Reggio Emilia Presentation

Here are the slides from the presentation. Have them playing and share your reflections with your colleagues or revisit the ideas yourself.

Thank you for coming to listen to my story

Chrissy

Terra - Materials and space

These frames are suspended above the cots and provide a curious collection for the children to look at while drifting off to dream time. I like the use of frames and I assume the materials on the frames could be changed.

This one is another idea using everyday materials in plastic bags and suspending them up high above the children.

Small glass bottles on string

lights - like what we could get from TYPO - suspended above the children

Another way to use the Christmas decorations all year round...sparkly and interesting for the children and function as a divider and bring the space down.

In the room with the newborn children there are mats with low mobiles for the children when having floor time. The teachers are on the floor lying down with the children.

Terra - Staff appreciation day

These mosaic tiles were designed and made in groups of 5-6 people who work at Terra. There are between 60-70 people working across Terra, including teachers for parents in school and the early childhood teachers, social workers, administration support and health professionals on site.

Team building and growing together through spending time together on creative projects strengthens relationships and creates a space for dialogue. I liked the idea of 'staff appreciation' rather than 'professional development'

Terra - Vision & Mission

Terra has a clear vision and mission statement guiding decision making, underpinned by some key values.

A group of teachers in the early childhood centre put this display together at the entry of the school.

Notice the language of 'WE' - not about what is done to or for people. More about how we will be together, guiding the organisational culture of the school

 

Goals for ongoing development as an organisation

 Service philosophy of care

Terra - My mum says I am...

The teachers talked to the parents about a word they would use to describe their child and these were the words that were shared. On the display there is a large photograph of each child below the word. These are the words that these parents use to describe their child and the aspirations they hold for them.

This is a great opportunity to include these aspirations and visualisations in the documentation to 'speak into that space'. 

It is powerful to affirm these aspirations and parent observations by paying attention to them with the child for planning, observations and assessment.

There are lots of opportunities to notice, recognise and respond to what we observe with children and use that information to innovate and be creative with our teaching

Bringing these aspirations from parents, their voice being heard to inform the teaching and included in the documentation

 I thought this was a great way to make visible the image of the child each parent holds for their child and include this in planning and assessment - making these things visible alongside all the other valued learning outcomes.

Terra - Baby Cuddlers

In the rooms with the very youngest children, there is a very important role that volunteers play. The official title of this generous group of people is a 'Baby Cuddler'. Their role is to be with the babies  give them lots of attention. With the very young children, this ensures their needs are being met at all times, ensuring optimum experiences so early on.

Who would not want this job??

Thank you Margaret for allowing me to take this picture of you.

Terra - What's in a name - visual arts with infants

The teachers plan sensory activities with the children and make anecdotal observations about the experiences. Children's names is an important part of the programme. As I went through to the other rooms at the centre, some of the projects were researching where the child's name came from and what it means both universally and personally to the family. 

This included things like if the child was named after someone and many of the parents have their child's name and for some their footprint tattooed somewhere on their body. It was a very interesting display in the room!! How many of us have tattoos that represent who we are and the people and places that are important to us.