Have you ever visited a Reggio Emilia preschool?
Like other preschools, the children spill over into a building block space, a writing center and a kitchen area. But that's where the similarities end.
The children's whimsical artwork is showcased in shadow boxes or dangling from ceilings.
Around the room thriving green plants grow in large baskets and hanging holders.
The imagination cupboard is full of brightly colored saris which the children roll themselves in as "burritos" or an "airplane".
A plump sofa is covered with patterned pillows that the children climb on and over.
By far my favorite feature is a basket of strips of paper, a hole punch and small sign describing "keywords".
Essentially, a child is asked to tell the teacher a "keyword"; a word that is special to them, that has significance and meaning in their life.
The teacher talks with them about the word, writes the word on a piece of paper and places it on a metal ring.
Over the course of the year the child accumulates more words and by the end of the year he has a key chain of words.
One 3 year old boy shows me his "keywords" and as he flips though the words, he shares a detail or story.
Some of his words: bus, San Francisco, duck.
When he flips to "ice cream" he clarifies, "That's for strawberry peach ice cream".
I am blown away. What an environment for creating, exploring and learning!
