First Steps Toward Teaching the Reggio Way

by Joanne Hendrick

The first book of its kind, this timely, hands-on guide examines how real teachers in real schools are working to grasp the principles of the Reggio Emilia approach and apply them in their every day classroom settings. Written for practicing and future teachers by leading advocates of the Reggio philosophy, it explores the most essential features of this emergent and constructive Italian curriculum by combining discussions of Reggio concepts with examples of their application in American schools. Written in simple, clear language by foremost American and Italian authorities in the field, the book answers the burgeoning need for information on this emergent, inquiry-based, project approach philosophy in early childhood education. Offering practical, real-life examples and advice, it shares experiences of ordinary teachers working to apply the Reggio Approach in their own classrooms, and demonstrates its wide applicability by discussing its implementation in a variety of teaching settings - including preschool, elementary school, with inner city children, in children's museums and more. College professors and practicing teachers in Early Childhood, Education or Home Economics.

Genres: Education

253 pages, Paperback

First published July 22, 1996

Reviews

[Tony duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

as with almost any book about reggio Emillia it is brilliant. not because the authors or ideas are themselves something special( though they usually are) but because the ideas of Reggio are so beyond what just about anyone else is doing in practical terms. This isn't just theory to them it is reality and they are trying to show us that we actually can live in a world where everyone is good!. You just have to raise children so that they accurately learn to understand reality and how valuable positive communication is. including such ideas as conflict is actually valuable to communication and to building real intimacy.

These are such PC ideas, but I know almost no americans, certainly almost none of my friends who really understand this. And of course none of my friends will actually read these books, because they are about kids. And also because they think they know this stuff already. yet when there is conflict in relationships almost all of my friends get defensive rather than look at it as a place to learn.

I don;t mean to pick on my friends, this is across the board. these ideas are given lip service all over the place among progressives, yet very few actually pracitce them in their personal lived.
End of rant

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

American interpretations section not so interesting, but chapters before were good. New ideas though I've read tons of Reggio books