Reflecting upon the material that we have covered in class thus far, what three things have you learned that have made the most impact on you as a teacher? How will you use these new theories/strategies in your future classroom?
I’ve learned a lot of very valuable information so far this year that will make a huge impact on my career as a teacher. Before this class I did not know anything about the Reggio Emilia approach. This approach is so much different than anything I’ve ever heard of when the topic of teaching comes up. One of the most important things I’ve learned is the deep respect you should have for your children. I know that teachers do have a respect for their students, but the Reggio approach takes it one step further. You think of your students as partners through the learning experience. They are not just your students but in a way your colleagues as well and you learn with them. This is a very integral part in the Reggio philosophy and one that I will implement in my classroom. Another thing I learned in this class is the importance of exposing my students to a wide variety of materials. I am not an art major, nor was I ever really good at art. The presentation in class where we learned about the different types of paper was such a huge help because if given the choice before that class I would have been clueless as to which type of paper to buy. There are so many different types for different purposes it can get really challenging. I am also learning so much from the art experiences we do each class. The painting experience was not only a lot of fun but also very helpful in learning about the different types of paints, surfaces to paint on and things you can do with painting! It opened my eyes to so much more than paint by numbers! One other very important thing I learned is the importance of parent involvement in the classroom. The whole reason the Reggio Emilia schools are as successful as they are, is due to the impact of parent involvement. The parents in those school systems are so driven to see their students succeed! I will do everything I can to get the parents more involved. I know that in America most parents both work outside of the house, so it may be beneficial to get their feedback on when they are able to do things such as parent teacher conferences, visit their children’s classrooms etc. If the parents are involved then the children will be more actively engaged and will be able to learn so much more!
This class has been very enlightening to me so far. I was nervous coming into this class because I am not an art education major nor am I very good at art. I also didn't have a clue what Reggio Emilia was or meant. One of the many things I have learned in this class so far are all the different techniques, ways, styles and types of ways to use paint. The class activity we did this past thursday was fun and interesting. I was amazed by how many different types of paint there are. The one I would've never thought of was painting with Via Coffee. I work at Starbucks so I told my manager and other co-workers about it, they loved it ! Also, I have learned how important parent involvement is in a classroom. It helps you as the teacher continue to be successful but it is more important for the students to have their parents be involved in the classroom so they can be successful. This class is helpiong me become more creative on art projects to have in my classroom and also to help the kids become more creative and engaged in learning. I want my students to enjoy learning and being creative. I also want them to be so excited to go home and tell their parents/guardians about what they are learning so their parents will want to come in and see all the hardwork their kids are doing. Also I have learned the major difference between an American school vs. a Reggio Emillia school. I thought in the U.S. we had a decently fun learning experience in the classroom but after learning and seeing pictures of their schools. I am just amazed by how much they allow their students to do on their own at such a young age. I think it is a great learning experience for students. I wish there were more Reggio Emillia Schools in the U.S. Also, I like how they think of their students as one of them and not just younger kids who are there to learn and you are the teacher. They are treated as if everyone was on the same level and not teacher vs. students. I believe that helps them succeed further!
There have been several ideas and concepts I have learned during this aed4150. Before enrolling into this class, I was extremely nervous because I have never taken an art class ever! But after the first few classes I realized that it was interesting to learn about the different techniques and styles of art. I loved learning all the different ways you can paint, and what kind of standards that can be connected to the activity.
I love the whole Reggio Emilia philosophy! I had never heard of it until I became enrolled into this class. I have always been fond of Italy, and am actually going to visit for two months this summer. I am even more excited then I was after learning so much more about Italy.
I have learned ways to incorporate the Reggio Emilia way into my own classroom. I love the 100 languages, I believe that is a very true statement. I can't wait to have my own classroom and let my kids explore especially, because I will be teaching early childhood education. I wish there were mire school in the U.S. like Reggio Emillia because from what we have learned it is a great way for kids to learn critical thinking. Critical thinking is one of the main problems our kids face in this generation. Reggio is a amazing from what we have learned and I am so happy I have found out about it!!
Taking this class has given me a new outlook on teaching. I used to think that i was supposed to have all the answers. But seing a different approach in the classrooms of Reggio Emelia has tossed that belief to the side. The film that we watched about reggio showed the teachers learning alongside the students. That makes the whole prospect of being a teacher even more exciting to me and i will take it with me into my own classroom. In the introduction of the film we watched, the narrorator said that the children are given time to explore a project for as long as they like or the freedom to abandon it right in the middle. I learned from that that learning and creative growth do not always fit into the boundaries of my curriculum and i need to be able to accept that and embrace the change. Thirdely, I will be making documentation boards a constnt thing in my classroom. Exploring the benefits of documentation for my group presentation gave me insight into the value of that visual tool and i will be using it regularly
Throughout the course of this semester, it has been beneficial taking this course for various reasons. I have enjoyed learning of the many materials one can explore. According to Ann Kindler, learning through play is one of the most effective strategies in educating children. This is the way for getting children to express their interest and their inner being. The way to tell expressions, dislikes,and likes. In addition, it has been helpful to learn of the many ways a child's work can be documented. According to Foreman, applying principles of negotiated learning to our work with parents, documentation of children experiences can be used by teachers to support interactive communication, providing a focus between parent and teacher. Which allows me as an educator to display many activities and have documentation too. In addition, if ever a parent has doubt that a child has learned a particular assignment, I will have documentation. Beyond those listed, I have began to develop an understanding of how essential an environment can be. This can lead to academics of every area, and can be done without many crafts. While children enjoy making prepared art activities, It is found that learning through exploring is more attractive to children. Overall, I have enjoyed having my perspective of teaching heightened. I enjoy learning of the many utensils to use and the ways to use them. I enjoy experiencing most of them, so that I know the joy my children will thrive while using each one.
So far this semester I have learned many valuable concepts and theories that I hope to make a part of the learning experience in my future classroom. I did not know anything about Reggio Emelia and actually thought that it was a person. But to my surprise it is a city that has brought many wonderful things to the world of education and has become a great advocate for children. One of the main things that I will take with me is the “Image of a child”. I have always believed that children are open books that have great potential but also believed that they needed intense direction. However, as Gandini put it “All children have preparedness, potential, curiosity, and interest in engaging in social interaction, establishing relationships, constructing their learning, and negotiating with everything the environment brings to them”. This statement broadens my respect for children as equal participants in their own learning and will hopefully help me to encourage my students to take an active role in their education. Another thing that I will take with me is the importance of the environment as the third teacher. I am a very neat and tidy person and have always envisioned my classroom as such. I have always believed that by keeping a clean and organized environment I was able to minimize distraction and make the task at hand more in focus. However, I now realize that the environment can be much more than just a clean background and if orchestrated properly it can have a huge impact on children’s learning. Finally, I have been able to see the result of an entire community coming together to work toward the goal of giving their children the best education possible. It has made me aware that a single teacher cannot be solely responsible for the children’s education and that I need to do whatever I can to get the children's community involved in their education.
When the semester is over, I will be walking away with many new valuable ideas that I will think back upon when I finally have my own art classroom. I had no idea what Reggio Emilia was. I assumed that it was a person & that we were going to be learning about "Reggio's" experiences with young children &/or their theories. Well, I was wrong.
* I admire how educators in Reggio schools view children & how they find it crucial that children have time to work on projects instead of being forced to quit without having much time to carry out their ideas & let their creativity & imagination unfold. I believe that I will use this idea & create long term projects for my students where they have time to experiment with different ideas.
* Learning about how the educators interact with the children as well as view them has made me think about how I want to view my students as well as how I was to interact with them. It is vey important to me that students find me approachable & trustworthy. i want them to feel as if they can openly share their thoughts & ideas with me without being looked strangly at. Mostly though, I believe that I will view myself right there with the children instead of above them because I will infact be learning as they are too. I don't want my students to feel as if I'm an authoritative figure whom they can't turn to.
* Last, I really want to get my students out into the community when the time comes. Doing this will make the students feel as if their work is important and that they have something to be proud of.
Only three!? lol I have actually learned a lot from this class so far. The first thing that pops in my head is "Environment as Third Teacher", probably just because I'm worrying about getting the Environment project done. Although, it is something that continually seems to pop up, often when i'm working with my son on his homework. I've been realizing more and more how much a determining factor the environmental setting is for him to be able to concentrate and be comfortable, which are essential to facilitating the learning process. In my intro to education class we also talked about how learning is innately something uncomfortable; confronting the unknown. And as we discussed in our class, anything we as an facilitator can do to ease that discomfort and tension of learning something new. And even more important, the environment can be a tool to entice and lure the student into an fun and exciting activity, where learning is at it most active and critical. Which leads to the next important thing I've learned; the teacher as a facilitator, or protagonist. What this means to me is asking open-ended questions, and antagonizing others to think about and explore all the myriad possibilities. Rather than being the authority on what the answer is(banking method) the teacher is there to encourage other to be their own authority, and intrigue them to become actively engaged in the process. The teacher is there to use help students integrate their own interests and experiences into the learning process. Which leaves me with the third thing I've learned, the idea behind an Emergent Curriculum; the importance of trusting the child to make free and independent choices. Too often I find myself wanting to structure things with my own children very regimentally my way, because of a particular objective I want them to reach i.e. understanding a concept. But rather than having the objective already pre-determined with a plan of how to reach that goal, the educator ought to start with the child's objectives and interests first, and then finding a way to create a learning experience out of it, even if that means the objective met isn't the original goal that I may have had in mind, or that the student may have had in mind for that matter. Learning is often the result of making mistakes, and trial and errors, which often leads to learning something that is a completely unexpected. Even though we might have set out to accomplish one thing and yet didn't, doesn't mean that the thing we DID accomplish is any less meaningful or valuable. In the end, the child is going to learn best when it's something they're actively interested in and curious about, and starting with that as the core and then building a "lesson" out of that, is, I believe, a far superior way to create a curriculum. Even if it simply means that the child learned something about social interactions, or how to care for something or someone; this is in many respects one of the most valuable things education can provide.
Three things..Ok. First I have learned that natural material not only fun for children to use but also educational and allows for experimentation. As a Girl Scout leader I always had my troops use natural items, we created an American flag to hang on a door with sticks, paint and wire. However, I guess I never thought of it as educational or experimental, I thought it was an inexpensive way to make the same thing I had seen at a craft show using wooden dowels. I will now look at the natural environment not only as a free supply but as a way for students to explore the world around them. The second thing I have learned is not to expect cookie cutter projects all of the time. I am one who usually has a plan, directions and everyone makes it as such. I can now see the benefit of individual creativity in just allowing the student to handle the material and discover the project behind it. Although I am not probably going to do this with every project, I surely will use it more often than I ever though before. The third thing I have learned is to look at the environment and make sure that it is not only inviting, but provides plenty of space for creative thinking and problem solving. I am a very organized person and can appreciate the open spaces, clean lines, and organized materials. I will most likely set up my classroom differently now that I have seen these concepts used to develop creativity in children. I am not an artistic person, I would consider myself crafty. I can see something and copy it very well but to draw on my own is a nightmare. I hope that my own students will not feel as I do and will be less self critical and more willing to just explore and create.
It is truly hard for me to pick just three things that I have learned that will impact me as a teacher. I know that the information that I am learning in this class will enable me to be a better teacher regardless of the age level that I am teaching. So far I believe three things that have impacted me are the importance of environment, the role of the child/student, and the philosophy of Reggio Emilia. As I said before, regardless of the age of the students, the theories and philosophies of Reggio can be transformed into my own classroom.
The importance of the environment plays a huge role in how the children learn. By playing up the aesthetics of art and staying away from stereotypes, we are setting the students up to a more creative environment and critical thinking (Aesthetic Codes in Early Childhood Classrooms, Tarr). The role of the child is just as important as the teacher. Even with some of the limitations that the standards put in our way, we as educators must find creative ways to bring the child to the front. They can be involved with discussions, help design lessons, and should be free to express their creativeness. The third thing I am taking away from this course is the philosophy of Reggio Emilia in general. If I can walk away with any information from this class it would be how to implement the Reggio "way" into my future classroom. I know it can pose problems however, if I do my best to put the students first they will thrive. I am going to let them lead whenever possible. I know I will be giving them the opportunity to learn at a deeper level but also learn from each other.
i have learned how important the environment is to the creative process of the child. having things in the classroom that trigger the creativity in a child is key to getting them involved in projects. having the materials at their level for a comfortable working area and a variety of materials and art media for them to experiment with is good to keep them inspired. the child as a starting point for projects. finding out what they like and what interests them to build from their ideas. there are ways to incorporate other lessons into their art such as history, math and science. by beginning with the childs interests they are more willing to futher investigate and learn more. and it is ok to stop a project in the middle. taking a break if they loose interest. the projects can be more successful if the can return to them later. this way the child doesn't feel like the project is no longer fun. when children are enjoying learning and experimenting they are more likely to move forward. i have practiced some reggio methods in my classroom. my students will stop a project start another but they always go back the the first. i brought some magazines to the classroom and one of my students that hardly participates asked if he could start a collage. even though he doesn't care to do the assignments that i have given i was happy to see that there was something that he want to do. i excited to see how his project turns out.
Through the semester, I have learned many valuable lessons from this class that I am hoping to take into my teaching career. Being in art education, I've tried to focus on the big pictures that can be applied to all age levels, not just early childhood. The first major point I can identify with is that a teacher should not just teach, but facilitate the learning with the students. Looking back in my schooling, my favorite and most beneficial teachers have been those in the field that do more than just lecture and turn the student loose. They serve as a guide. The second point is the environment serving as a third teacher. In an artistic setting, the most restricting thing that can happen is an environment that is not cohesive to the learning. A bland, gray studio space hinders creativity across all age levels. The third, and possibly most important point to me, is the Reggio sense of time. Activities do not need to be structured into a time frame. This only hampers the learning experience with materials. Personally, I've made my best work under these conditions, working at my own pace in a conducive environment with an educator that assisted me with the processes.
Coming into this class I had already learned a bit about the approach. Most of the things I’ve learned thus far are ways of learning as teachers. This has been so beneficial in completing my knowledge of this subject. Documentation (which happened to be my presentation group), is such a fantastic way of keeping track of what’s happening with your children in your classroom. As well as its great assets to the review process. I’ve learned that reciprocal learning and teaching is the best way of keeping students interested, as well as inside that proximal zone of development. The best thing I’ve learned is the history and base for Reggio, as well as the differences between Their schools and ours, including Montessori centers. Not to mention all of the information about how to interact with the child, and keep a successful anti stuctured enviroment.
During this semester I have learned many astounding things about the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. The three things that have made the biggest impression on me are the concept of the "Environment as the third teacher," the level of community involvement, and the involvement of non-teaching staff in the educational process.
I hope to implement these ideas into my future classroom. It is my goal to create a classroom environment that challenges the intellect, inspires creativity, stimulates the senses, and is a catalyst to exploration and learning. I hope involve adults from other professions in activities in my classroom and inspire students to work with them. I also hope to invite the community and parents by offering interesting workshops involving the school.
Even though it's not even been half the semester, I feel like I've learned so much that I want to apply to my future classroom. The first is that I want my classroom environment to serve as the third teacher, especially in Early Childhood. As an art teacher I feel that it will be really exciting to surround my students with materials that will engage and excite them, and also teach them something new and have them problem solve. A second thing I've learned is that I don't want to restrict my students to a certain time limit on their art projects. I know that when I was in high school, and even now in college, I get frustrated that I don't have all the time I want for my artworks, so I can't put as much in to them as I ideally would like. I feel like that since I'm restricted on time, it also restricts my artworks as well. My students will be allowed to work on a project until they are satisfied with it, or until they want to abandon it and move on to something else. And thirdly I want my students to feel like I'm their equal. I don't want them to see me as their superior, but rather as someone who is facilitating their art, as well as learning aside with them. I also want to create documentation boards and keep good records of my students' works and projects.
There are so many things I've learned in this class, that narrowing it down to 3 will be difficult! Before I came to this class, I had no idea what Reggio was (I thought it was a WHO Reggio was!) or how much our educational system REALLY needs to change! Here are a few of the things that I have learned:
1. The significance of the child's artwork and how to talk to them about it.
One of the things that was mentioned in the Painting article was that "initially [children] find meaning rather than set out to deliberately create it" (Kolbe 53). That's something we need to remember as art teachers and Early childhood professionals: Don't look for something that isn't there. Wait for the child to assign it meaning. Think of all your children as little "Jackson Pollacks:" The significance of the drawing/art making is the EXPERIENCE itself.
2. The significance of reflection and planning based on the child's previous knowledge (B) and the child's interests.
Fyfe's article starts out reviewing some of the things we've been learning all along in regards to this. She says [it's important to go] "beyond simply identifying the children's interest/their current knowledge, the their level of articulation about [it, and find the reasons to how they acquired said knowledge, why they have the interests they do and how we can build upon their knowledge base and how they feel about their work through documentation]" (Fyfe 241). The only way to improve and build upon a lesson is through reflection. Often times, the traditional teacher will do this at home by his/herself. But the ideal way would involve the students. After a project, for example, the bulletin board would be the perfect place to use documentation of the activities to jog the children's minds and build upon from there to see where to take the project next based on what is now prior knowledge and their interests.
3. The significance of the child's thoughts, feelings and ideas. This is an idea embedded within ALL of our readings and throughout the Reggio Emilia philosophy. And frankly as a parent, I believe that parents should learning the Reggio approach early on in their role as parents so they can model their behavior towards and with their child after the Reggio concept. Some of the things children say are profound, and some are just out of necessity, but should be treated with equal importance. Never get too caught up in what YOU are doing or feeling to LISTEN to what your child (or the child in your classroom) wants to share with you about what he/she is doing or feeling. My advice that I'm learning to live by: Accept nothing less from yourself than this. If you've learned NOTHING from this class or from college (which is totally not true) at least hold this one true to your heart!
Upon entering this class I was very excited to be taking an art class because I have also enjoyed art, but was also a little worried because I may enjoy art, but I am not the best artistic person when it comes to art. Although I may not be artistic I have come to realize that it is okay that I am not the best artist because the class is based on the importance of children's artistic ability and what they can do with their creativity minds. Three things I have truly enjoyed learning in this class are learning about Reggio Emilia, Environment as a Third Teacher, and how scribbling is important.
When entering upon this class I knew a little information on the history of Reggio Emilia, but since the couple weeks of being in this class I have learned a great deal on Reggio Emilia. Surprisingly I have truly enjoyed the way of Reggio Emilia. Yes, I do agree and believe Reggio Emilia is a different way of teaching and something we are not use to, but to me I feel it truly motivates the child's mind. By letting the child learn on their own I feel they are getting more out of the learning experience. Yes, I do believe we as teachers should still be able to help inspire them, but I do believe that if we just take a little tiny step back, and let the child explore their creative mind, we will see what truly a child can do and what a child can learn. I believe I can use this in my own classroom some day by having different activities set up for the child for that subject matter that will help them explore the subject matter more hands on and visually, rather me writing down notes. I feel if we are learning about the ocean, the child should be able to take the materials I have set out, make their own ocean of what it looks like and what belongs in the ocean. This will help the child learn on their own about the ocean, but it will give me an idea of what they know and do not know.
The second topic I believe has impacted me as a teacher is the environment as a third teacher. This was a little difficult at first to do, but after some time and learning I feel that this is important to a child. We as teachers should be able to set up an environment that will help interest the child in learning. This environment should be visiual with experiences for the child to engage in.
Finally the third impact that I have learned is that scribbling is important. In the early stages of life I have learned that scribbling becomes important to a child because for them its a way to communicate to us. The scribbling becomes symbols that convey meaning, just like our regular words convey meaning.
I feel that me as a teacher, will someday be able to incorporate these three things into my own classroom after learning them, and after being able to experience this hands on.
I’ve learned a lot of very valuable information so far this year that will make a huge impact on my career as a teacher. Before this class I did not know anything about the Reggio Emilia approach. This approach is so much different than anything I’ve ever heard of when the topic of teaching comes up.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most important things I’ve learned is the deep respect you should have for your children. I know that teachers do have a respect for their students, but the Reggio approach takes it one step further. You think of your students as partners through the learning experience. They are not just your students but in a way your colleagues as well and you learn with them. This is a very integral part in the Reggio philosophy and one that I will implement in my classroom.
Another thing I learned in this class is the importance of exposing my students to a wide variety of materials. I am not an art major, nor was I ever really good at art. The presentation in class where we learned about the different types of paper was such a huge help because if given the choice before that class I would have been clueless as to which type of paper to buy. There are so many different types for different purposes it can get really challenging. I am also learning so much from the art experiences we do each class. The painting experience was not only a lot of fun but also very helpful in learning about the different types of paints, surfaces to paint on and things you can do with painting! It opened my eyes to so much more than paint by numbers!
One other very important thing I learned is the importance of parent involvement in the classroom. The whole reason the Reggio Emilia schools are as successful as they are, is due to the impact of parent involvement. The parents in those school systems are so driven to see their students succeed! I will do everything I can to get the parents more involved. I know that in America most parents both work outside of the house, so it may be beneficial to get their feedback on when they are able to do things such as parent teacher conferences, visit their children’s classrooms etc. If the parents are involved then the children will be more actively engaged and will be able to learn so much more!
This class has been very enlightening to me so far. I was nervous coming into this class because I am not an art education major nor am I very good at art. I also didn't have a clue what Reggio Emilia was or meant.
ReplyDeleteOne of the many things I have learned in this class so far are all the different techniques, ways, styles and types of ways to use paint. The class activity we did this past thursday was fun and interesting. I was amazed by how many different types of paint there are. The one I would've never thought of was painting with Via Coffee. I work at Starbucks so I told my manager and other co-workers about it, they loved it !
Also, I have learned how important parent involvement is in a classroom. It helps you as the teacher continue to be successful but it is more important for the students to have their parents be involved in the classroom so they can be successful. This class is helpiong me become more creative on art projects to have in my classroom and also to help the kids become more creative and engaged in learning. I want my students to enjoy learning and being creative. I also want them to be so excited to go home and tell their parents/guardians about what they are learning so their parents will want to come in and see all the hardwork their kids are doing.
Also I have learned the major difference between an American school vs. a Reggio Emillia school. I thought in the U.S. we had a decently fun learning experience in the classroom but after learning and seeing pictures of their schools. I am just amazed by how much they allow their students to do on their own at such a young age. I think it is a great learning experience for students. I wish there were more Reggio Emillia Schools in the U.S. Also, I like how they think of their students as one of them and not just younger kids who are there to learn and you are the teacher. They are treated as if everyone was on the same level and not teacher vs. students. I believe that helps them succeed further!
There have been several ideas and concepts I have learned during this aed4150. Before enrolling into this class, I was extremely nervous because I have never taken an art class ever! But after the first few classes I realized that it was interesting to learn about the different techniques and styles of art. I loved learning all the different ways you can paint, and what kind of standards that can be connected to the activity.
ReplyDeleteI love the whole Reggio Emilia philosophy! I had never heard of it until I became enrolled into this class. I have always been fond of Italy, and am actually going to visit for two months this summer. I am even more excited then I was after learning so much more about Italy.
I have learned ways to incorporate the Reggio Emilia way into my own classroom. I love the 100 languages, I believe that is a very true statement. I can't wait to have my own classroom and let my kids explore especially, because I will be teaching early childhood education. I wish there were mire school in the U.S. like Reggio Emillia because from what we have learned it is a great way for kids to learn critical thinking. Critical thinking is one of the main problems our kids face in this generation. Reggio is a amazing from what we have learned and I am so happy I have found out about it!!
Taking this class has given me a new outlook on teaching. I used to think that i was supposed to have all the answers. But seing a different approach in the classrooms of Reggio Emelia has tossed that belief to the side. The film that we watched about reggio showed the teachers learning alongside the students. That makes the whole prospect of being a teacher even more exciting to me and i will take it with me into my own classroom. In the introduction of the film we watched, the narrorator said that the children are given time to explore a project for as long as they like or the freedom to abandon it right in the middle. I learned from that that learning and creative growth do not always fit into the boundaries of my curriculum and i need to be able to accept that and embrace the change. Thirdely, I will be making documentation boards a constnt thing in my classroom. Exploring the benefits of documentation for my group presentation gave me insight into the value of that visual tool and i will be using it regularly
ReplyDeleteThroughout the course of this semester, it has been beneficial taking this course for various reasons. I have enjoyed learning of the many materials one can explore. According to Ann Kindler, learning through play is one of the most effective strategies in educating children. This is the way for getting children to express their interest and their inner being. The way to tell expressions, dislikes,and likes. In addition, it has been helpful to learn of the many ways a child's work can be documented. According to Foreman, applying principles of negotiated learning to our work with parents, documentation of children experiences can be used by teachers to support interactive communication, providing a focus between parent and teacher. Which allows me as an educator to display many activities and have documentation too. In addition, if ever a parent has doubt that a child has learned a particular assignment, I will have documentation.
ReplyDeleteBeyond those listed, I have began to develop an understanding of how essential an environment can be. This can lead to academics of every area, and can be done without many crafts. While children enjoy making prepared art activities, It is found that learning through exploring is more attractive to children.
Overall, I have enjoyed having my perspective of teaching heightened. I enjoy learning of the many utensils to use and the ways to use them. I enjoy experiencing most of them, so that I know the joy my children will thrive while using each one.
So far this semester I have learned many valuable concepts and theories that I hope to make a part of the learning experience in my future classroom. I did not know anything about Reggio Emelia and actually thought that it was a person. But to my surprise it is a city that has brought many wonderful things to the world of education and has become a great advocate for children.
ReplyDeleteOne of the main things that I will take with me is the “Image of a child”. I have always believed that children are open books that have great potential but also believed that they needed intense direction. However, as Gandini put it “All children have preparedness, potential, curiosity, and interest in engaging in social interaction, establishing relationships, constructing their learning, and negotiating with everything the environment brings to them”. This statement broadens my respect for children as equal participants in their own learning and will hopefully help me to encourage my students to take an active role in their education.
Another thing that I will take with me is the importance of the environment as the third teacher. I am a very neat and tidy person and have always envisioned my classroom as such. I have always believed that by keeping a clean and organized environment I was able to minimize distraction and make the task at hand more in focus. However, I now realize that the environment can be much more than just a clean background and if orchestrated properly it can have a huge impact on children’s learning.
Finally, I have been able to see the result of an entire community coming together to work toward the goal of giving their children the best education possible. It has made me aware that a single teacher cannot be solely responsible for the children’s education and that I need to do whatever I can to get the children's community involved in their education.
When the semester is over, I will be walking away with many new valuable ideas that I will think back upon when I finally have my own art classroom. I had no idea what Reggio Emilia was. I assumed that it was a person & that we were going to be learning about "Reggio's" experiences with young children &/or their theories. Well, I was wrong.
ReplyDelete* I admire how educators in Reggio schools view children & how they find it crucial that children have time to work on projects instead of being forced to quit without having much time to carry out their ideas & let their creativity & imagination unfold. I believe that I will use this idea & create long term projects for my students where they have time to experiment with different ideas.
* Learning about how the educators interact with the children as well as view them has made me think about how I want to view my students as well as how I was to interact with them. It is vey important to me that students find me approachable & trustworthy. i want them to feel as if they can openly share their thoughts & ideas with me without being looked strangly at. Mostly though, I believe that I will view myself right there with the children instead of above them because I will infact be learning as they are too. I don't want my students to feel as if I'm an authoritative figure whom they can't turn to.
* Last, I really want to get my students out into the community when the time comes. Doing this will make the students feel as if their work is important and that they have something to be proud of.
Only three!? lol
ReplyDeleteI have actually learned a lot from this class so far.
The first thing that pops in my head is "Environment as Third Teacher", probably just because I'm worrying about getting the Environment project done. Although, it is something that continually seems to pop up, often when i'm working with my son on his homework. I've been realizing more and more how much a determining factor the environmental setting is for him to be able to concentrate and be comfortable, which are essential to facilitating the learning process.
In my intro to education class we also talked about how learning is innately something uncomfortable; confronting the unknown. And as we discussed in our class, anything we as an facilitator can do to ease that discomfort and tension of learning something new. And even more important, the environment can be a tool to entice and lure the student into an fun and exciting activity, where learning is at it most active and critical.
Which leads to the next important thing I've learned; the teacher as a facilitator, or protagonist. What this means to me is asking open-ended questions, and antagonizing others to think about and explore all the myriad possibilities. Rather than being the authority on what the answer is(banking method) the teacher is there to encourage other to be their own authority, and intrigue them to become actively engaged in the process. The teacher is there to use help students integrate their own interests and experiences into the learning process.
Which leaves me with the third thing I've learned, the idea behind an Emergent Curriculum; the importance of trusting the child to make free and independent choices. Too often I find myself wanting to structure things with my own children very regimentally my way, because of a particular objective I want them to reach i.e. understanding a concept. But rather than having the objective already pre-determined with a plan of how to reach that goal, the educator ought to start with the child's objectives and interests first, and then finding a way to create a learning experience out of it, even if that means the objective met isn't the original goal that I may have had in mind, or that the student may have had in mind for that matter. Learning is often the result of making mistakes, and trial and errors, which often leads to learning something that is a completely unexpected. Even though we might have set out to accomplish one thing and yet didn't, doesn't mean that the thing we DID accomplish is any less meaningful or valuable. In the end, the child is going to learn best when it's something they're actively interested in and curious about, and starting with that as the core and then building a "lesson" out of that, is, I believe, a far superior way to create a curriculum. Even if it simply means that the child learned something about social interactions, or how to care for something or someone; this is in many respects one of the most valuable things education can provide.
Three things..Ok. First I have learned that natural material not only fun for children to use but also educational and allows for experimentation. As a Girl Scout leader I always had my troops use natural items, we created an American flag to hang on a door with sticks, paint and wire. However, I guess I never thought of it as educational or experimental, I thought it was an inexpensive way to make the same thing I had seen at a craft show using wooden dowels. I will now look at the natural environment not only as a free supply but as a way for students to explore the world around them. The second thing I have learned is not to expect cookie cutter projects all of the time. I am one who usually has a plan, directions and everyone makes it as such. I can now see the benefit of individual creativity in just allowing the student to handle the material and discover the project behind it. Although I am not probably going to do this with every project, I surely will use it more often than I ever though before. The third thing I have learned is to look at the environment and make sure that it is not only inviting, but provides plenty of space for creative thinking and problem solving. I am a very organized person and can appreciate the open spaces, clean lines, and organized materials. I will most likely set up my classroom differently now that I have seen these concepts used to develop creativity in children. I am not an artistic person, I would consider myself crafty. I can see something and copy it very well but to draw on my own is a nightmare. I hope that my own students will not feel as I do and will be less self critical and more willing to just explore and create.
ReplyDeleteIt is truly hard for me to pick just three things that I have learned that will impact me as a teacher. I know that the information that I am learning in this class will enable me to be a better teacher regardless of the age level that I am teaching. So far I believe three things that have impacted me are the importance of environment, the role of the child/student, and the philosophy of Reggio Emilia. As I said before, regardless of the age of the students, the theories and philosophies of Reggio can be transformed into my own classroom.
ReplyDeleteThe importance of the environment plays a huge role in how the children learn. By playing up the aesthetics of art and staying away from stereotypes, we are setting the students up to a more creative environment and critical thinking (Aesthetic Codes in Early Childhood Classrooms, Tarr). The role of the child is just as important as the teacher. Even with some of the limitations that the standards put in our way, we as educators must find creative ways to bring the child to the front. They can be involved with discussions, help design lessons, and should be free to express their creativeness. The third thing I am taking away from this course is the philosophy of Reggio Emilia in general. If I can walk away with any information from this class it would be how to implement the Reggio "way" into my future classroom. I know it can pose problems however, if I do my best to put the students first they will thrive. I am going to let them lead whenever possible. I know I will be giving them the opportunity to learn at a deeper level but also learn from each other.
i have learned how important the environment is to the creative process of the child. having things in the classroom that trigger the creativity in a child is key to getting them involved in projects. having the materials at their level for a comfortable working area and a variety of materials and art media for them to experiment with is good to keep them inspired. the child as a starting point for projects. finding out what they like and what interests them to build from their ideas. there are ways to incorporate other lessons into their art such as history, math and science. by beginning with the childs interests they are more willing to futher investigate and learn more. and it is ok to stop a project in the middle. taking a break if they loose interest. the projects can be more successful if the can return to them later. this way the child doesn't feel like the project is no longer fun. when children are enjoying learning and experimenting they are more likely to move forward. i have practiced some reggio methods in my classroom. my students will stop a project start another but they always go back the the first. i brought some magazines to the classroom and one of my students that hardly participates asked if he could start a collage. even though he doesn't care to do the assignments that i have given i was happy to see that there was something that he want to do. i excited to see how his project turns out.
ReplyDeleteThrough the semester, I have learned many valuable lessons from this class that I am hoping to take into my teaching career. Being in art education, I've tried to focus on the big pictures that can be applied to all age levels, not just early childhood. The first major point I can identify with is that a teacher should not just teach, but facilitate the learning with the students. Looking back in my schooling, my favorite and most beneficial teachers have been those in the field that do more than just lecture and turn the student loose. They serve as a guide. The second point is the environment serving as a third teacher. In an artistic setting, the most restricting thing that can happen is an environment that is not cohesive to the learning. A bland, gray studio space hinders creativity across all age levels. The third, and possibly most important point to me, is the Reggio sense of time. Activities do not need to be structured into a time frame. This only hampers the learning experience with materials. Personally, I've made my best work under these conditions, working at my own pace in a conducive environment with an educator that assisted me with the processes.
ReplyDeleteComing into this class I had already learned a bit about the approach. Most of the things I’ve learned thus far are ways of learning as teachers. This has been so beneficial in completing my knowledge of this subject.
ReplyDeleteDocumentation (which happened to be my presentation group), is such a fantastic way of keeping track of what’s happening with your children in your classroom. As well as its great assets to the review process.
I’ve learned that reciprocal learning and teaching is the best way of keeping students interested, as well as inside that proximal zone of development.
The best thing I’ve learned is the history and base for Reggio, as well as the differences between Their schools and ours, including Montessori centers.
Not to mention all of the information about how to interact with the child, and keep a successful anti stuctured enviroment.
During this semester I have learned many astounding things about the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. The three things that have made the biggest impression on me are the concept of the "Environment as the third teacher," the level of community involvement, and the involvement of non-teaching staff in the educational process.
ReplyDeleteI hope to implement these ideas into my future classroom. It is my goal to create a classroom environment that challenges the intellect, inspires creativity, stimulates the senses, and is a catalyst to exploration and learning. I hope involve adults from other professions in activities in my classroom and inspire students to work with them. I also hope to invite the community and parents by offering interesting workshops involving the school.
Even though it's not even been half the semester, I feel like I've learned so much that I want to apply to my future classroom. The first is that I want my classroom environment to serve as the third teacher, especially in Early Childhood. As an art teacher I feel that it will be really exciting to surround my students with materials that will engage and excite them, and also teach them something new and have them problem solve. A second thing I've learned is that I don't want to restrict my students to a certain time limit on their art projects. I know that when I was in high school, and even now in college, I get frustrated that I don't have all the time I want for my artworks, so I can't put as much in to them as I ideally would like. I feel like that since I'm restricted on time, it also restricts my artworks as well. My students will be allowed to work on a project until they are satisfied with it, or until they want to abandon it and move on to something else. And thirdly I want my students to feel like I'm their equal. I don't want them to see me as their superior, but rather as someone who is facilitating their art, as well as learning aside with them. I also want to create documentation boards and keep good records of my students' works and projects.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many things I've learned in this class, that narrowing it down to 3 will be difficult! Before I came to this class, I had no idea what Reggio was (I thought it was a WHO Reggio was!) or how much our educational system REALLY needs to change!
ReplyDeleteHere are a few of the things that I have learned:
1. The significance of the child's artwork and how to talk to them about it.
One of the things that was mentioned in the Painting article was that "initially [children] find meaning rather than set out to deliberately create it" (Kolbe 53). That's something we need to remember as art teachers and Early childhood professionals: Don't look for something that isn't there. Wait for the child to assign it meaning. Think of all your children as little "Jackson Pollacks:" The significance of the drawing/art making is the EXPERIENCE itself.
2. The significance of reflection and planning based on the child's previous knowledge (B) and the child's interests.
Fyfe's article starts out reviewing some of the things we've been learning all along in regards to this. She says [it's important to go] "beyond simply identifying the children's interest/their current knowledge, the their level of articulation about [it, and find the reasons to how they acquired said knowledge, why they have the interests they do and how we can build upon their knowledge base and how they feel about their work through documentation]" (Fyfe 241).
The only way to improve and build upon a lesson is through reflection. Often times, the traditional teacher will do this at home by his/herself. But the ideal way would involve the students. After a project, for example, the bulletin board would be the perfect place to use documentation of the activities to jog the children's minds and build upon from there to see where to take the project next based on what is now prior knowledge and their interests.
3. The significance of the child's thoughts, feelings and ideas.
This is an idea embedded within ALL of our readings and throughout the Reggio Emilia philosophy. And frankly as a parent, I believe that parents should learning the Reggio approach early on in their role as parents so they can model their behavior towards and with their child after the Reggio concept. Some of the things children say are profound, and some are just out of necessity, but should be treated with equal importance. Never get too caught up in what YOU are doing or feeling to LISTEN to what your child (or the child in your classroom) wants to share with you about what he/she is doing or feeling. My advice that I'm learning to live by: Accept nothing less from yourself than this. If you've learned NOTHING from this class or from college (which is totally not true) at least hold this one true to your heart!
Upon entering this class I was very excited to be taking an art class because I have also enjoyed art, but was also a little worried because I may enjoy art, but I am not the best artistic person when it comes to art. Although I may not be artistic I have come to realize that it is okay that I am not the best artist because the class is based on the importance of children's artistic ability and what they can do with their creativity minds. Three things I have truly enjoyed learning in this class are learning about Reggio Emilia, Environment as a Third Teacher, and how scribbling is important.
ReplyDeleteWhen entering upon this class I knew a little information on the history of Reggio Emilia, but since the couple weeks of being in this class I have learned a great deal on Reggio Emilia. Surprisingly I have truly enjoyed the way of Reggio Emilia. Yes, I do agree and believe Reggio Emilia is a different way of teaching and something we are not use to, but to me I feel it truly motivates the child's mind. By letting the child learn on their own I feel they are getting more out of the learning experience. Yes, I do believe we as teachers should still be able to help inspire them, but I do believe that if we just take a little tiny step back, and let the child explore their creative mind, we will see what truly a child can do and what a child can learn. I believe I can use this in my own classroom some day by having different activities set up for the child for that subject matter that will help them explore the subject matter more hands on and visually, rather me writing down notes. I feel if we are learning about the ocean, the child should be able to take the materials I have set out, make their own ocean of what it looks like and what belongs in the ocean. This will help the child learn on their own about the ocean, but it will give me an idea of what they know and do not know.
The second topic I believe has impacted me as a teacher is the environment as a third teacher. This was a little difficult at first to do, but after some time and learning I feel that this is important to a child. We as teachers should be able to set up an environment that will help interest the child in learning. This environment should be visiual with experiences for the child to engage in.
Finally the third impact that I have learned is that scribbling is important. In the early stages of life I have learned that scribbling becomes important to a child because for them its a way to communicate to us. The scribbling becomes symbols that convey meaning, just like our regular words convey meaning.
I feel that me as a teacher, will someday be able to incorporate these three things into my own classroom after learning them, and after being able to experience this hands on.