Early School

Competent and capable: The Reggio approach views children as strong, curious, and capable individuals who are eager to learn. Educators respect a child's innate curiosity and see them as active participants in constructing their own knowledge.

Child-led learning: The curriculum is not set in advance but emerges from the children's interests, questions, and ideas. Teachers act as co-learners and guides who observe student interactions and introduce "provocations"—open-ended materials or questions—to stimulate deeper exploration.

Project-based work: These emergent interests often evolve into in-depth projects that can last for weeks or months. This encourages a deep dive into topics rather than broad, superficial learning.

Thoughtful design: The physical space is intentionally designed to provoke curiosity and inspire learning. Classrooms are often open, flexible, and filled with natural light.

Natural and open-ended materials: Instead of bright, overstimulating spaces, Reggio-inspired classrooms prioritize natural elements like wood, stone, and plants. Open-ended "loose parts," such as buttons, shells, or fabric scraps, encourage creative problem-solving.

Beautiful and organized spaces: Attention is paid to the aesthetic qualities of the space. Materials are organized in an orderly and accessible way to invite exploration and foster a sense of respect for the learning environment.

Multiple forms of expression: This core principle, named for a poem by founder Loris Malaguzzi, emphasizes that children use many symbolic "languages" to express their thoughts, ideas, and feelings. These include drawing, sculpture, dramatic play, and music, not just spoken and written words.

Rich materials: An abundance of diverse materials is provided to allow children to represent their understanding through any medium they prefer.

Making learning visible: Educators systematically record and display the children's learning process. This documentation, which includes photos, videos, transcripts of children's words, and work samples, serves as a record, a tool for reflection, and a way to celebrate achievements.

Informational tool: The documentation panels help children reflect on their own progress and allow teachers and parents to understand the learning journey. 

Strong community: The Reggio approach emphasizes strong, reciprocal relationships among children, teachers, and parents. Learning is seen as a collaborative process that grows from these relationships.

Active parental involvement: Parents are viewed as partners in their child's education and are encouraged to be actively involved in the learning process.