ABOUT US
| “The child is rich in
potential, strong, powerful, competent, and most of all connected to adults and
other children.”
‑Loris Malaguzzi, Reggio-Emilia founder and educator “This is the most gentle and rewarding first school experience that I could have imagined. It is building on my child’s excitement and curiosity for learning. I think it will shape who he is as a student and learner forever.” Parent |
PHILOSOPHY AND CURRICULUM
The CCNS curriculum is inspired by the Reggio-Emilia approach, in which teachers and parents work together to create a curriculum that reflects the children's interests -- and pushes them to go beyond their initial understanding. The tenets of Reggio-Emilia also include providing children with fine learning tools and observing and recording them as they learn. This documentation encourages children to become more deeply involved in study.
Like Reggio-Emilia, CCNS offers a project-based curriculum which builds on children’s interests and skills. For example,you might see groups of young children studying bridges, local birds, waterways, construction sites or city sculptures depending on which aspects of their world inspire their curiosity. CCNS also draws from other best-practice approaches including Montessori, Waldorf, Piaget, Vygotsky, Paley and others which recognize the profound potential of young children and support constructive learning.
In our classroom, the adults carefully observe and reflect on the students to create and adjust the curriculum. Although teachers give each child the opportunity to explore a variety of topics, the extent and direction of the study is dictated by the child. Teachers continually monitor the children's activities, documenting their learning through photographs, videos, journals, interviews and portfolios. As children are observed, listened to and recorded, they are encouraged to take their learning seriously and become more deeply involved in study.
To learn more about the Reggio-Emilia method,
please visit the link listed below:
http://www.renaissanceschoolamherst.com/projects/reggio_emilia.html