Diary
Do contact us with your suggestions for new articles - and we really appreciate comments and other feedback.
Robin Duckett
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Here is a documentation project which is powerful and poignant for all those moved by the story of Reggio Emilia and the emergence of its preschools. Prof. Dr. Sabine Lingenauber & Janina von Niebelschütz of Fulda University have been engaged on a three-year interview and research project which projects the experiences of the determined young women of Reggio Emilia in the 1940's. RESISTANCE-RELATIONSHIPS-MOVEMENTS are very apt constructs in their presentation of these powerful interview-memoirs.
"The narrations of Ione Bartoli, Eletta Bertani, Giacomina Castagnetti, Loretta Giaroni, Lidia Greci, Marta Lusuardi and Carla Maria Nironi bear witness to events that should be remembered. They show how female partisans, citizens, councillors, politicians and municipal councillors influence the development of a new form of education (Reggio Emilia Approach) in Reggio Emilia from the Resistenza (1943–1945), to the women's movement and up until today."
Three DVDs are in production, and you can view clips from them here on their website, and a further introductory compilation on Youtube
Thing the First
On Friday 2nd February we are having a Dialogue Day at Madeley Nursery School, Telford. This will be a special day dedicated to explore the various principles and practice which Sightlines Initiative, the Nursery School, and also Reggio Emilia, have been working on for 20, 17, and 60 years (!) respectively. The day will be for a maximum of 10 educators/heads/managers, who are themselves beginning to explore theses principles in their practice.
Here you can read more about the day, and book your place - do ring us with any questions.
Thing the Second
... A video by Reggio Emilia's municipal infant-toddler centres and preschools, based on children's ideas and thoughts about the squares in the city.
The schools wanted to investigate children's ideas on the participation and 'life lived' by adults and children in the piazzas of the town and in the schools themselves, as a backdrop to the elections of a big new intake of citizens and friends to the new City Childhood Councils ....
Here are the typically lively, sensitive ...
...surprising and observant views of the children,
curated and attended to by equally thoughtful and observant adults ....
And presented for us all in this enchanting online video ...
TWOTHOUSANDEIGHTEEN WISHES FOR A WORLD OF PEACE
"A school where experience, the doing of body and hands and thinking come together; a school as a learning "workshop", where creativity and the aesthetic dimension become essential qualities of knowledge."
During our recent Skylight research group visit to Reggio, we visited the Malaguzzi Centre Primary School, to explore how their pedagogy is evolving, and were drawn to a new publication of theirs which throws a great light on their experience. We think that it is really fascinating, and gives a lively insight into the work and life of this primary school, its children and educators.It is an ideal reader if you are planning to attend a Study Week in Reggio, as you are likely to have the chance to see inside this school, and will really help you understand what's going on.
Usually, it is only available to visitors to the school, but by arrangement we will be able to order copies. Here is a review of the book, kindly written by Chris Merrick, and at the close of this article is what to do if you want to order the book.