Our philosophy has been strongly influenced by the schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy. We value our school as a community of learners, where children, teachers, and families are engaged in a challenging and joyful environment that encourages reflective dialogue, collaboration, and the co-construction of knowledge. Through child-initiated inquiry, we negotiate an emergent curriculum. We believe that all children are researchers, critical thinkers, and problem solvers. Reggio-inspired educators do not view children as empty vessels to be filled, but as competent, capable, and full of potential. This powerful image of the child is at the heart of everything we undertake. At the Farmhouse at Friends Academy, children, teachers, and families work together to create a culture that values childhood as a time to create, explore, wonder, and be joyful.
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Our Environment and How It Shapes Our Curriculum
We view our environment as a place of shared relationships. The layout of our space, and the thoughtfully chosen materials within it, encourage communication, discovery, and problem-solving. The life of our school, and the work of our children, are made visible through careful documentation. We, as teachers, serve as collaborators and researchers alongside children in the learning environment. Documentation is a medium through which we discuss curriculum, keep it fluid and emergent, and develop a rationale for its course. Loris Malaguzzi, founder of the Reggio Emilia preschools, was a firm believer that children express themselves through “one hundred languages,” a concept similar to that of multiple intelligences. We provide opportunities for children to use many symbolic languages to communicate, represent ideas, and test hypotheses. Together, we create a rich environment for living and learning. |