Innovative Childhood Education
The most important contribution to early childhood education has been the implementation of making children's work and ideas available for display. This includes extensive documentation, such as photographing, journaling, graphs, charts, and centering discussions around the many accomplishments each child has contributed in a given school or class. Started in the northern Italian city of Reggio Emilia, the most important contribution to early childhood has been come to be known as the "Reggio Emilia Approach", as a standard practice in classrooms.
That concept has proven to promote a love for exploring, and to foster the makings of independent thinkers and achievers as children reach adulthood. It also validates children's worth, providing them with the opportunity to share their successes with their teachers, parents, and peers, and creates a cycle of them wanting to consistently perform, in order to continue receiving positive feedback. Teachers also benefit from this idea, as this allows them to meet the needs of their students more easily by keeping track of what they are producing and always having the reference tools needed on-hand. Children will also be more receptive to hearing constructive criticism from having their documented work discussed every step of the way. Based on the children's desires and interests, educators can also go another step further to bring textbooks and teaching lessons in line with what children want to study most. With allowing children to take pride in their accomplishments in learning, there remains a never-ending supply and demand in the quest for knowledge, individuality, and excellence among children.
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