Part 2

http://www.ted.com/talks/vs_ramachandran_the_neurons_that_shaped_civilization.html

“Let the wild rumpus begin”

1. Strengths, interests, needs of the individual child

2. Knowledge of child development for the age range

3. Knowledge of social and cultural context of a child’s life

Voluntary and intrinsically motivated Symbolic, meaningful, and

transformational Actively involves players Pleasurable Rule bound – implicit or explicit

Different types of play have different benefits Functional play Constructive play Symbolic play Games with rules

Extending play If you pretend,

children will begin to pretend too

Begins as functional becomes more symbolic

Unimaginative play = immature play

Games with rules can be symbolic

What is the connection between mirror neurons and play?

What do children pay attention to?

Role of emotions…

Development of feeling/thoughts

Rapid growth in pre-frontal cortex where self-regulation occurs

Self-regulation predicts academic performance in 1st grade more than cognitive performance

A child from at risk family who has self-regulation does better than even middle class child who doesn’t possess these skills

No self-regulation…you don’t know if you know something unless the teacher says you do

Marshmallow Experiment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EjjsPyIEOY

Self-regulation involves: Inhibitory and effortful self-control Working memory Cognitive flexibility

1. Being regulated by another person (to internalize standards). Teacher regulation is not the same as self-regulation and this is apparent when children misbehave out of the view of the teacher.

2. Regulated other people (shows the child is thinking about the rules/standards and applying them). This is often seen in tattling.

3. Self-regulating. This occurs when children voluntarily apply rules to self-not mere obedience.

Children’s Interests, Questions, Problems and Theories

PLAY BAGS Discover six very different

aspects of nature. Take a reasonable sample using the tools given you. LOOK CAREFULLY for interesting textures, colors, shapes in the natural world. Place them in the zip lock bags and bring to class next Tuesday.

Theory into Practice and Practice Driving Theory

Following WWII Founder Loris Malaguzzi Child rich in potential –

Citizen with rights Hundred Languages of

Children Inherent genius of each child Process of learning –

demonstration of learning Languages – symbols systems

to promote understanding Make learning visible

Not a curriculum Not a model The place theory and

practice touch like the magic moment when night becomes day

The image of the child Children’s relationships and

interactions The role of the parent The role of space

Interactive AreasConstruction - big and smallDramatic play and movementMusic explorationNature explorations Book areaMini-atelier: painting, drawing, sculpture, weaving, compositionMessage Center

Design ElementsColor/ Light/ Transperancy/ Reflection/ MirrorsTexture/ Nature/ Shapes/ LinesContinuity between inside and outComplexity of ideas - Layers/ Different Perspectives Organization and freedomVariety of work spaces-heights, levelsFocusd - Nothing by chanceUse of cloth/mobiles to soften

Teachers and children as partners in learning

Curriculum as a process of inviting and sustaining learning

The many languages of children

Drawing Explorations

Game Board of the City

Constructing The City of Reggio Emilia

Projecting a transperancy of the city on the construction site

Collage with White Things

Steps in a composition

Composing Nature Collages on Nature Pictures

Color compositions with watercolors with inspiration from Kandinsky

Moving from 2D to 3D

Paper making center

The power of documentationDocumentation is listening - listening changes you - courage of doubt

Narrates a learning storyGives life and value to the learning experienceReinterpret and re-elaborate on the process

Occurs on many levelsDay-to-day traces: diaries, work, dialogueDisplay panels as a memory and history of learning

Valuing process Uncovers personal meaning, understanding, and learningEmerge from invisibilityCreates culture