where I consider myself an essentialist and constructivist due to how information will be gathered about my students, but this will allow me to build the framework for a positive learning environment for everyone. Having students create a poster will allow their peers to get to know them as an individual. Another way to create a positive environment is having students work together to keep