A typical day in our classroom is ALL about the children and their interest in their world through their play. One can walk into our room at any time during our day and see our children learning in and through their natural environment--art, dramatic play, music, sculpting and nature.
Our class is comprised of children 3 (on Individualized Education Plans) and 4 year olds.
We currently have 15 students in our class with the possibility of having 20 at full capacity. Our class is diverse with ethnicity and economic background however a large portion of our community is low poverty, single family homes. We are housed in a high school with our own playground outside of our classroom doors. Our students are your typical preschoolers who are full of energy, curiosity and vigor. Their first love is to engage in their environment and things that are familiar to them which include nature, lights, shadow and art.
My Project
In the Reggio Emilia Learning Approach, children are viewed as competent, curious, full of knowledge, potential and interested in connecting to the world around them. The environment and space created within the classroom in considered the "third" teacher. The backbone of the classroom is based around projects (children's interests). These projects come from experiences of children and teachers, a chance even or a problem that has been posed. The Reggio Approach believes children have the right and ability to express their thinking, theories, learning and emotions in many ways--done by providing a wide range of materials. The light table, washer/dryer, art easel and science table will provide important missing elements of the classroom that will encourage drawing, painting, dramatic play, and light and shadow activities not only for our typical students but also for our children with special needs by nourishing the authentic practice of maximizing each child's capabilities.
The requested materials will allow the children to benefit from having their environment as their "teacher".
Art will be made and hung at their eye level while natural elements will be used in more than one way to encourage their interests. Children will use their many "languages" to express themselves through writing, building, dramatic play, light/shadow while developing problem-solving skills through hands-on practice while at the same time complementing our state mandated curriculum
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