Reggio Emilia Inspired Program

Nurturing Knowledge Schools are Reggio Emilia inspired programs. The Nurturing Knowledge Schools’ programs share the same philosophy of early learning that has emerged from the pioneering collective work of a group of schools in Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Nurturing Knowledge Schools programs include:

• Emergent Curriculum
  Learning is child-directed. Rather than teachers choosing an area of investigation and giving the children isolated facts on a given subject, teachers work as researchers alongside the children. They carefully listen to the interests of the children, assisting the children in defining their questions as a place to begin investigations and express their knowledge.
• Project Approach/Inquiry based model
  Project work is the method by which children and teachers explore in-depth the interests and ideas generated by the children. Teachers provide materials, help children identify their hypotheses and then work in collaboration with the children to pursue a course of study. Teachers provide continuous support through the process by adding provocations and challenges to encourage the children to take their learning to deeper and deeper levels.
• Hand-on, active learning
  Research shows that children learn best through play, using their whole bodies in active learning. We honor this in our program, providing an abundance of learning opportunities through meaningful play.
• The importance of the environment, “the environment as the third teacher” The environment is seen as instrumental to a child’s educational experience. The classroom environment is composed thoughtfully and intentionally. Teachers work together to create opportunities for learning throughout the environment in addition to providing a safe, comfortable place for children to carry out their investigations.
• Teacher as researcher
  Teachers are committed to listening, observing, and documenting children's work carefully throughout their investigative process. In this capacity, teachers are able to provoke, co-construct, stimulate new thinking, and foster children's collaboration with each other.

For more information on the Reggio Emilia Approach, please see Edwards, C., Gandini, L., and Forman, G. (Eds.) The Hundred Languages of Children: The Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education. Norwood, NJ: Ablex, 1993.