Why is Reggio so secretive?? I can't get a list of teachers in Maryland!

[BirthWithFaith]

I found one person who teaches the Reggio apprach but stil has yet to send me info. She doesn't have a web site. I emailed the North American Reggio web site and they said they can't give out the list of teachers in MD. Well, now how are we supposed to get interested and sign up in something everyone is so hush hush about??!!??

Ugh!

Frustrated,

[KtClaire]

Hi- have you found Reggio schools in MD? I posted below about the Lucy school. Are you at all familiar with that school? Any others?

:-)

[Dragonfly]

The Lucy School. We live in northern Virginia. If I could justify moving to Maryland, that's absolutely where ds would go.

I haven't found Reggio to be secretive. I have, though, found Reggio instructors to be so immersed in the school and so busy that they're not so good about touching base with the outside world.

It may also be that the North America Reggio website is not supposed to be seen as endorsing any specific teachers and/or does not want to take the responsibility of policing teachers to ensure they are, in fact, being true to the philosophy.

[mammastar2]

I didn't think there was an 'accreditation' organization with Reggio. It's just that it's a method teachers can learn about and incorporate, and schools can do the same. That being the case, it wouldn't really be appropriate for an organization that promotes Reggio to maintain a list, if there were no standards behind it, right?

[Blooming]

Another key word to use when questioning schools about what philosophy they use is emergent curriculum.

It very closely mirrors Reggio.

You pretty much have to ask around, or call around.

[Polliwog]

You may want to consider joining the Reggio list serv. It's for teachers inspired by the Reggio-philosophy. From time to time parents join in as well. We have great deep conversations. It's my favorite group.

[lavender&herbs]

momtomany in disguise, (passweord issues) eu eu eu! I can speak to this! Reggio is about surrounding children in the natural environment and letting them see what is interesting to them and have the guidance to persue it as much as they wish.

It is about surrounding them in beauty, mostly from the earth so that they connect and grow with the beauty inside.

It is about very gentle teaching, not discipline. Children are allowed to find their interests and expand. They are exposed to all art medium at young ages and are taken seriously in their; (work).

They see teachers documenting with photography their interests and work. if they can they articulate what their creations, that is documented for them and parents.

They are exposed to music from infancy. Beautiful music and baby made music on real instruments.

You would see very little if any plastic. You would see an openess in the classroom so that all activity is possible.

The outdoors/natureis the biggest thing. Our children are no"w growing up nature deprived and yet that is the whole origin of learning. Look at the birdie" The adult says yes, that is a blue bird and this is what they do and maybe the child ends up making a blue bird house and narrating, depending on age.

Children are taught to be careful with the feelings of others. Your friend was hurt when you..... Can you think of anything you could say or do to make her feel better?

They may have home made trees in their classroom which they all help with. Young, young children articulate their wonder at pond water settling and the way fish swim.

On walks, nature is pointed out to them. This is a maple tree, would you like to feel the leaves. You can do this with an infant on up.

This is how I make this sound, this music, what do the vibrations feel like? They are taught to be observent. Andchildren don't miss a trick, they catch it all.

It is a pretty cool idea and not unlike many others except it is applied from infancy on.

Whew, I got interested! (long post) P.s. How did I do Beth?