How We Teach and Learn
Learning and teaching should not stand on opposite banks and just watch the river flow by; instead, they should embark together on a journey down the water.
— Loris Malaguzzi, founder of the Reggio Philosophy
We hold the belief that all children are competent, capable and intelligent. We believe in their right to be active participants in their learning. We support the children’s ideas, opinions, expression and representation through unique materials, provocations, dialogue and reflection. Learning takes place when ideas, concepts and theories are shared in a social context. It is through close relationships with peers, adults and materials that intelligences can blossom.
We Dialogue, Document and Reflect
Keen observations and the pedagogy of listening are the foundation of much of our work. It is the prevailing attitude that supports the analysis of the construction of knowledge. We honor all children’s unique learning styles, the diverse languages of expression, and use these in the projections and synthesis of the work. Documentation, dialogue, audio and video transcriptions and photographic images, provide representational artifacts that support the reflections on what has been done and acts as a foundation for what, why and how we are thinking as we move forward.
We Collaborate
We emphasize working together, sharing ideas, critiquing each others’ work, and communicating openly. At St. John’s collaboration takes place across ages, ideas, spaces and materials. We believe that teachers, children and families alike co-construct knowledge alongside each other. Mistakes are seen as powerful motivators for investigation and inquiry, and we encourage teamwork as a method of problem solving and critical thinking in response.
We Research
The freedom to wonder, the drive to pursue a thought, formulate a question, or articulate an idea brings joy to learning at all stages of life. In the face of our interests and curiosities, we set a tone of exchange, dialogue, trust, empathy, and inquiry in order to take risks, and dig deeper, not just through books and facts, but through conversations, diverse materials and play. We believe that questions are always more valuable than answers, we encourage active listening and embrace ambiguity.
We Play
We consider play to be an attitude that pervades the culture of the school. Our relationship with time as a partner in learning gives us the space to investigate, mess around, revisit, and experiment. When we play, we uncover possibilities at our own pace, imagine, create, negotiate socially, build self-esteem, and learn to love learning. Play means expanding processes, deepening knowledge, and building relationships of care that extend beyond human beings. Our complex environments inspire a cross pollination of ideas and inspire wonder and curiosity.
We Celebrate
Childhood is a jubilant time and at St. John’s children and adults are celebrated for who they are. Uniqueness and individuality add to the complexity and diversity of relationships, forged through respect and trust. From birthday committees dedicated to creating beautiful celebrations for each child to school wide singalongs and family events, we find moments of joy that invite each member of our community to share their full selves with the preschool.