An Encounter with Reggio Emilia

Book excerpt: The documentation of young children's learning plays a vital role in the pre-schools of Reggio Emilia. This leading edge approach to bringing record-keeping and assessment into the heart of young children's learning is envied and emulated by educators around the world. The fully revised 2nd edition of An Encounter with Reggio Emilia is based upon a documentary approach to children’s learning successfully implemented by Stirling Council in Scotland, whose pre-school educators experienced dramatic improvements in their understandings about young children, how they learn and the potential unleashed in successfully engaging families in the learning process. This approach, which is based on careful listening to children and observation of their interests and concerns, centres around recording and commentating on children's learning through photos, wall displays, videos and a variety of different media. The authors include chapters on • Why early years educators should use documentation as a means to enhance young children’s learning • The values, principles and theories that underlie the ‘Reggio’ approach • How to implement documentations into any early years setting, with real-life case studies and hints for avoiding common pitfalls • How to involve, inspire and enthuse familiar and the wider community. This text is an important read for any individual working with young children or interested in the using ‘The Reggio Inspired Approach’ in their early years settings