This workshop is designed to introduce participants to the philosophy and theories behind the Reggio Emilia Approach and how it can be adapted in their setting.

Why is the Reggio Emilia approach important to the field of early childhood education? Newsweek (Hinckle, 1991) hailed the Reggio Emilia approach as one of the best educational programs in the world. As a result of this, many early childhood educators are trying to implement the approach in their own classrooms. If early childhood educators are to adapt and use this highly regarded educational approach, classroom teachers, and pre-service teachers must be taught to understand and develop strategies for adapting the approach into their setting.

Objectives
At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to

• Understand the philosophy and theories behind the Reggio Emilia Approach
• Increase their confidence level in adapting the Reggio Emilia approach in their setting
• Gain knowledge and practical strategies on how to begin to adapt the Reggio Emilia Approach in their setting
• Understand the need to continuously reflect on their own philosophy of Early Childhood Education
• Analyze cultural variations and ways to use that as a bridge in adapting the Reggio Emilia Approach in their setting.
• Generate action plans for both continued learning and development of skill for adapting the Reggio Emilia philosophy
• Experiment with  the concept of lesson planning in the Reggio-inspired classroom
• Develop a useable lesson plan unique to each participant’s teaching situation

Outline
Day 1:

• What exactly is the Reggio Emilia Approach?
• Introduction to the Reggio Emilia Approach – A look at the theoretical and Historical perspective
• A look at the basic tenants and principles of the Reggio Emilia approach: image of the child; teachers as partners, co-learners, and researchers; role of the parents and community; and the environment as “third” teacher

Day 2:

• A further look at the basic tenants and principles of the Reggio Emilia approach (continued): documentation;  emergent learning process, symbolic representations, i.e., “the hundred languages” of learning; and collaboration, cooperation, and interaction
• The Reggio Emilia approach and best practices of early childhood education
• What does a Reggio inspired classroom look like?
• A look at participants classrooms – Bring several pictures of different areas of your classroom

Day 3:

• How can we begin to adapt the Reggio Emilia approach – Where do you start?
• Challenges/Road block in light of theoretical perspective and how to overcome them
• The essential stages to curriculum development and lesson planning
• How to ask the right questions in designing lessons
• Anticipatory planning web
• When to culminate a project
• Inspiring space
• Cultivating outdoor classrooms
• Reflections and developing individual action plan and a lesson plan for implementation
• Evaluate engagement in learning

Trainer’s Profile
Professor Leo R.’s background includes extensive experience in the educational, business, and nonprofit arenas, especially in curriculum and instruction, training and development, grant writing, grant making, project management, and library administration. He has been a classroom teacher at the preschool, elementary, and secondary levels. His teaching experience includes undergraduate and graduate teaching, training, supervision, and mentoring of teacher candidates and student teachers for three major colleges and universities in the Denver area: Metropolitan State University of Denver, Regis University, and the University of Northern Colorado.

Additionally, he has held educational leadership positions, such as Principal and Assistant Principal.  His experience in curriculum and staff development extends to Boeing-McDonnell Douglas and Central Bancorporation.  He has been in private practice as a psychotherapist working with children, adolescents, and families.

Leo has presented papers on the Reggio Emilia method in several European cities, consulted with schools in Italy, and presented on numerous occasions for early childhood education (ECE) students, university colleagues, professional associations and organizations, and preschools.  Leo has also traveled and attended meetings in the USA for schools utilizing this instructional method. Professor Leo has completed academic studies in Library and Information Management, Counseling Psychology, and the doctorate in Educational Leadership and Change.  He is a Nationally Certified Counselor licensed by the National Board of Certified Counselors.  He maintains his teaching and additional endorsements from the state of Colorado.

He has several journal articles prepared for publication dealing with dual-language immersion schools, the Italian language, the Reggio Emilia method of instruction applied to elementary science curricula, and child development considerations in authoring second language and second culture books for children.

Methodology
This workshop includes group discussion, audiovisual presentations, observation, and deconstruction of the Reggio Emilia principles, reflection, and field work.  Participants are not viewed as targets of instruction; they instead assume active role in constructing their knowledge.

Target Audience
This workshop is specially designed for all educators of early childhood and primary age children, those responsible for early childhood pre-service and in-service teacher education and all who are seeking to understand children and learn about innovative and effective ways to help children reach their academic potential.

Investment
HKD5500.00/pax
HKD4700.00/pax if register by 1 Jul 13 15 Jul 13

Duration: 3 days, 18 hours
Closing Date: 1 Sep 13 11 Nov 13