The Reggio Emilia Approach arises from the hypothesis that people form their own personalities during the early stages of development. We discuss about this and the reasons as to why the Williamsburg Northside Preschool employs Reggio Emilia as a teaching method.

2. What is Reggio Emilia Approach?
An educational philosophy developed by psychologist Loris Malaguzzi that
focuses on Preschool and Primary School education.
The theory arises from the hypothesis that people form their own personalities
during the early stages of development.
The approach believes that children are capable of communicating and
expressing their thoughts and ideas with ‘a hundred languages’.

3. Principles of Reggio Emilia Approach
Children must have a little control over the direction of their learning.
Children should be able to learn with the help of moving, touching, listening and
observing.
Children should develop relationships with fellow students along with material
items which they must be permitted to explore.
Children must explore and be supplied with numerous opportunities and ways to
express themselves.

4. What are the Roles & Responsibilities
of the Educators?
The teacher is not considered as an instructor, but as a collaborator and co-
learner with the child.
Teachers encourage the child’s learning by devising lessons and activities based
on each child’s interests.
The crux of this approach lies in the teacher’s long-term dedication towards
enhancing and understanding each child.
The teacher is required to maintain an active and mutual participation in all
activities that the children undertake.

5. How the Environment Plays an
Important Role with this Approach
Such is the importance of the physical environment in this approach that it’s also
referred as the ‘Third Teacher’.
Importance of the environment is embedded in the belief that children can
develop meanings and figure a sense of their world through an environment
that supports complex, varied and changing relationships.
Supporting this approach, Preschools must be filled with indoor plants and vines
and bursting with natural light.

6. The Hundred Languages of Children
The term ‘Hundred Languages’ suggests the various ways that little ones use to
communicate and express ideas.
Teachers present children with myriad possibilities of thinking, developing,
negotiating, constructing and expressing their thoughts and feelings
symbolically.
Communication through the means of art, music, dramatic play etc. are a few of
the endless possibilities that students can be presented with in order to express
themselves.