WHY REGGIO?
It’s a good question. Montessori is also a progressive educational philosophy—one that also began in early 20th century Italy. Why did we feel it so important to open a Reggio-inspired preschool in Fremont, when there are already so many Montessori ones?
The answer lies in the very core of our educational philosophy: that the formative preschool years are the most important in a child’s emotional, social, and cognitive development. It’s during these years that a child develops the building blocks to become a wholesome, adaptable, and successful individual, prepared for anything life throws at him or her.
And that is achieved through the Reggio approach.
But to explain that, let’s first explore the differences between the Reggio and Montessori approach.
The answer lies in the very core of our educational philosophy: that the formative preschool years are the most important in a child’s emotional, social, and cognitive development. It’s during these years that a child develops the building blocks to become a wholesome, adaptable, and successful individual, prepared for anything life throws at him or her.
And that is achieved through the Reggio approach.
But to explain that, let’s first explore the differences between the Reggio and Montessori approach.
REGGIO VS. MONTESSORI
At first glance, Reggio and Montessori have a lot in common. They both view children as competent and active participants in their own learning. They both accept that a thoughtfully-designed classroom greatly benefits a child’s learning.
But there are also some key differences between them. In particular, Reggio stands out by focusing on:
But there are also some key differences between them. In particular, Reggio stands out by focusing on:
Emergent Curriculum
Though both philosophies place great emphasis on reading, writing, and academics, Reggio’s curriculum emerges from the interests of the children. Instead of pre-determining what children should learn and when, Reggio teachers facilitate each child’s learning by helping them discover their learning style and areas of interest. Children learn how to ask questions, analyze topics, and build critical thinking skills—all through an inquiry-based style of learning.
Collaborative Learning
Both Reggio and Montessori recognize the value of individualized learning—but Reggio also emphasizes the importance of communication, relationships, and children working together as a group as well as independently. The Reggio Emilia philosophy understands that cooperation, interaction, and amicable disagreements lead to greater exploration and learning. Children are encouraged to collaborate in their learning and discoveries.
The Classroom as the Third Teacher
While Montessori schools see classrooms as an important aid to a child’s learning, Reggio sees the classroom as the third teacher in a child’s development. A Reggio classroom is filled with open-ended materials to engage discussion, foster discoveries, and nurture each child’s individual interests. Every detail of the classroom is carefully curated to help them develop their social, emotional, and cognitive development, as well as academic skills such as literacy, math, science, and engineering.
Parental Involvement
In a Reggio preschool, parents, children, and educators are partners in every stage of the educational process. Reggio philosophy recognizes that a child’s learning never stops, and cannot be constrained to the time they spend inside a classroom. As such, teachers partner with parents in helping to strengthen each child’s learning, pay attention to concerns at home, and work together to help each child’s growth.
Fostering Critical Thinking Through Art
It’s often said that Montessori values academics and Reggio values art, but that’s an oversimplification. In fact, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a Reggio school that doesn’t stress the value of academics. But it is true that art is very much the cornerstone of a Reggio school—but in Reggio, art is about far more than drawing pictures and making pretty colors. In a Reggio preschool, art is about learning self-expression and critical thinking; about adapting the mind to understand multiple points of view.
Summary
Though both the Reggio and Montessori philosophies emphasize academics and individualized learning, the Reggio philosophy stands out by also stressing:
- Critical thinking
- Social interaction and cooperation
- Teamwork
- Creativity
- Perseverance
WHY THE REGGIO APPROACH BETTER PREPARES CHILDREN FOR LIFE
At the heart of all the differences between Reggio and Montessori lies one key concept:
Academics alone are not enough.
It is vitally important that children learn academics—reading, writing, math, science, and so on. But that is not all they need to learn. As the world changes and the workforce changes with it, it’s becoming more and more important for children to be able to adapt to what life throws at them.
And that’s what Reggio teaches.
To analyze. To work with others. To create and interact; to adapt when necessary and stand strong when not.
And that’s why we chose the Reggio-Emelia philosophy.
Academics alone are not enough.
It is vitally important that children learn academics—reading, writing, math, science, and so on. But that is not all they need to learn. As the world changes and the workforce changes with it, it’s becoming more and more important for children to be able to adapt to what life throws at them.
And that’s what Reggio teaches.
To analyze. To work with others. To create and interact; to adapt when necessary and stand strong when not.
And that’s why we chose the Reggio-Emelia philosophy.