0.2 Part two: special topics  (Page 8/39)

(Adapted from: www.kidsource.com/kidsource, "EncouragingCreativity in Early Childhood Classrooms" by Carolyn Pope Edwards and Kay Wright Springate ERIC DIGEST December 1995)

The role of documentation

Lillian Katz and Sylvia Chard have written about the importance of teachers as documentarians of student work (part of thearticle is excerpted below).

"Documentation, in the forms of observation of children and extensive recordkeeping, has long been encouraged andpracticed in many early childhood programs. However, compared to these practices in other traditions, documentation in Reggio Emilia focusesmore intensively on children's experience, memories, thoughts, and ideas in the course of their work. Documentation practices in Reggio Emiliapre-primary schools provide inspiring examples of the importance of displaying children's work with great care and attention to both thecontent and aesthetic aspects of the display.

Documentation typically includes samples of a child's work at several different stages of completion; photographsshowing work in progress; comments written by the teacher or other adults working with the children; transcriptions of children's discussions,comments, and explanations of intentions about the activity; and comments made by parents. Observations, transcriptions of tape-recordings, andphotographs of children discussing their work can be included. Examples of children's work and written reflections on the processes in which thechildren engaged can be displayed in classrooms or hallways. The documents reveal how the children planned, carried out, and completed the displayedwork."

Suggested Reading:

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Reggio and Art

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More on Reggio

Assignment 2: reflection

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Assignment 2: Reflection

"Our children are eager to learn, they are creative in how they learn, and they have an extraordinary capacity to learn if we knowhow to encourage them the right way."

• According to the Reggio approach, what are some of the ways we can "encourage them the right way"? Describe specific examples and ideasgiven in the Reggio readings.
• What are health practices/facts discussed in the Facts for Life section that would also serve as a way to "encourage them"; that is, make it easier for young children tolearn. Give 4 or 5 ideas or facts discussed in the health section.

Discussions

Discussions and Innovations - Early Childhood Education

This section is devoted to a) Discussion forum on Early Childhood Education and b) Global links regarding innovations inEarly Childhood Education

This is an opportunity to participate in a global discussion on early-childhood education. This will give you an example to seek and give advice, find out what is going on in othercountries, and trade lesson plans.