Articles

From the perspective of Reggio Emilia educators, the atelier is place of research for both children and teachers. It is a space in which children encounter interesting and attractive contexts, materials and techniques that enable them to explore and express their ideas and theories through the language of visual arts.

A fable for adults and children. If we truly want a caring society, if we truly want our children to see that we care about all children and all families, those of us who are on the inside of white privilege must break our silence.

Drawing is a language children use to ask questions, test ideas, and share heartfelt emotions. This story is about my experience in a junior kindergarten class when a child spoke to me through his drawing of “a portal.” Read the article by clicking below.

When I visited the Loris Malaguzzi Centre in Italy last May, I observed a children’s art experience that wove self-expression with a sense of belonging, contributing, and community. It also incorporated meaningful threads of science, math, language and communication – all in this one atelier experience. You can create this amazing kind of experience for your early learners too. Read my article at Early Learning Café.

It’s easy for me to go there… to that place of uncertainty; to that place of “what if I don’t get this right?” Each time I step into a new role, or I’m preparing for a new child or group of children, or for a school year to begin, my excitement is tempered with self-doubt. If this sounds familiar, have a look at this short article.

The exploration of this provocation had begun during a morning meeting with the children and teachers thinking together about their community. The children knew lots about their classroom and school, but what could they discover about their neighbourhood? Read this article about a provocation that intentionally co-created opportunities with young children to be the driving force of positive change outside the walls of their school.

I had been waiting expectantly in the auditorium at the Loris Malaguzzi Centre in Reggio Emilia, Italy for the morning lecture to begin. We were introduced to the facilitator, Antonio Tinti — ballet dancer, stage scenery creator, preschool teacher. What happened at the end of his presentation was absolutely amazing.

Borders to Thresholds: What if, in my role as educator, I was able to transform borders (places where there are big transitions or barriers) into thresholds? How could shifting my thinking from borders to thresholds impact my work with young children?
 

The nature of freedom — I almost missed it. I expect I may have been the only one in the park that morning who did see it, who did hear it. Watching his 18-month old granddaughter playing in the sand he warned: “If you put that shovel down, someone is going to take it.”

Two-and-a-half-year-old River stands looking upward, open-mouthed, delight shining in her eyes. This is River’s first visit to Ripley’s Aquarium. From birth, children are driven by a desire to understand who they are in relationship to the world in which they live.

Our desire to amplify Indigenous voices and perspectives in our collective narrative cannot be overstated. Nor can it be confined to the month of June or to a singular nationally celebrated day. Learning from and with First Nations, Innuit and Métis Peoples must be our everyday way of being on Turtle Island. All children, families, and society deserve no less.

What do children need to feel that sense of longing to learn with other children, educators, materials, and spaces in our programs? What do they need to experience time standing still through their engagement and discovery of new ideas and possibilities? How can we help children fall in love with learning?

As educators and parents our responsibility is great to give children the quality of experiences that they need to be citizens of the present and become responsible citizens of the future. How we view children profoundly shapes the experiences we offer children in our programs and classrooms.

In an instant the notice of one child changed everything. He had looked up and saw something that none of us had seen before. Wonder leads us to question and seek answers. Awe connects us, builds relationships, a sense of well-being and belonging within the world. Young children live out experiences of awe and wonder seamlessly every day. But do we?

I’ve been learning about dandelions – learning that they are packed with calcium, iron and vitamins C and A. I have become more appreciative too of their importance in springtime to bees and other pollinators. But it wasn’t until I stumbled upon The Dandelion Story by Lin that I made a connection between dandelions and the cosmos.

In the digital age, the concept of working alongside others has evolved beyond physical spaces, introducing virtual co-working as a dynamic tool for professionals across various fields. For early learning educators, who often juggle extensive planning and creativity in their programs, virtual co-working offers an innovative solution to common challenges.