What are your favorite Reggio books?

[tumblebeee]

Reggio Emilia sounds very interesting to me and I would like to learn more about it. I am particularly interested in how I might apply the approach at home with my son (currently 19 mo). I have accumulated a reading list but unfortunately my local library does not carry any of them and I really can't afford to purchase them all. So, in the context of homeschooling, what are your favorites and why? If you only read 3, which would they be?

These are the ones I am looking at:

* Authentic Childhood: Experiencing Reggio Emilia in the Classroom
* Beautiful Stuff: Learning with Found Materials
* Bringing Learning to Life: A Reggio Approach to Early Childhood Education
* Bringing Reggio Emilia Home: An Innovative Approach to Early Childhood Education
* Designs for Living and Learning: Transforming Early Childhood Environments
* First Steps Toward Teaching the Reggio Way
* In The Spirit Of The Studio: Learning From The Atelier Of Reggio Emilia
* The Hundred Languages of Children: The Reggio Emilia Approach Advanced Reflections
* The Language of Art: Reggio-Inspired​ Studio Practices in Early Childhood Settings

[terranova]

Hi, I'm just finishing reading 'Authentic Childhood' and I quite liked it, although it is basically a textbook for ece teachers. It's pretty pricey, yes, but I managed to borrow this copy.

It gives a good intro, overview of the main themes, a sense of the theories and theorists they have drawn from, quotes from teachers in north america trying to apply the ideas, and descriptions of projects from different preschools. I liked it because it gave me more of a concrete handle on how some of these abstract concepts would look in practice.

I'm also interested in reggio for homeschooling and started a yahoo group for people in Toronto, but you are free to join (reggio_inspired_toronto). There's a big book list and some links in the archives. I think in lots of ways, reggio inspired approaches are very similar to good parenting.

Things I would suggest to start with are
- documenting your child's play (take photos, write down things he says, notice areas of interest, note where his understandings are incomplete)
- give him lots of opportunities to use different art media, including music and movement; encourage him to express the same ideas in many forms
- help him in places where his visions and ambitions outstrip his abilities
- take him on field trips that are related to what he shows interest in
- let him create his own theories/imaginings about what's going on and experiment to find out how accurate they are, as opposed to telling him what the reality is
- make your home environment conducive to different types of interaction ie a reading together area, a play with other kids area, an art area
- allow him to socialize with kids from a range of age groups on a regular basis
- check out www.projectapproach.org and read the examples of projects some people have done with young kids (although none as young as yours I don't think)

You might also want to start building a network of other parents interested in the reggio ideas or a homeschooling group. One thing that is part of reggio theory is how learning happens in relationship, and when children play together they learn things that they wouldn't learn on their own.

I'd be inclined to pick "Bringing Reggio Home" or "First Steps Toward..." before I picked some of the others. I looked through 'Hundred Languages' and I don't know if it would be a great one to help someone start using reggio concepts on their own. It's more of an introduction to it's history and context.

[BathrobeGoddess]

Bring Reggio Emilia Home
Hundred Languages-this is by far the best book about Reggio out there since is is direct interviews with those who created the approach.

But I would add
Making Learning Visible but Project Zero and Reggio Children

For a 19 month old, I would certainly be looking at a more constructivist approach to Reggio than project. also the fact that you won't have a small group or a co leader (coteachers are a very integral part ot the Reggio Approach) also makes projects a bit of a challenges for you and your dc.

I actually did teach your sons age at a Reggio Inspired school in Boulder (www.boulderjourneyschool.com) so I would be happy to give you some ideas!

[sapphos]

Tumblebee, thanks for posting this, I'm looking to incorporate many of hte same things with our daughter who's almost two and we plan to unschool, although there is a fabulous Reggio school - L'Atelier here in Miami.

I haven't read all the posts yet, but I plan to order The Language of Art since I'm not very artistically inclined but I want my daughter exposed as much as possible.

eta: I forgot to add that I read an interesting article in the September issue of Cookie magazine about Studio Creative Play a preschool in Brooklyn that incorporates a lot of Reggio ideas. They have put out a DVD showcasing their ideas and I finally ordered it. I'll let you know how it is. I'm always looking for more ideas so I thought I'd check it out. here's the link if you're interested http://www.studiocreativeplay.com/about.html

Originally Posted by tumblebeee

Reggio Emilia sounds very interesting to me and I would like to learn more about it. I am particularly interested in how I might apply the approach at home with my son (currently 19 mo). I have accumulated a reading list but unfortunately my local library does not carry any of them and I really can't afford to purchase them all. So, in the context of homeschooling, what are your favorites and why? If you only read 3, which would they be?

These are the ones I am looking at:

* Authentic Childhood: Experiencing Reggio Emilia in the Classroom
* Beautiful Stuff: Learning with Found Materials
* Bringing Learning to Life: A Reggio Approach to Early Childhood Education
* Bringing Reggio Emilia Home: An Innovative Approach to Early Childhood Education
* Designs for Living and Learning: Transforming Early Childhood Environments
* First Steps Toward Teaching the Reggio Way
* In The Spirit Of The Studio: Learning From The Atelier Of Reggio Emilia
* The Hundred Languages of Children: The Reggio Emilia Approach Advanced Reflections
* The Language of Art: Reggio-Inspired​ Studio Practices in Early Childhood Settings