A Book With No Pictures?! Watch The Children's Reaction!

Most people think children need books with pictures. Sure, they can be entertaining can bring life to a story, but they are not necessary. Children can have just as much fun with a book sans the photos! It also teaches kids to listen rather than just simply relying on the illustrations for story context clues. Watch this video to see for yourself. 

Teaching Styles: #3 Reggio Emilia

Day #3 of our teaching tour, Reggio Emilia! 

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The Reggio Emilia Approach is an educational philosophy focused on preschool and primary education. This is a style that is relatively new to the education world. During the post-World War II era, a “…desire to bring change and create a new, more just world, free from oppression, was urging women and men to gather their strength and build with their own hands schools for their young children.”Beginning in Italy, the first Reggio Emilia modeled school was opened in 1963. 

Reggio Emilia is recognized around the world as an innovative approach to teaching. In this approach, there is a belief that children have rights and should be given opportunities to develop their potential. Children are believed “knowledge bearers”, so they are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas about everything they could meet or do during the day.

• Children must have some control over the direction of their learning;
• Children must be able to learn through experiences of touching, moving, listening, seeing, and hearing;
• Children have a relationship with other children and with material items in the world that children must be allowed to explore and
• Children must have endless ways and opportunities to express themselves.

In the Reggio approach, the teacher is considered a co-learner and collaborator with the child and not just an instructor. Teachers are encouraged to facilitate the child's learning by planning activities and lessons based on the child's interests, asking questions to further understanding, and actively engaging in the activities alongside the child, instead of sitting back and observing the child learning.

The Reggio Emilia approach views children as capable, inquisitive learners and experiences are planned to spark creativity, thinking, planning and reflecting.  

An experience using natural materials is not only aesthetically pleasing, it is also delightfully open-ended, engages the senses and supports valuable connections with the natural world.

Sources:

Let The Children Play

4 Different Teaching Styles - #1 Waldorf

This is the first day to our 4-day series of teaching styles! 

Children learn in a variety of ways. Through play, music, experience and imitation, kids absorb information around them like sponges. In this 4-part series, I will go over a few of the popular teaching philosophies we see today. Each of these teaching styles have their own history and background as well as distinct values and practices. 

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First up, Waldorf education! This style began in Germany back in 1919 and is all about creative play. Waldorf's rich curriculum encourages children to learn by interacting with music, myth, theater, writing, dance, language, and nature. Young Waldorf schooled children are taught to explore both artistic expression and social capabilities from a young age. Secondary school introduces critical thinking and idealism to the mix, encouraging the use of imagination. Throughout a child's time in a Waldorf school, the goal is to combine intellectual, practical and artistic themes to create free, morally responsible and creative individuals that are socially competent. 

Teachers of the Waldorf style (whether parent, teacher or tutor) create an environment that is nurturing and which encourages learning through imitation and experimentation. The "teacher" will demonstrate various activities such as baking, gardening, painting, building etc. to stimulate the little ones' imaginations. Creative and free play is supported. 

As the children grow older, their curiosity grows, leading to experimentation in poetry, music, writing and art. By stimulating a sense of awe from a young age, critical thinking skills are developed. 

A few things that play huge roles in Waldorf education: colors, simple objects, handwork, daily rhythm, forts, musical instruments, natural toys and many more. Below are a few examples of Waldorf inspired activities to check out thanks to Alina's Adventures,  :) 

- Candle illuminated paper scenes 

- Nature painting and stamping

- Peek-a-boo sprites

 

Sources:

http://www.creativechild.com

http://www.alinasadventuresinhomemaking.com

http://www.whywaldorfworks.org