Reggio Emilia vs Forest School

100 Languages of Learning and Play

 ~There are infinite ways that children express themselves, explore the environment, connect their thoughts and feels. 

Background

Reggio Emilia School was started as School for People after World War II in Italy by Loris Malaguzi. The philosophy was based on principles of respect, responsibility and community. 

After writing a very long post on Forest School, I realised there are many similarities between Reggio Emilia Approach and Forest School Approach. 

Viewed of Child
Both approach viewed children as competent and believe in children innate curiosity to understand the world around them. The children are rich in potential and are able to choose, initiate and drive their own learning process. All voices are equally value. 

Role of Teacher/Adult

With the view of children being so powerful, the teachers/adults in both approach play a role as an observer and learn alongside the children. Teachers provide an environment opportunity to children to inspire them to learn and grow in knowledge and skills. They just act as a compass to accompany the children in their discovery journey. 

However, Teachers in Reggio Emilia are required to document her observation about the strength and interest of the children in the form of photography, video, conversation transcript or visual medium like paint, drawing and clay. The documentation is a way of assessment and advocacy. Besides recording the children's activities and displaying their work in a portfolio, teachers in Reggio also revisits previous project. 

Curriculum

As both approach also children-centered, there is no fix curriculum. It all spontaneous and depends on the children interest and the discovery of the day. Both approach also believe that children has Multiple Intelligence (MI) and should not measure their performance solely based on one or a few intelligence. Project is done to cater all 8 MI.

Reggio and Forest are both project based learning. Children make decision to conduct the research of their own interest. However, Reggio make learning visible by documenting the project. 

Environment

Reggio schools are function as "living organism"with enough provocation to support child's learning and invite children to undertake extended exploration. There are certain corners/areas such as construction area, house play area,  reading area, table of games, buletin board and an art area called Atelier. The Atelier is the unique feature of Reggio approach for the children to master techniques in multiple symbolic format (drawing, painting, clay etc).

Whereas Forest (or other nature setting) is the ready made nature environment for Forest school. Environment is the 3rd teacher for both approach as children explore and learn through the environment and its surroundings. 

Conclusion: 

• There is no specific outcome for children learning in both schools
• Mistakes are allowed as part of the learning process. Children are no afraid of bad eveluation and willing to take risk and challenges.
• The curriculum is personalised
• Materials used are open ended
• Assessment process is multi directional

Since there are so many similarities in both approach, I definitely agreed that Reggio Emilia as well as Forest Approach is useful and relevant for children in 21st Century.