Reggio Emilia Influences

In keeping with some of the ideas of the Reggio Emilia Approach, I have been trying to take a lot of photographs as part of the documentation process.  My husband has been encouraging this, and as he was home over the summer, he was excited to join in the fun.  During our last week he went around recording and interviewing the children at Art and Soul.  He then surprised us by projecting the interviews on the wall as well as a slide show of the photographs from the summer.  It was a real delight, especially watching the kids run up to the photos and try to touch the images.  The experience showed me how they love to respond to images of themselves and their families, but also how they delight in seeing themselves talk and be in a video.  There is a sense of connection that is beyond their inner space of who they are, for they are beginning to see how they are part of the bigger world.  It is interesting to observe them learning that their actions, reactions, and voices have a place in this world.

Here is a list of Reggio books that have really inspired me:

Working in the Reggio Way by Julianne P. Wurm

The Language of Art by Ann Pelo

Bringing Reggio Emilia Home by Louise Cadwell

Approaches to Early Childhood and Elementary Educations by Francis Wardle

An Encounter with Reggio Emilia: Children's Learning Made Visible by Linda Kinney and Pat Wharton

We Are All Explorers: Learning and Teaching with Reggio Principles in Urban Settings by Daniel and Sandra Scheinfeld and Karen Haigh

Powerful Children: Understanding How to Teach and Learn Using the Reggio Approach by Ann Lewin-Benham

Infant and Toddlers at Work by Ann Lewin-Benham

Authentic Childhood: Exploring Reggio Emilia in the Classroom by Susan Fraser and Carol Gestwicki

The Hundred Languages of Children: The Reggio Emilia Approach- Advanced Reflections by C.Edwards, L. Gandini and G. Forman

Experiencing Reggio Emilia: Implications for pre-school provision by Lesley Abbott and Cathy Nutbrown

First Steps Towards Teaching in the Reggio Way