Ever think your toddler might be able to teach you a thing or two? The owners of Learning Spaces nursery do, and they want to help kids develop on their own terms.
It seems like these days everyone has an opinion on how to raise children and the best way to foster learning. There are different curriculums, philosophies and schools of thought that stem from all over the world. And as Abu Dhabi continues to grow and develop, more and more practices are reaching the capital. This January, a new nursery in Khalifa City A called Learning Spaces has introduced a fresh educational system to Abu Dhabi: the Reggio Emilia approach.
Learning Spaces has just finished its first session since opening at the beginning of 2014. The nursery, which currently has around 120 children enrolled, is the first institution devoted to teaching children using the Reggio Emilia approach in Abu Dhabi. The nursery accepts children aged from 45 days to four years.
The Reggio Emilia Approach is a philosophy for teaching preschool and primary-age children. It was developed in Italy after World War II by Loris Malaguzzi, a teacher, along with parents in the small Italian city of Reggio Emilia. The idea behind this educational approach is that children’s learning should be, at least in part, self-guided.
Sally Lewis is the nursery manager at Learning Spaces. She says, ‘I have been a teacher in the UAE for six years and in Germany for five years, and before that I started my teaching career in the UK. I’ve always been intrigued by new philosophies and approaches to learning, so when I went to Italy last year to study the Reggio Emilia programme, I was very excited about the prospect of bringing something new back to Abu Dhabi.’
Under the Reggio Emilia Approach, children are thought of as ‘knowledge-bearers’, with their own intelligent curiosities. They are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas with their teachers and parents. Teachers in the Reggio Emilia style are trained to listen to their students and adapt the lesson plans to fit the interests of the child. In this sense the students are directing their own education. Sally explains that, for this reason, lesson plans are organised only one day in advance, in response to the activities and reactions of each day. She says, ‘Teachers are trained to react to what are called provocations, which are the indications that a student is interested in learning more about a certain topic. For example, if a student were to find an insect outside on the ground and take an interest in it, the teacher might then design the week’s lessons around insects or biology, or why certain animals live in certain places.’
The Reggio Emilia Approach is heavily focused on the environment in which the children work. Sally explains, ‘The environment is the third teacher after the actual instructors and the parents. Children learn from their surroundings.’ Accordingly, Learning Spaces is designed to let in large amounts of natural light and there is an outdoor area with simple play structures that allow kids to use their imaginations.
Under this philosophy, schools put an emphasis on documentation as well. Sally elaborates, ‘The Reggio Emilia system encourages educators to take notes and even record children’s behaviour and performances so that the students can revisit those topics and learn from them again. They learn and then relearn, and it is actually much more effective than if you just moved on.’
Reggio Emilia also stresses the importance of parental participation, encouraging this interaction in many activities. There is even a parent observation room, where mums and dads watch their children learn and play. This allows parents and teachers to work together to find the most effective approach.
Learning Spaces has only been open for four months but Sally says that they are welcoming new students on a daily basis. She hopes to begin a dialogue with other nurseries and primary schools around the city to introduce Reggio Emilia and facilitate open communication between students, parents, schools and teachers.
Learning Spaces Nurseries. Enrol online at www.learningspacesnurseries.com. 30th Street, Khalifa City A (02 556 6135).
