Sightlines Initiative Store
Sightlines Initiative publications
Over the years, as we've conducted action-research work, we've sought to learn from them step by step. In our publications we seek to provide ongoing resources for other educators in their researches and creating of fit learning environments.
Our ReFocus Journal, published bi-annually between 2004 and 2010, commissioned and collected a wide variety of articles from across the national and international network of educators inspired by the work of Reggio Emilia's preschools. The journals are an excellent source of reference and learning: here is a compilation file of all the articles in numbers 1 - 10 which you can download for reference - click the image to download.
Adventuring in Early Childhood Education
Robin Duckett and Mary Jane Drummond
How do we translate our values and beliefs into practice?
Action-research narratives and reflections on establishing creative, reflective early childhood pedagogy: early childhood educators and creative enablers describe their collaborative work for others who want to explore and grow.
- When we say we value children as competent, sociable, imaginative and expressive learners, what do we do about it in practice?
- When we say we need to be critical, reflective and creative in our practice, how do we realise these aspirations?
- When we try to create environments of enquiry, with space for children's fascinations, what will help - or hinder - us in doing so?
Dogs, Bones & Dancing
Are you looking for ways in which your children can explore their world through music and movement?
This slideshow/video summarises our 2-year project with a nursery and primary school in Kendal. Discover what we did, what we learned, what obstacles we faced and how the children engaged.
Production has been supported by Youth Music, and so we are able to make this free to download.
Doing The Right Thing
Working with Children in a Natural Environment, Early Childhood Educators Re-evaluate their Theory and Practice
This film documents research undertaken by Walkergate Early Years Centre and Sightlines Initiative into the best way to support young children's learning.
The dvd also includes extra professional development material on downloadable pdf files.
Feathers
This booklet tracks the development of one of the many ideas that the children conceived. Lots of theories and stories emerged through the inspiration the natural evviroment had of the children's creative and curious minds. An interplay between staff and children, the environment and the imagination.
Learning to Learn in Nature
Have you ever wondered what would happen
- if children were given day-long, year-long opportunities to be in nature and explore wildness?
- if educators recognised how daring and imaginative children become in the wild outdoors?
- if educators and children, working together, used their classroom as a studio for the exploration and exchange of fascinatig ideas and questions?
In this book you will find some answers to these questions - and to many more. [ downloadable flyer ]
Robin Duckett & Mary Jane Drummond
Look! Look! The Tree's on Fire!
... video from The Rising Sun Woodland Preschool project.
"A dragon in a tree, blossoming bluebells and daffodils, fungi, an enormous muddy pond, a chance to make fire...
Whenever the nursery children from Redesdale First School in North Tyneside go down to the nearby Rising Sun Countryside Park, they're sure of a few surprises.
Their weekly visits have introduced them to the great outdoors and allowed them to discover it at their own pace - and to discover new talents and abilities along the way.
It makes for enchanting viewing, as the children discover the magical environment of the woodland and make it their own. In the process, different individuals hone different skills and gain in confidence." (from Alison Mercer, Nursery World 2001)
A transformative film for early educators wanting to ground their creative practice in nature.
Movement Languages in Early Childhood Education
A collection of articles exploring movement and dance in early years education:
- A Dancing Journey - Rachel Kurts, BareToed Dance Co.
- Talking in Children's First Language - Jasmine Pasch
- A Tool to Liberate - Angela Kennedy
- Expertise? Guy Dartnell, Oogly boogly
- Footsteps to Exuberance - Maria Mernin
- Making Moves - Ruth Nichols
- Don't Move Just Sit - Ruth Spencer
- Moving in Time; The Many Messages of a Body Dancing - Prof. Colwyn Trevarthen
ReFocus Journal Issue 01
ReFocus is the UK network of early childhood educators, artists and others influenced in their practice by the preschools of Reggio Emilia
Articles include:
- 'Everything is a Beginning' by Mary Jane Drummond
- 'In the Jungle with the Children of Adderley' by Debi Keyte-Hartland
- 'The Racing Car Boys' by Jude Noble, Nicola Balfour, Chris Holmes
- 'Practically Speaking' by Emma Pace
- 'The Four Beasts and the one Dad with No Child' by Sasha Laskey and Ed Harker
- 'Focus on Cambridge' by Mary Jane Drummond and Sue Bainbridge
- 'Dedicated to Loris Malaguzzi, the town of Reggio Emilia and its Schools' by Peter Moss
ReFocus Journal Issue 02
ReFocus is the UK network of early childhood educators, artists and others influenced in their practice by the preschools of Reggio Emilia
Articles include:
- 'Woodland Kids' by Linda Lines
- 'Making Learning Intriguing' by Ed Harker
- 'Bilston Nursery School' by Catherine Webb
- 'Practically speaking - Clay reigns supreme' by Elaine Mason
- 'Creature Worlds' by Chris Holmes and Elaine Mason
- 'The Life of an Idea' by Robin Dickett and Elaine Mason
- 'A knowledge building project about birds' by Ann Aberg
- 'In the Best Interests of Children' by Jenny Brain
ReFocus Journal Issue 03
ReFocus is the UK network of early childhood educators, artists and others influenced in their practice by the preschools of Reggio Emilia
Articles include:
- 'At the beginning of the beginning' by Sally Jaeckle
- 'Teachers as researchers' by Carlina Rinaldi
- 'The role and responsibility of documentation' by Elaine Mason
- 'A new literacy for children and educators' by Christine Merrick
- 'Risk and Trust' by Allenscroft Children's Centre
- 'Practically Speaking' by Debi Keyte-Hartland
- 'Crostini, tagliatelle, attachers, fixers and Joiners' by Ian Lakin. Madeley Nursery School
- 'Focus on Manchester' by Kathy Coates Mohammed
- 'Memory, and peace for the future' by June Holmes
ReFocus Journal Issue 04
ReFocus is the UK network of early childhood educators, artists and others influenced in their practice by the preschools of Reggio Emilia
Articles Include:
- ' Learning from Laos: Children and environments' by Architect John Waldron
- 'ReMida Denmark: The function of materials in places of imagination' by Karen Eskesen
- 'Danish Preschools UK Study Week reviews' by Sarah McGahern, Sue Cleaver and Tricia Yates
- 'Focus on Herefordshire' by Sue Peasgood
- 'Elemental materials' by Robin Duckett
- The Drama of Clay' by artist Sally Brown
- 'Open Space, Open Air, Open Minds' by (Kingswood Centre) by Rachel Wells
- 'Sophie's Story' by Trish Prescott and Wendy Lowe
ReFocus Journal Issue 05
ReFocus is the UK network of early childhood educators, artists and others influenced in their practice by the preschools of Reggio Emilia
Articles include:
- 'The House of Objects' by Elaine Mason
- The 'Inside-Out' Project: Can the physical environment be a 'teacher' in itself?' by Mary Featherstone
- 'Focus on Buckinghamshire' by Yvonne Davies
- 'Learning Journeys: Green Croft Children's Centre' by Catherine Davenport
- 'Uncertainty and Knowing' by Annette Poulson and Cath Dennis
- 'Placing and Arranging, No Glue' by Solveig Morris
- 'The Role of the Educator is to Stir Things Up' by Marika Gedin
- 'Threads: The Real and Hidden World of Nature' by Linda Lines
ReFocus Journal Issue 06
ReFocus is the UK network of early childhood educators, artists and others influenced in their practice by the preschools of Reggio Emilia
Articles include:
- 'Professional Amnesia: A suitable case for treatment' by Mary Jane Drummond
- 'Acting Up: Leadership and responsibility' by Peter Dixon
- 'Playing and Learning Outdoors' by Jan White
- 'Pedagogical Documentation' by Chris Holmes and Chris Merrick
- 'Community of Enquiry: Do hedgehogs dream?' by Adam Turner
- 'The Energy of Conviviality and Imagination: Exploring and developing ideas through dance and music' by Maria Mernin and Cath Reding
- 'Acting up: Leadership and Responsibility' by Peter Dixon
ReFocus Journal Issue 07
ReFocus is the UK network of early childhood educators, artists and others influenced in their practice by the preschools of Reggio Emilia
Articles Include:
- 'When Pedagogy and Atelier Meet' by Claudia Guidici
- 'From Display to Visable Thinking' by Debi Keyte Hartland
- 'Making Art: Beauty, Metaphor and Relationships' by Jess Tomlinson
- 'Rethinking Resources' by Emma Pace
- 'Non-Verbal Storytelling' by Mike Akers and Sandra Barefoot
- 'Everyday Creativity'' by Melodie Glass and Eloise Robinson
- 'With Inclusion and Creativity in Mind' by Louise Jackson
ReFocus Journal Issue 08
ReFocus is the UK network of early childhood educators, artists and others influenced in their practice by the preschools of Reggio Emilia
Articles Include:
- The Fascinator Trap - Jane Bravery
- Exploring in a Cambridge Forest - Ruth Sapsed and Filipa Pereira-Stubbs
- What's the problem, guys? - Mariette Heaney
- Exchange and dialogue with Sweden - Emma Pace
- Ready-packaged or well-rooted? - Annica Wennstrom
- The Wonder of Learning: The Cultural Challenge from Reggio - Speech by Harold Gothson
- Interview with Jan Millikan - Lella Gandini, Elin Swedenmark and Judith Allen Kaminsky
- Spirals - Kirsty Liljegren
