First Steps Toward Teaching the Reggio Way

First Steps Toward Teaching the Reggio Way

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. The first book of its kind on the market, 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 constructivist and Italian curriculum by combining discussions of Reggio concepts with examples of their application in American schools. Because First Steps Toward Teaching The Reggio Way is written for practicing and potential teachers and directors, it first describes the most essential features of the Reggio philosophy from the Italian point of view and then concentrates on providing examples and practical advice from people in the United States who have been inspired by that philosophy and who are grappling with how to apply aspects of it in their American settings. "Joanne Hendrick" is professor emerita of early childhood education from the University of Oklahoma. In addition to raising four children of her own, her practical experience includes working with children at the Stanford Speech and Hearing Clinic, directing a parent-child workshop, working in Head Start, and chairing the early childhood areas at Santa Barbara City College and the University of Oklahoma. She holds an undergraduate degree from Stanford University in disorders of speech and hearing and graduate degrees from the University of California in counseling and early childhood education. She is past president of the California Association for the Education of Young Children. Her current interests include gardening, photography, traveling to exotic places, writing about young children, and enjoying her ten grandchildren.