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Infants & Ones Texture and Color This year, the auction project become an opportunity for a deep exploration of material and color. Inspired by its soft texture and flowing nature, yarn was explored by unrolling balls, by watching it flow in front of fans, by grasping and tugging, by interacting with knots and tangles. Inspired […]

With the annual NAEYC conference scheduled for Atlanta this year, our leadership team submitted proposals for presentations on two topics, one of which was a panel presentation focused on the ever-present play of pretend cooking. Built from almost two years worth of provocations, documentation and my own pedagogical reflections, the panel below (8′ by 4′ […]

  One of the most important tenets of the Reggio Emilia approach is a strong image of the child. In fact, it is quite possibly the most fundamental element of the philosophy. Through the practice of learning about and working with the philosophies of Reggio Emilia, we completely dispel the “empty vessel” image of the […]

Graphing Willingness and Rain: A Personal Educator Perspective             I’m just going to go ahead and say it, I’ve never been very keen on graphs. In fact, memories of stumbling through high school homework requiring digital graphing on the futuristic TI-83 calculator still brings frustrated shivers (except, of course, for […]

Images on the Wall An Introduction to Our Light & Shadow Atelier The manipulation of light and the generation of shadows creates a new dimension for experience, discovery, and creativity.   What is it to discover a shadow? The lights are dim except for the radiance of a bright light projecting shapes on the wall. […]

The first small group in the light and shadow atelier included Royal, Elise, Hazel, Ian, Everett, and Jacob.  They saw the baby elephant getting a bath and Elise created baby elephant noises with a plastic funnel that she found on the shelf.    Children layered light and shadow over the projected videos of elephants, hot […]

 The interest in whales and underwater life began in the one year old room when we explored the overhead projector  and plastic whale toys.  Children were overcome by the additional whale sounds created in play, by the educators. They soon began joining in themselves, and adding key words like “whale” and “fish” to their conversations. […]

An Emergent Moment From Stick to Nest As a Reggio Emilia inspired school, our work centers on the interests and capabilities of the child. By basing our curriculum, projects, and provocations in our observations of the children’s actions, words, and expressions, we create a meaningful context for play and expression.   Emergent curriculum provides a […]

            In a post a few months back, the idea of “the hundred languages” was explored through a look into the evolution and emergence of letter writing. From Adelynne’s desire to be read to in the infant room to Harper’s creative spelling of words to accompany her clay sculptures, the steps throughout these early years […]

The Outdoor Classroom Provocations & Beautiful Materials Take a moment and picture this … Jake and Ian rush down the sidewalk racing yellow trucks. Elise relaxingly swings in the shady hammock. Emyrsen and Cassie talk beneath a tree, begin to laugh, and run off. Sloane uses all her might to roll a tire up the […]