Question about Piaget and Dewet

[Dragonfly]

I'm specifically wondering if anyone has experience with the application of their theories in school settings. How does it look? That sort of thing.

[dreadmama]

at our school, we try to relate theory into our classroom everyday. So we're very concsious of the various stages set forth by Piaget and Erickson, for example when deciding on developmentally appropriate activities. We also try to allow for the children to be co-constructors of their world. Piaget believed that children constructed their understanding of their world, so we ask questions and help guide the children to come to their own conclusions about their world rather than telling them about it.

I could probably write a lot about this topic, however I really must get back to work now... but I'll check in later to jump back into this discussion. It is fascinating to see the theory in action, so to speak.

[Dragonfly]

Thanks for your response!

Does it look similar to Reggio? Ds is currently in a Reggio-inspired "school" (for lack of a better term) and one elementary school I've been looking into purports to implement the philosophies of Piaget and Dewey. I'm wondering if it would be a natural transition from one to the other. I love what they have to say about respect and their ultimate purpose, but am wondering if the "curriculum" tends to be more child-driven and fluid (as in Reggio), perhaps with the use of environmental prompts, etc. or more structured and planned.

[dreadmama]

yes, our school is a Reggio inspired preschool, with an emphasis on attachment.
Can you visit the school and see what goes on there, say for an hour? What does your child's current teacher say about that new school? Do they have a relationship with them?

The founders of the school system in Reggio Emelia relied heavily on the theories of Piaget, Dewey, Erickson, Vytogsky (umm, don't tell my director that I can't list the others right now!). Most Reggio inspired schools will also look to those theorists when designing their programs and day to day activities. So in theory, yes, there is a good chance that the new school will look similar to the current one in terms of child led emergent curriculum.

However, what people say they do and what they do are often different. It is always a good idea to visit and see what really goes on, as I'm sure you know!


ok. now. really. I have to get back to work!