In the Spirit of the Studio: Learning from the Atelier of Reggio Emilia / Edition 2

by Lella Gandini, Lynn Hill, Louise Boyd Cadwell, Charles S. Schwall

Overview

This lavishly illustrated book will help educators create the highest quality learning opportunities for a new generation of children. The Second Edition features substantial and important changes, including the addition of new chapters by pioneers of the work that happens in the atelier who draw on several decades of experience.

The atelier, or studio, is a key element of the renowned preschools and infant-toddler centers of Reggio Emilia, Italy. This beautiful, full-color resource explores how the experiences of children interacting with rich materials in the atelier affect an entire school’s approach to the construction and expression of thought and learning. The authors provide examples of projects and address practical aspects of the atelier, including organizing the environment and using materials. No other book presents a more thorough examination of the philosophy, practice, and essential influence of the Reggio-inspired studio.

Book Features:

• A comprehensive approach that addresses learning, collaboration, relationships, and community.
• The writing and practice of influential educators from Reggio Emilia, including a new chapter by Vea Vecchi.
• A window into many ateliers/studios within the United States that have created settings and experiences to suit their unique contexts.
• Updated conversations with the protagonists from Reggio Emilia as they speak about the history and evolution of the atelier.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807756324
Publisher:	Teachers College Press
Publication date:	04/17/2015
Series:	Early Childhood Education Series
Edition description:	2
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Lella Gandini is the Reggio Children U.S. liaison for dissemination of the Reggio Emilia approach. Lynn Hill is an educational consultant. Louise Cadwell is co-founder of Cadwell Collaborative: Sustainability Education and School Design. Charles Schwall is pedagogical curator at The St. Michael School of Clayton in St. Louis

Table of Contents

Foreword Steven Seidel ix

Acknowledgments xiii

1 The Context and Inspiration of Our Work Lella Gandini Lynn Hill Louise Cadwell Charles Schwall 1

2 From the Beginning of the Atelier to Materials as 100 Languages: Loris Malaguzzi's Thoughts and Strategies Lella Gandini 7

3 Poetics of Learning Vea Vecchi 17

4 The Amusement Park for Birds: Emergence and Process of a Project Lella Gandini 23

5 The Whole School as an Atelier: Reflections Carla Rinaldi Lella Gandini 43

6 The Grammar of Materials Charles Schwall 49

7 The Atelier Environment and Materials Charles Schwall 63

8 Melting Geography: Reggio Emilia, Memories, and Place Barbara Burrington 81

9 Border Crossings and Lessons Learned: The Evolution of an Intergenerational Atelier Lynn Hill 93

10 The Atelier: A System of Physical and Conceptual Spaces Louise Cadwell Lori Geismar Ryan Charles Schwall 111

11 The Story of a Studio in a Southern Arizona Public School Pauline Baker 135

12 Creativity at the Heart of Learning Susan Harris MacKay 149

13 In the Spirit of the Studio Charles Schwall Lella Gandini Lynn Hill Louise Cadwell 165

Design Invent Play: Engaging Contemporary Culture Charles Schwall 165

A School Visit: Observing and Listening Lella Gandini 171

The Power of Wind Sha Shonie Reins Scott Mohan 171

Countering Poverty with Aesthetics Lynn Hill 175

Children, Materials, and the Natural World Louise Cadwell 182

Epilogue: The Editors 189

Glossary 193

About the Editors and Contributors 197

Index 201

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“This book will help to promote a vibrant and creative approach to learning that will enrich American children’s educational experience.”
—Barbara and Eric Carle, author and illustrator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar

“It’s now widely understood that the preschools of Reggio Emilia are among the most important educational endeavors of the last century. Theoretically grounded and eminently practical, drawing on experiences in Italy and the United States, this book probes deeply into the atelier, the heartland of a Reggio-inspired school.”
—Howard Gardner, author of Changing Minds and Good Work

“A book that is intended to reveal the meaning of the atelier in the world of schools and learning gives me nothing but joy and receives my warmest support.”
—From the Foreword by Vea Vecchi, Atelierista, 1970–2001, Diana School, Reggio Emilia, Italy Consultant, Reggio Children s.r.l.

"Not only have these authors and educators committed to the dialogue between art and education, but they, themselves, have also acted as artists, bringing the spirit of the studio and the mind-set of the artist into every aspect of their design, dialogue, thought, and practice. "
—From the Foreword to the second edition by Steven Seidel, Director, Arts in Education Program, Harvard Graduate School of Education

Editorial Reviews

This book’s great illustrations and enthusiasm for learning make it difficult to put it back on the shelf!”

—SchoolArts

From the Publisher