Family Involvement in Reggio Emilia Schools

I'm just blown away after tonight's sessions! We learned in depth about the dialogue between families and schools in Reggio Emilia Infant-Toddler Centers and Preschools - and the co-responsibility, participation and sharing that goes on. Each and every parent (literally) is involved in their child's school in some way, shape or form. Parents build a sense of community among themselves and most importantly with the city, that embraces and welcomes new families and cultures into the schools. By being so involved with their children's schooling, they gain a sense of being an active citizen in Reggio Emilia, and enjoy this stance.

Reggio has a standard that their schools must be places where their families can share the culture they come from freely, done in an ethical way. This builds a sense of community and allows for diversity that is accepted and celebrated in the schools...which also translates into everyday life within the town.

A "Parent Panel" came in to speak about their experiences with having children in the Reggio Emilia Infant-Toddler Centers and Preschools, and it was so moving. Their appreciation and gratitude to the schools and teachers was unbelievable. From a mother from an Islamic heritage who left what she knew to come to Italy, and looked to the teachers as friends and for learning the Italian "Roman Catholic" culture, to a father with a child with Autism who moved to Reggio Emilia looking for a way to understand his son - the presentations were beautiful. The parents work together to welcome new families into the schools and help them feel the love and warmth they were received with.

From the presentations, I'm leaving with some great parent involvement ideas and new ways of thinking to bring back to school!

My favorite part of the entire presentation though was when the parents and teachers explained "Accoglienza". In Italian, this means more than just to welcome someone, but to embrace another person was you welcome them and credit that individual as important. This "accoglienza" is the process by which all children and families are greeted as they walk into school each day. Teachers, staff and other parents consider this the most important time of the day - to welcome each family that comes in and make them feel important.

I love this most because it is so drastically different from back home - where most of the kids come in on the bus early in the morning, where parents are honking at each other in the drop-off line, all in a rush to get the kids out of the car and move on with their day. It's a beautiful transition where trusting relationships with parents are built.

Such happy thoughts - such positive energy - exactly the type of session I needed to hear after all of these long hard days of class! I said this afternoon to Sue and Liz that I am SO HAPPY that I've sat through all of these presentations, even ones where I was exhausted and felt like the topics didn't apply to me and I just wanted to go back and sleep in my tiny hotel room....Why? Because I've had an epiphany, realization, great idea, etc. from every single lesson taught. It's all coming together and I'm growing as a person and as a teacher. Can't wait to get back into my classroom!

Another last happy thought for today...we walked past a peach tree on the way home! Made me think of Papa's peach tree in the backyard in River Grove!

Hard to see - but tiny little peaches are starting to grow! :)

Time is winding down over here - only 2 more days of class left! Tomorrow I'm taking myself to an EARLY 7:30am Mass in the Piazza San Prospero at the town's patron saint's basilica. Can't wait to blog about how Mass in Italian is! ;)

Buona Notte!

Carly