Redefining Pre-Schools: Integrating Reggio Emilia Inspired Inquiry Based Practices to Public Pre-K Programs
Presenters
- Sandy Fajgier, PS 10/K-280: Bishop Ford site
- Maciel Martinez, PS 10/K-280: Bishop Ford site
Session / Time
- Breakout Session III
- Thursday, April 26, 2:45 - 3:45 p.m.
- Glenwood Room
Description
The Reggio Emilia approach is common in elite private schools in the U.S. We are excited to bring the practices of Reggio Emilia and inquiry based teaching to Public Schools in Brooklyn, NY and eventually across the 5 boroughs.
Our workshop will look at the process of Inquiry based learning in our unique Public Pre-K site. We will discuss how plan, document, and connect the NYS Common Core Standards for Pre-K to our Reggio inspired inquiry based program while meeting the needs of our diverse public school population.
Goals / Content / Intentionality
Participants will join us to explore what the Reggio Emilia inspired inquiry based classroom looks like in our DOE Pre-K for All site. We will examine our inquiry process and our unique documentation practices which make the learning visible for our diverse community of learners.
We hope that participants will look at public school teaching and learning through a new lens examining the following Reggio ideals as they relate to educators:
The idea of co constructing with children as to where their ideas may go; how can public educators with mandated pre determined curriculums move toward a child led approach? First steps will be outlined and discussed.
How can public school teachers shift from the traditional role of planner to guide and co-constructor, facilitator, researcher, and documentarian; looking at effective and efficient to ways balance what is mandated and what is important to the children.
Looking at how we can measure the impact of this approach. We will take a closer look at the thoughtful engagement of children in reflective dialogue and powerful conversations about metacognition and how this impacts the language development of preschool children.
Presenter Bios
Sandy Fajgier, PS 10/K-280: Bishop Ford site
Sandy Fajgier, PS 10/K-280: Bishop Ford site
Sandra Fajgier has been an Early Childhood Education teacher for over 10 years. She began her career in Bean Sprouts Nursery School in Brooklyn, NY. After a few years she moved on to Public School 10 in Park Slope Brooklyn, where she taught Pre- Kindergarten and Kindergarten for 8 years. Recently she joined K-280 the school of journeys, a Reggio Emilia inspired Pre-K annex of PS10. Sandy is an LPP Model Teacher in a host school, a peer collaborative coach/ teacher leader for District 15 and a mentor teacher. She is a writer for The New York Teacher and has facilitated many professional development sessions over the years ranging from Yoga to Mathematics, and more recently bringing the practices of Reggio Emilia; specifically materials and the classroom environment and student led curriculum development and documentation, to DOE Pre-K sites across Brooklyn. Sandra is also an alumni of CUNY Brooklyn and worked as an adjunct professor in the Early Childhood Department.
Maciel Martinez, PS 10/K-280: Bishop Ford site
Maciel Martinez, PS 10/K-280: Bishop Ford site
Maciel Martinez has been an Early Childhood Education teacher for 7 years. She began her career in a Community Based Organization in Jackson Heights teaching Universal Pre-k and extended day programs for Kindergarten Readiness. During that time, she also worked on building and directing an After -School program for a Charter School in Jackson Heights, with a focus on highlighting the potential of ‘At Risk Students’. Three years ago she jumped at the opportunity of working with K280 School of Journeys, in Park Slope Brooklyn. With her appreciation of the Reggio Emilia philosophy, she has facilitated professional development topics such as: Loose-Parts in The Classroom, Classroom Environment as a Third Teacher, and Materials in the Block Center. Maciel is an LPP Model Teacher in a host school and has learned and gathered information from different NAREA conferences and visiting multiple Reggio inspired schools.
