MONTESSORI vs REGGIO EMILIA // Key Similarities & Differences

Summary

In this video, Ashley compares the Montessori and Reggio Emilia educational approaches, exploring their similarities and differences. She explains that both methods are child-centered, emphasizing the role of the environment as a key teacher, and promoting hands-on, exploratory learning. However, the Montessori approach is more structured, with a defined curriculum and mixed-age classrooms, while Reggio Emilia is more emergent, with a focus on creative, project-based learning and collaboration between teachers and children. Ashley provides insights into the unique features of each, such as the Montessori method’s emphasis on independence and the Reggio Emilia focus on arts and loose parts learning.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Reggio Emilia approach is an educational philosophy developed in Italy by Loris Malaguzzi in 1945, focused on the image of the child as capable, curious, and competent.
• 😀 The Reggio Emilia approach emphasizes the concept of 'the hundred languages of children,' highlighting the many ways children can learn, express themselves, and explore.
• 😀 Unlike Montessori, which offers a more structured curriculum, Reggio Emilia is emergent, meaning the children's interests shape the curriculum and learning activities.
• 😀 Both Montessori and Reggio Emilia are based on constructivist theory, focusing on child-centered learning and the teacher's role as an observer and guide.
• 😀 In both approaches, the environment is crucial—Reggio Emilia refers to it as the 'third teacher,' while Montessori also emphasizes preparing the environment according to the child's needs.
• 😀 Natural elements like light, plants, and materials are a central feature in both approaches, creating cozy, home-like environments that contrast with traditional classrooms.
• 😀 Both Montessori and Reggio Emilia avoid worksheets, quizzes, and homework, prioritizing hands-on learning and development.
• 😀 Positive, peaceful relationships between children, peers, adults, and the environment are fundamental in both approaches, with Reggio Emilia being specifically relationship-based.
• 😀 A key difference between the two is that Montessori uses mixed-age groups, while Reggio Emilia tends to group children by their chronological age.
• 😀 Reggio Emilia places a strong emphasis on arts and creative expression, encouraging children to use various mediums to explore and communicate their learning.
• 😀 In a Reggio Emilia classroom, 'provocations' are used to stimulate children's curiosity and creative thinking, offering open-ended materials and opportunities for self-expression.

Q & A

What is the Reggio Emilia approach and who pioneered it?

The Reggio Emilia approach is an educational philosophy founded in 1945 by Loris Malaguzzi, a teacher and humanitarian. It was developed in collaboration with local parents in the town of Reggio Emilia, Italy. The approach emphasizes the view of children as capable, competent, and curious, fostering active participation in their own learning.

How does the Reggio Emilia approach view children?

The Reggio Emilia approach views children as capable, competent, and curious. It sees them as active participants in their own learning, with strong potential for discovery and exploration. Children are encouraged to express themselves in many ways, which is described by the concept of the 'hundred languages of children'.

What is the key difference in how Montessori and Reggio Emilia approach the role of adults in a child's learning?

In Montessori, the adult acts as a guide and observer, preparing the environment based on the child's needs and interests. In contrast, in the Reggio Emilia approach, adults, including teachers and parents, are seen as co-learners, engaging collaboratively with children in their learning process. Teachers are also involved in designing activities and asking thought-provoking questions.

What does the term 'the environment as the third teacher' mean in the context of Reggio Emilia?

In the Reggio Emilia approach, the environment is referred to as the 'third teacher'. This means the space itself is prepared thoughtfully to support and encourage children's learning, offering materials and opportunities for exploration. The environment is seen as an active participant in a child's education, alongside the teacher and the child.

How do the age groups differ between Montessori and Reggio Emilia classrooms?

In Montessori, children are grouped into mixed-age classes with spans of three years, such as 0-3, 3-6, and so on. In Reggio Emilia, children are generally grouped by their chronological age, such as having separate classrooms for 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds, and 5-year-olds.

What is the main difference in the curriculum approach between Montessori and Reggio Emilia?

Montessori follows a structured curriculum that children progress through at their own pace, based on materials designed by Dr. Montessori. In contrast, Reggio Emilia uses an emergent curriculum, meaning the curriculum is not fixed but evolves based on the children's interests and observations made by the teachers. Learning in Reggio Emilia is more project-based and flexible.

What role do 'provocations' play in the Reggio Emilia approach?

In Reggio Emilia, provocations are carefully placed materials or activities designed by the teacher to provoke children's thinking, spark new ideas, or inspire creativity. These provocations are open-ended and meant to encourage exploration, discovery, and self-expression.

How do Montessori and Reggio Emilia environments differ in terms of decor and organization?

Montessori environments tend to have a minimalist vibe, with clear organization and defined areas for different subjects, such as reading, math, and practical life. Everything is at the child's eye level. In contrast, Reggio Emilia environments often feature more vibrant colors, textures, and artistic elements. They may include an atelier (studio) for creative projects and displays of children's work and teacher documentation.

How do the Reggio Emilia and Montessori approaches differ in their emphasis on the arts?

In Reggio Emilia, there is a strong emphasis on the arts, with children using various mediums like painting, sculpture, dance, and more for both learning and self-expression. The approach is rooted in the idea of 'the hundred languages of children', where children express themselves through multiple artistic channels. Montessori also includes arts but to a lesser extent, focusing more on the development of practical life skills, reading, and math.

What is the significance of the 'hundred languages of children' in the Reggio Emilia approach?

The 'hundred languages of children' is a metaphor used in the Reggio Emilia approach to describe the infinite ways children can learn, discover, and express themselves. It reflects the belief that children communicate and explore the world not just through speech, but through art, movement, music, and other forms of expression.