At the heart of the Reggio Emilia approach lies the concept of provocations – these are open-ended experiences carefully crafted with materials to ignite creativity, foster exploration, and encourage inquiry in children. Provocations serve as a gateway to endless possibilities, inviting young learners to engage with their environment and express their ideas with imagination and wonder. Additionally, this article will explore the distinction between provocations and invitations. What are provocations? As a teacher, you can provide an array of open-ended opportunities centered around loose parts ..read more

What are Loose Parts? Loose parts are the ultimate freedom in play. They're not your typical toys—they're the tools of imagination, waiting for children to explore, mix, match, and transform them without any rules. Imagine equipment that adapts to every whim, encouraging kids to create, dismantle, and rebuild at will. They're the blank canvas of play, inviting endless possibilities, where children lead the way, crafting their adventures without limits or predefined outcomes. Typically, loose parts are inexpensive or free. Get your free PDF of Loose Parts now and invite families to contribute ..read more

Through trial and error, I think I have FINALLY figured out an easy way to beautifully display our documentation! In Reggio Emilia schools, documentation provides a visible record of the learning experiences happening in the classroom. Not only does it reveal the experiences from our investigations, it also helps us plan for future experiences.  Previously, I’ve resorted to printed documentation that I will glue stick black paper behind it. While that also does get the job done, I wanted it to 1) fit in with my value of aesthetics and 2) save me time. Here Reggio teachers is a helpful ti ..read more

In Reggio Emilia schools, there is a long history and tradition of “self-identity panels.” The children create self-portraits which provide a special glimpse into their individuality and uniqueness.  Malaguzzi and Musatti (1996), Pelo (2007) believe that self-portraiture is deeply connected to children’s identity perceptions … stories children tell in their portraits. A self-portrait is an intimate bold declaration of identity. In her self- portrait, a child offers herself as both subject and artist. When we look at her self-portrait, we see a child as she sees herself. The story of self ..read more

As we've been giving tours of Roots & Wings, many of you asked how Reggio compares to other styles and philosophies. Here's a complete guide to educate the larger community of the different options along with specific preschools in Fort Collins. We are lucky to have so many options for our young children and I know it can feel overwhelming! Reach out if you have questions — megan@rootsandwingsfc.com.  Academic Preschools Academic preschool programs are typically teacher directed and managed. Teachers extensively plan activities for the children in their classes and guide the chil ..read more

One of the key principles of the Reggio Emilia approach is the idea of "transparency."  In a classroom, you can create transparency through light that infuses every space and in the mirrors, light tables, and glass jars that catch and reflect the light around the classroom. This also serves as a beautiful metaphor to the openness of ideas and theories from other parents and the availability of information to parents and visitors. Recently, when I visited the Boulder Journey School, I was inspired to see several small light tables sprinkled around the classroom.  In one classroom in ..read more

There is something magical about playing with light and shadow. Children are full of awe and wonder as they watch images grow and shrink depending on it’s distance from a light source. Shadow play introduces a new way of looking at the environment with curiosity and imagination. Once you begin, you will have so much fun watching the joy and delight from the children! In Reggio-Inspired schools, light and shadow is also known as one of the principles of transparency. By definition, transparency implies openness in such a way that allows light to pass through so that objects behind can be seen ..read more

Early Childhood Educator Priscilla Patti lives in Fort Collins where she has worked for over 20 years as a preschool teacher and the Director of Student Learning at the Early Childhood Center at Colorado State University. She recently sat down with me to discuss the benefits and challenges of a Reggio Emilia education as well as the pros and cons from an educator's perspective. Also, she shares her thoughts on Reggio’s future and invited us over to explore her backyard nature provocations. How did you first become interested in Reggio Emilia? I was working at the Early Childhood Center ..read more

A central feature of the Reggio Emilia approach is extensive documentation through observation, reflection, and analysis by teachers of children’s development and behavior. Documentation records the experiences of children in the classroom. It makes children’s learning visible and encourages them to become central to their own learning. Documenting children’s learning processes within a learning group helps to make learning evident and shapes the learning that takes place. The information can be used for reflection by teachers and children to extend and enhance learning and to explain the ste ..read more

While Reggio Emilia is not as widely known as Montessori or Waldorf, it is starting to attract a devoted following in the United States. Several of you have asked for more historical information on Reggio and where this philosophy originated. Here’s five important things to know about Reggio Emilia, its history in Italy, and the future of this approach to early learning. 1. The Reggio approach is geared towards early childhood education.  Similar to Montessori, Reggio is a child-centered, progressive approach to early learning. The guiding principle is that children are viewed as str ..read more