What is Reggio Emilia?
Reggio Emilia is the name given to a teaching style that has evolved in the Northern Italian municipality of Reggio Emilia. Fundamental to this educational philosophy is the perception of children as being strong, intellectually rich and possessing great potentials. In this educational model, the teacher works with children to stimulate and deepen critical thought in a research partnership. In Reggio Emilia, knowledge is seen as something that is socially constructed and should be based on ideas and experiences that are real and meaningful to the child. One aspect of Reggio Emilia in evidence at CNCS is a respect for children’s creative capacities and individual learning styles. There are five core tenets to Reggio Emilia: • Teachers’ on-going commitment to enhancing their understanding of children • The organization of the physical environment that creates community and connection • Long-term projects as vehicles for learning • Nurturing the “hundred languages of children” – encouragi