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Article: Reggio Provocation VS an Invitation for learning choices

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Article: Reggio Provocation VS an Invitation for learning choices

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The design of learning invitations and provocations for children can be compared to the pleasure of giving a gift to a dear friend.

When you want to give a gift to someone, you happily search for something you think she will love. You carefully select the gift and present it in a beautiful way, with colourful wrappings, ribbons, and fond words. You eagerly anticipate the surprise and delight your gift will inspire, and you trust she will love it because it came from knowing her so well.

In teaching, the gift of materials comes from your relationship with the children. The materials represent a bit of you and who you are, as well as the tender way in which you know the children. The children accept these gifts with appreciation, bringing their own ideas and passions to them, which in turn is a gift to you from them.

Deb Curtis and Margie Carter (2008)

Invitations and provocations are gifts of learning. To ensure these gifts will effectively develop and honour the child, the provocations and invitations need to be offered following deep consideration and with deliberate intention by the teacher.

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What is a Learning Provocation? - My Teaching Cupboard

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Learning provocations are used in the classroom to "provoke" thought and motivate thinking or investigation. There is some debate regarding the difference between a learning invitation and a learning provocation. Many people use these terms interchangeably. A little research found that a

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Article: Reggio Emilia Inspired Art Studio

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Article: Reggio Emilia Inspired Art Studio

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Over the past several months I've received quite a few emails asking me about my role as atelierista, aka art teacher, in a Reggio inspired preschool. I thought I would share my experience here in hopes that I can shed some light on this mysterious "Reggio" word that has become quite trendy over the past decade. Perhaps you are interested in becoming a Reggio inspired art teacher. Or perhaps you've heard this word "atelierista" and thought "What the heck does that even mean?" I will try to demystify my role as much as I can for you here, in addition to sharing a bit about our art studio space and why I love it so much.

*This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support!

And if you like this post, be sure to check out my ebook Art Secrets Every Teacher Should Know...a Reggio Inspired Approach.
I started working as a Reggio inspired Atelierista at an Early Childhood Center in the San Fernando Valley almost two years ago. I am in no way an expert on this subject. I can only share with you what I've learned and how I've applied my learning to our own studio. If you want advice from Reggio experts, I would recommend reading the following books that are filled with helpful information on the subject. I also love the blog An Everyday Story, which has a ton of great information on the Reggio Emelia Approach to Learning. Working in the Reggio Way: A Beginner's Guide for American Teachers Bringing Reggio Emelia Home The Language of Art
and my favorite teaching book

Below I will share the Reggio basics as I see them. I don't want to minimize the philosophy in anyway. I have a deep respect for the Reggio Approach to Learning. I am also aware I am not an expert. My intention here is to offer some basic knowledge of the Reggio approach as I understand it, and to share my experience in a Reggio inspired art studio.

1. Children use A Hundred Languages to express themselves. Words, symbols, sounds, music, art, etc. It is through those languages we learn about our children and what is important to them.

2. Children learn through interacting with their peers. ( Social Constructivism)

3. The environment is the third teacher - The teacher, parent and classroom are all teachers in a Reggio environment. The atelier, or art studio, plays an especially important role in enhancing and guiding the community.

4. Children are capable people who can drive their own learning.

5. Documentation acts a reflective learning tool to guide teachers and students. I'm sorry I don't have any great examples of documentation at the moment. I'll try to grab some in the future and get them in here.

Now let's get to my role, the role of a Reggio Inspired Atelierista/Art Teacher. Note *I keep mentioning the term "Reggio Inspired" because I do not work at a true Reggio school. We have adapted Reggio principals to fit within our own community. We call our atelier "the art studio." It is a designated room where students come to create, explore and experience themselves through art. It is a beautiful space brimming with natural light, creativity and curiosity. When children, and adults alike enter the space, they often take a deep breath and feel a moving energy that is difficult to describe in written words. It's pretty magical.

Our school of almost 70 students has designated days for different age groups. Each age group comes to the art studio twice a week. Students are invited to come to the studio on their day. Some students will choose to go, some will not. That's ok. For those students who don't often choose to go, we find ways to encourage them, even if it's just for a few minutes. Most students, however, yearn to visit the art studio. They are able to stay for an extended period of time, sometimes up to an hour. When our school was smaller, they were invited to stay as long as they wanted, which often meant an hour and a half, to two hours. That was truly special. Now with more students, I'd say they stay for about 30-45 minutes at a time. Some trickle out earlier, while some stay longer.

It took me a minute to figure out a system for our art studio that would work for all the children that visit. After some trial and error, here is what we came up with.

1. There are three ongoing stations set up almost daily. One is for working with clay. One is for observational drawing. The third is for some sort of collage work or sculpture.

Mirrors are used as creative prompts, in addition to offering students an additional perspective on their work in the studio.

We also have ongoing units of study, like this example below of an introduction to sewing. If there is considerable interest in a topic, we will explore it in different ways over time.

2. In addition to the three stations that are all accessible to the children, we have a tinkering table equipped with a tinker tray, tape, glue, scissors and paper. We do a lot of collage work with Tinker Trays. You can read more about Tinker Trays here.

3. A bucket with water sits in the same area everyday for washing our brushes. The kids "dance, dance, dance, and clean, clean, clean," their brushes in the water and place them back in the jar they came from. (I combined a cleaning song I made up with one that Rachelle at Tinkerlab told me about. I recommend simple cleaning songs for kids. They really help get the job done!)

4. We have a filing system of art portfolios sitting on the floor accessible to the students. Children can file their work as they go, along with teachers and parent/grandparent volunteers. They can also explore their work as desired. You can see how to make the art portfolios here. These have been a bit of a game changer. I can't take credit for those amazing little name tags on the side. That's the handiwork of my teaching partner. She's totally brilliant when it comes to organization.

5. Our ribbon Wall - We actually don't have the ribbon wall anymore because I foolishly took it down and need to put it back up. It was awesome and I'm not really sure why I took it down. The students could come over and cut whatever ribbon they needed for all kinds of different projects and ideas. Standing and pulling the ribbon offered the perfect amount of tension for cutting practice. This wall was very successful. Note to self - If it ain't broke...

I think it's important to mention that not everything goes as planned, by any stretch, in the art studio. Part of being a reggio teacher is to be okay with unexpected directions that benefit the group or individual. The picture below is an example of the "Teacher's Plan" vs the "Child's Plan." Instead of engaging in an observational drawing process, this student wanted to practice cutting so she could make a long braid for her hair with the ribbons. How could I deny that request?

There are many many ways to run an art studio. These are some of the practices that I have found to really work. I'd love to hear what works for you in the comments below. Overall, I think it's a good idea to remain consistent, keep things in the same place, role with the punches and take your time.

Most of all, working as an art teacher in a reggio inspired art studio is about listening, being patient, and caring about children and what they have to offer. It's not about reinventing the wheel, or telling anyone what to do. It's about guiding and strengthening and offering a safe space to explore and grow. Each child is honored for who they are and how they share who they are with the world.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. If you are interested in learning more, I am available for hourly consultation. Please email me for rates. If you'd like to learn more about this particular school, please email me as well. I'd love to hear from you. xo Meri Cherry

ps If you're interested in my all time favorite art supply list, here it is.

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Life in a Reggio Inspired Art Studio - Meri Cherry

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Over the past several months I've received quite a few emails asking me about my role as atelierista, aka art teacher, in a Reggio inspired preschool. I thought I would share my experience here in hopes that I can shed some light on this mysterious "Reggio" word that has become quite trendy over the past decade.

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Something that I learned about during my years in college that still permeates my classroom and pedagogy is the Reggio Emilia approach to early education. I am not a teacher in a Reggio school nor have I attended a study tour in Reggio Emilia, Italy, but I am passionate about the approach and how it can be used it in my public school classroom. I frequently receive questions about my Reggio-inspired space or activities that I share on Instagram, so this post will serve as a detailed guide for early childhood educators who are interested in this approach.

A background in Reggio

First, it's important to have a base understanding of what the Reggio Emilia approach is and what it isn't. According to the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance, the approach entails "a deep knowledge in theory and community-constructed values that have been and are continuously being translated into high quality early childhood practices" (NAREA, 2021). Teachers using this approach have an understanding of Vygotsky, Piaget, and Dewey, to name a few. Social construction of knowledge is key, allowing children to be actively involved in their education. Modern methods like project-based learning are similar in their approach. A Reggio-inspired teacher seeks to create a space that supports children in all forms of development. This space goes far and beyond the physical space but includes the concepts, projects, activities, discussions, methods, and exploration that students experience.

The Reggio approach is not just a way to decorate a classroom. While the physical environment plays a role, there is much more to being a Reggio-inspired classroom than the colors of the rug or the types of bins used. You will get some tips in this post about colors and materials, but without more background and learning, it will just be decoration.

There are multiple ways to learn about the Reggio Emilia approach from observing in Reggio learning centers and talking with Reggio educators to reading books and attending conferences. I was fortunate to begin my learning in college during my undergraduate program. Learning about the history of Reggio Emilia and working in Reggio-inspired early learning centers jumpstarted my journey into the Reggio world.

To start your own Reggio journey, I suggest starting with your mindset . There are so many things about the approach that differ from traditional classroom design, instructional materials, planning, and activities. So, ask yourself the following questions and consider your responses:

What role do the children play in their learning?

What role do I play in children's learning and within the classroom?

What role does the classroom space play in children's learning?

Answer honestly and completely. Your answers will help you either begin to shift your thinking surrounding the role of yourself and your space, or you may realize that you see those roles in a different way than the Reggio approach. The next step is to start building some background.

A great place to start is the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance website. There, you can find lots of information about the Reggio approach. I do have some book recommendations for those looking to have resources nearby to refer back to, highlight, and cite. The book that I usually suggest is below, but you can find more books here .

How do I create separate areas and arrange furniture?

What many people notice about a Reggio-inspired classroom are the separate, intentional areas for children to use. In a traditional Reggio classroom, you would find an atelier (creative expression area), loose parts, a sensory/sand play area, building area, writing center, math/numbers center, and a meeting area (in the larger school setting, this is called a piazza).

One way that these areas become meaningful is the addition of provocations within each area. Provocations are teacher-planned but student-led scenarios that seek to engage, inspire, or challenge children. A beginning-of-year provocation in the atelier may be a self-portrait creation, in the building center there may be a provocation to build your home, or in the writing center there could be a provocation to write and decorate your name.

Although you may see specific things like a play kitchen, a light table, or other specialized furniture, you do not need those things to set up areas. All you need is space. Furniture placement is important here. If your classroom uses tables for children, you will want to think about how many tables you need for student work areas. Flexible seating and allowing students to work in other areas can help free up tables for Reggio areas. You can read this post to see how I set up my play centers, which is what I call these special areas. You can do the same with desks, just be creative in how you arrange them. Reggio encourages a constructivist approach, so students should have the opportunity to sit near each other and work together. Pods are best for facilitating this approach.

Shelving can be helpful for creating these areas, but consider what your classroom already has. A traditional Reggio space isn't especially roomy, but I prefer a more open concept. Remember, you're creating a "Reggio-inspired" space, so you can edit the layout to fit your classroom needs. I use shelving to house multiple centers, and students move the materials to a table or floor area to play. I also use shelving for community supplies for easy access. Remember, though, work with what you have and can repurpose.

What do I prioritize when setting up my classroom for the beginning of the year?

As most teachers would agree, creating a classroom environment usually involves money, shopping, and lots of stuff. It's quite the opposite when setting up a Reggio-inspired space. Children are the main focus. Their artwork, quotes, work samples, and creations are what will "decorate" your space. A Reggio-inspired space uses the walls as a canvas for children rather than a place to fill with teacher-created materials. Blank walls are encouraged in the beginning of the year. Bulletin boards are left empty, ready to be covered with self portraits, name art, a study of the school campus, or photos of children and their families.

In terms of materials, you will notice that most Reggio classrooms utilize natural elements like wooden crates or woven baskets. This may or may not be what you currently use, but there is no need to throw out perfectly useful plastic bins. A Reggio-inspired space showcases the children, leaving the materials, walls, rugs neutral. If you are lacking neutral colors or materials, what can you paint? Cover? Repurpose? If you have a choice of which colored bins you use, could you only use bins with more natural colors like blues and greens? Do you have clear bins? All of those things work perfectly fine. Over time, you can make swaps with other teachers, find items at garage sales, or repurpose found items.

It's important to state that there is nothing wrong with color! A neutral background lets the work of the children stand out, that's all. Neutrals can also mirror the child's natural environment, both outdoors and in their own homes.

When setting up the Reggio areas, think in terms of simplicity. A sensory table could easily be created with an affordable plastic bin and water. An atelier (art center) just needs paper and drawing materials. Loose parts have quite the open-ended concept, and you could bring in stones, pine cones, beads, coins, or other items that you may already own or find outside. This post details what my centers include. There does not need to be an abundance of "toys" like Magna Tiles or marble runs. Use what you have for creative expression areas. If you don't have blocks for a building center, use rinsed out aluminum cans from your pantry at home. Continue to think in terms of repurposing.

Your students will create many things that you think you need to have prepared for the beginning of the year. Wait for them and create them together.

This includes things like labels for materials and centers, posters for expectations, borders for bulletin boards, alphabet cards for a word wall, a number line, and nametags for tables (as seen stuck in the plants). There is no need to have these things made ahead of time in a Reggio-inspired space.

Can this approach be done outside of pre-K or kindergarten?

Short answer, yes! If you've spent time learning the background and history of Reggio, you've seen that it's far beyond just setting up play areas. The approach itself revolves around letting young children construct their learning. This could be done in multiple grade levels with a teacher who is prepared to deviate from the programs their school has provided or from the scope and sequence.

Letting students take the lead may involve a detour of your typical learning. It may look like spending more time on building relationships, learning from each other, and doing a lot of partner or group work. It could mean that you reevaluate your physical space and set it up to provide areas for creative expression or passion projects. However you want to use the approach in your Reggio-inspired classroom, it can benefit students beyond age 5. You likely already use many aspects of Reggio!

How does reading/math/writing look in a Reggio-inspired classroom?

Like you've read earlier in this post, you can be Reggio-inspired by letting your students take the lead, letting them set the pace, and giving them a variety of materials and methods to show their learning and express their interests. A Reggio-inspired reading time could focus on student interests with book selection and partner reading. Math time could look like students working together to solve an open-ended problem (the CGI method pairs well with this approach). Writing could involve lots of research projects, narratives, or fiction story writing.

In every classroom, including Reggio ones, there is explicit instruction using proven methods. But I see the main shift from traditional to Reggio-inspired in how teachers allow students to gain more control of the topics, pace, methods, and paths that the learning takes.

There is no way that one post can change your traditional approach to a Reggio-inspired one. But it can start you on the path.

I am Reggio-inspired, but I am also influenced by other philosophies, research, and methods. I am a firm believer in design thinking in terms of how you set up and run your classroom. I believe that research in best practices for early childhood, work spaces, and emotional development are just as important to study as your curriculum. Because my pedagogy is based on a variety of things, I created a course to help other educators change their classrooms, improve student engagement, and shift their thinking around instruction. It's called The Research-Based Space, and you can pre-order it now! Class begins in early August and includes live sessions with me. Click below to learn more!

I hope this post sets you on the path to learning more about the Reggio Emilia approach and has encouraged you to become Reggio-inspired!

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What is "Reggio-Inspired"? A Detailed Guide for Early Childhood Educators, Research and Play

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Something that I learned about during my years in college that still permeates my classroom and pedagogy is the Reggio Emilia approach to early education...

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Montessori versus The Reggio Emilia Approach

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Montessori versus The Reggio Emilia Approach

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MONTESSORI vs REGGIO EMILIA  // Key Similarities & Differences

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Wait! Reggio Emilia is a PLACE and not a PERSON?!

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Wait! Reggio Emilia is a PLACE and not a PERSON?!

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Education Counts Michiana - The Reggio Emilia Approach

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Vygotsky's Theory of Cognitive Development in Social Relationships

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Piaget's Four Stages of Cognitive Development

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Piaget's Four Stages of Cognitive Development

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Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development

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Who is Jean Piaget? What are the Four Stages of Cognitive Development?

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Who is Jean Piaget? What are the Four Stages of Cognitive Development?

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Jean Piaget’s Four Stages of Cognitive Development

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How to talk to children and set up play in the Montessori classroom.

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How to talk to children and set up play in the Montessori classroom.

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MONTESSORI LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT 0-3 YEARS! Montessori At Home Language Activities & Progression

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What is the Montessori style of learning?

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What is the Montessori style of learning?

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THIS IS MONTESSORI! Montessori Method At Home & Montessori Education Explained! What is Montessori?