As I am sitting in the Chicago O’Hare International Airport, during a f i v e hour layover, I am already reflecting on how this experience will change my perspective on so many different things. Early this morning, several girls and I went to Chick-fil-A in the Birmingham Airport for pre-departure chicken minis *essential*. We began discussing our plans for our final project for the course that we are taking while in Italy. The discussion and ideas turned into a possible plan of working together to create a larger scale product.
The “Visible Learners” textbook describes the impact that group learning has on the individual learner and classroom community as a whole. The conversations that we may have while completing this project will be much more in depth as we will have several minds engaged to represent many perspectives.
Reflecting on our course readings thus far, I am wrestling with the major importance of many different people in my future classroom. Reggio schools believe in three teachers: the parents, the teachers, and the learning environment. I hope to create an inviting classroom where my students’ parents feel welcomed and included in their child’s growth as a learner and a citizen. I am struggling with picturing just how I will make this happen. I know there are many limitations within our society in American education. I also want to create an environment in my classroom that allows for open exploration and chances for the students’ to foster their own learning.
The Little Wonders Learning Center video displays the Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education in action. I am so excited to see this first hand in just a few hours!
Here we go, ciao!