Teachers Are Learners Too
Written By: Margie Pines
Reflections on an Education Cohort in Reggio Emilio, Italy
As part of a select group of eighteen Jewish Early Childhood educators from the Chicagoland area, JCC Chicago sent three teachers from “Z” Frank Apachi Early Childhood Center to the beautiful city of Reggio Emilio, Italy for a learning experience of our own. While many have never heard of this small town, famous for Bolognese sauce, parmesan cheese and gelato, this city has in fact been recognized for excellence in Early Childhood education for many years. In preparation for our trip, organized by Community Foundation for Jewish Education (CFJE), we read books together, listened to lectures and discussed many Reggio ideas and concepts. As the days approached, we started wondering about what this special place looked like, what we would learn and how we would soak up new information and ideas.
After hours and hours of travel to Italy, we finally arrived! We quickly learned we would be starting our visit with a two- hour lunch. Truth be told, none of us thought we could make it through this leisurely lunch, especially considering our jet lag. Plus, we were anxious to dive right into the classrooms and lectures. After all, we came all the way to Italy to learn about Reggio and we were eager to get started.
The intent behind this extended meal time was to get us into the right frame of mind, and it worked! Our Italian hosts understood our typically hectic pace of life. They encouraged us to slow down and be thoughtful about how we approached our study in Reggio. As our week went on, we learned that the idea of thoughtfulness and reflection, connected to every moment, is an important element to consider in discovering how the schools in Reggio operate.
As we ate lunch we noticed quotes and phrases painted on the walls.
- “Freedom means we discuss.”
- “Rights are found in ideas.”
- “Children have the right to do difficult things.”
What do these phrases mean to us? How do we implement these big ideas within the JCC? Can we rethink these concepts through a Jewish lens? Those are the questions that we have been contemplating since we first stepped foot in Italy.
The next day began with lectures describing the history behind their schools and how they were started. The facilitators stressed the concept that all children have the right to a quality education. The Reggio educators wanted us to think about:
- Who is the child?
- How do they learn?
- What is the role of the school?
- What is the role of the teacher?
The initial lunch and the questions provided during the lectures, gave us the perspective we needed for a meaningful Reggio experience. Finally, we were ready to visit an actual center and see the classrooms. Immediately, we were awed by the beauty we saw everywhere. All rooms were infused with natural light and every spot within the center had been thoughtfully set up so children could explore ideas on their own.
We were not allowed to take photographs, so we frantically started writing notes about everything we saw. Our tour leader suggested that instead of writing everything down and getting ‘stuck’ in the details, we should focus on:
- What is the interaction between teachers and students?
- How do the spaces make you feel?
- What are reoccurring ideas in different classrooms and schools?
She wanted us to see the big ideas behind how the classroom was operating. The leader encouraged us to identify the most important values or themes that we wanted to take back to our centers. We found that for the three of us, we consistently went back to the theme of relationships
The Reggio teachers spend a great deal of time observing the children and documenting what they see in the classroom. Reflecting on those observations is a key component of each teacher’s daily responsibilities. This work enables them to be thoughtful about every aspect of curriculum and the environment for children. This process also allows the teachers to build relationships with each family and child intimately.
Yes, we did see wonderful curriculum ideas and beautiful artwork we could create within our own centers. However, before we even start with those ideas we felt it was very important to start with the most basic values we experienced during our trip which are echoed in our classrooms every day:
- Each child is competent and deserves our respect
- Creating meaningful relationships between children, families and other staff members
- The importance of observation, documentation and reflection
We are so grateful for the opportunity to experience the Reggio culture and philosophy. As teachers, we too are always learning. This experience was eye-opening and inspiring. We are thrilled to bring what we learned back to our colleagues and into our classrooms.