TITLE Discovering Reggio Emilia: Building Connections between

Noting that the approach to early childhood education in the schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy incorporates art as a learning tool, this paper describes the Reggio Emilia approach and discusses ways for American educators to apply the philosophies of the Reggio Emilia schools. The paper describes the founding of the schools in Reggio Emilia, by Loris Malaguzzi, and summarizes the basis for the approach. Art is described as the gateway to all learning processes; the use of art materials in the Reggio Emilia schools is also detailed. The following elements are then described as important to the success of the approach: (1) emphasis on project work; (2) importance of classroom environment; (3) importance of art as serious work; (4) providing a variety of materials; (5) philosophy of creativity; (6) the adult-child relationship; (7) teacher/staff support systems; and (8) evidence of learning through art. The paper next describes the integration of the Reggio Emilia approach to incorporate each of the above elements in an art program for kindergarten through fifth grade in a public school in the Bronx, New York. The paper concludes by noting that there are many ideas that may be taken from the schools of Reggio Emilia. (Contains 16 references.) (KB) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document