Outline of the Programme Click here
Conference-programme

Conference

The Keynote speakers from Reggio Emilia will be Paola Strozzi - a pedagogista, and Evelina Reveberi - a teacher, both teachers have made substantial contributions to our understanding of the educational projects from Reggio Emilia through their work featured in “Making Learning Visible”. In addition, Paola was involved in “Everything has a Shadow Except Ants” and she features in “Art and Creativity in Reggio Emilia”, the book by Vea Vecchi. They are both superb speakers.

Dates: Thursday 13^th, Friday 14^th & Saturday 15^th October 2011
Venue: St Cuthbert’s College, 122 Market Rd, Epsom, Auckland
Time: Registrations open at 3.30 pm on Thursday 13^th, conference starts at 5.00 pm
Friday & Saturday 9.00 am to 4.00 pm
Cost: $550.00 (includes exhibition entry; cocktails; lunch and morning tea)

Click here to register

July NewsletterREANZ Newsletter July 2 2011

One Day Seminar

This repeat of the keynote addresses presented by our international speakers is offered to teachers who are unable to attend the conference and will be held at St Cuthbert’s on:

Dates: Sunday 16^th October 2011 from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm
Venue: St. Cuthbert’s College, 122 Market Road, Epsom, Auckland
Cost:$220.00 per person
(includes entry into Exhibition, morning tea and lunch)

Click here to register

Evening Sessions

Wednesday 12^th October – The Pedagogy of Listening
Monday 17^th October – Pedagogical documentation
Tuesday 18^th October – Inspiring Environments
Wednesday 19^th October – The 100 Languages of Children

Cost: $55.00 per person (This includes a light supper and free entry into the exhibition)
Time: 6.30 pm to 9.00 pm
Venue: St. Cuthbert’s College, 122 Market Road, Epsom, Auckland

Free Public Lecture

With quest speaker Jan Millikan
‘Understanding The Pedagogy of Reggio Emilia’.

Date: Tuesday 11^th October
Time: 6.30 pm presentation,
come early at 5.30pm for a free veiwing of the exhibition or you may go after the presentation for a viewing of the exhibition.
Venue: St. Cuthbert’s College, 122 Market Road, Epsom, Auckland

Click here to register

The Hundred Languages of Children Exhibition

This is open to the public Tues 11th and Wed 12th 10am – 3pm
Thurs 13th 10am – 1.30pm (Conference delegates only after 1.30pm)
Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th 10am – 3pm
Mon 17th – Thurs 20th ^th October 2011 from 10.00 am – 3.00 pm

Cost: $5.00 per person
Venue: St. Cuthbert’s College, 122 Market Road, Epsom, Auckland

No registration needed

Centre Visits

These are offered to Conference delegates who live OUTSIDE the Auckland region (These visits are full no further registrations)

Date: Thursday, 13^th October 2011
Time: 9.30 am – 12.30 pm
Pick-up Point: St. Cuthbert’s College, 122 Market Road, Epsom, Auckland.
Cost: $55 per person (This includes transport and morning tea)

This workshop draws on projects from Reggio Emilia as a catalyst for thinking about the role of research in our schools and centres in Aotearoa NZ.

Teachers’ research – children’s research – schools and centres as places of research

What is the nature of teacher research in educational contexts and how do teachers research to build understanding, support children’s learning strategies and create contexts within which these grow and develop?

How does research help us to become better teachers?

Participants will work together in collaborative groups, experiencing the joys and challenges of decision making and sharing of multiple perspectives.

When: Saturday 11^th June 2011: 9.00 – 3.30
Venue: St Cuthbert’s College, Market Road, Epsom
Cost: $120.00 per person; includes lunch and refreshments.

Click here to download the registration form

As accommodation is going to be scarce in Auckland, due to the Rugby World Cup, we urge you to contact your relatives and friends to book a bed now.
There will be limited accommodation at St Cuthbert’s College.
More details on registration to come soon.

Check out this link: http://zerosei.comune.re.it/inter/100exhibit.htm

Date: Saturday 30th October 2010
Venue: St Cuthberts College, Market Rd, Epsom, Auckland
Time: 10.00am – 3.00pm
Cost: $65.00 (refreshments on arrival & lunch provided)
This event will provide new opportunities for teachers to consider the potential of the outdoors – how do we foster children’s relationship with the outdoors? Is it under utilized as the 3rd teacher in your context? Are you looking for inspiration and ideas?
The day will include 2 presentations from ECE educators who are leading the way in their commitment and recognition of the outdoor ‘classroom’ & for promoting sustainability. The day will also include opportunities for group discussion, facilitated by REANZ trust members Lesley Pohio & Helen Aitken and will provide an opportunity to visit and experience the outdoor environment of St James Kindergarten.
Presenters & Presentations:• Adrienne Wilkins (Sophia Preschool, Taranaki) ‘Citizenship, Community and Sustainability in a Taranaki Garden’
• Shelley Jolly, Tracey McAllister & Elaine Smith (St James Kindergarten, Auckland) The Greatest Tool – Natures Gift – The Outdoors’
REANZ Flyer – Environmental Sustainability Oct 2010

Saturday 9th October: 9.00 – 3.00
Venue: City Impact Church
3 Hansen Rd, Queenstown.
Chris Bayes and Therese Visser are Trustees of REANZ and have been working with the pedagogy of Reggio Emilia for many years. Therese and Raewyn Brown teach at Browns Bay Preschool and they have been used the pedagogy of Reggio Emilia as a protagonist for thinking deeply about children’s learning.
Click here for registration form Queenstown Oct 9th

 “We have the knowledge and the wisdom to change; early years teachers can take the lead”

Join Janet Robertson, Associate Professor Alma Fleet, Anthony Semann, Wendy Shepherd and Toby Honig, presenters from the ‘Unpacking Conference’ held in Sydney, for this wonderful professional learning opportunity.

These Seminars were held on April 12th, 16th & 17th

Please read a personal reflection from one participant.  Others are welcome to send in their thoughts and reflections to start an on-line discussion.  Reflective Notes   Click here. Embracing Educational Change Reflection

Anthony Semann – Director Semann & Slattery
Unleashing the potential of play: moving from ages and stages to equity and social justice and Social justice and equity: curriculum and beyond. NZ Social Justice  Click to read presentation notes

Toby Honig – Consultant Semann & Slattery
Out of the mouths of babes: what infants and toddlers tell us, if only we had the eyes to see and the ears to listen

The Auckland Symposium is proudly supported by AUT

About the presenters and their topics:

Janet Robertson – Mia Mia Child and Family Study Centre
The Gardenista: exploration of thinking outside and Stories past, present and future from the outside

Janet Robertson has taught at Mia-Mia Child and Family Study Centre at Macquarie University for 13 years, prior to that she was an Advisor and Director.  Her move forward to teaching was prompted by the thinking from the educational experience in Reggio Emilia.  Since 1992, after her first visit to Reggio Emilia, Janet has spoken and written about the implications arising from the work in Reggio Emilia for Australian education. Janet is co author of Insights, which she co-edited with Catherine Patterson and Alma Fleet.

Associate Professor Alma Fleet
Associate Professor Alma Fleet is the Coordinator of the BTeach (Early Childhood Services) Program at the Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University. Her interest in learning includes working with people investigating their own practice as a key component of educational change.  Her thinking is influenced by her work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as well as by her study of the educators in Reggio Emilia, Italy.  Her most recent book (Insights), co-edited with Catherine Patterson and Janet Robertson, explores relationships between pedagogical documentation and social justice issues.  She received a Macquarie University Award for Outstanding Community Outreach activity in 2003.

Anthony Semann – Director Semann & Slattery
Unleashing potentials in play: moving from ages and stages to equity and social justice and Social justice and equity: curriculum and beyond

For the past 15 years Anthony has worked as an educator, innovator and advocate with a broad range of government, non-government and private organisations.  Anthony’s achievements have been publicly recognised by his peers and the broader community and he has been awarded the Young Manager of the Year Award and the Inaugural Advocate of the Year Award. Anthony is currently completing a PhD at Macquarie University studying courage and leadership.

Wendy Shepherd
The semiotics of early childhood environments

Wendy is the Director of Mia-Mia Child and Family Study Centre and also works in the academic program of the Institute of Early Childhood in the Management and Young Children and the Arts Units. As an early childhood teacher, Wendy has had experience teaching in early primary, preschool and currently as a long day care director. Wendy is also a member of the Early Childhood Justice Group.

Toby Honig – Consultant Semann & Slattery
Out of the mouth of babes : what infants and toddlers tell us, if only we had the eyes to see and the ears to listen

Toby is an early childhood teacher graduate and he plays a critical role in a range of research projects at Semann & Slattery. With comprehensive knowledge of research methodologies, Toby takes a leading role in organising and participating in a range of research projects applying his skills with both qualitative and quantitative research frameworks. Toby is a dynamic professional who is driven by a passion for transformation.

To all those who attended the Seminars please post your experience in the reply below.

MARGIE CARTER has been a preschool and kindergarten teacher and a child care director. When she is not traveling to consult and speak, Margie works side by side with directors and teachers in early childhood programs. Margie has co-authored seven books, the most recent of which are Learning Together with Young Children, Designs for Living and Learning, and The Art of Awareness. She has produced a number of DVDs highlighting the growth of teachers in the U.S. drawing inspirations from the Schools of Reggio Emilia.

Designing Environments that Engage Children’s Minds

Thursday 1^st October. 6.15 – 9.00pm

Beyond room arrangements and aesthetics, we will consider the aspects of early learning environments that engage children in relationships, imaginative explorations, and the generation of theories. Margie will offer examples from teachers who invite children into discovery, inquiry, and problem solving with provocative materials and a programme culture that promotes an excitement about learning.

Centre Leaders: Creating a reflective culture that transforms pedagogy.

Saturday 3^rd October. 9.00 – 3.30pm

When an early education organisation creates a culture of thoughtful dialogue, teachers as well as children are intellectually engaged and excited about the teaching and learning process. Our day together will be structured with the elements of a reflective culture—working in communities of practice with critical friends to experience and examine the stories Margie brings from educators in her communities.

This seminar day will be an opportunity to learn more about the notion of the pedagogy of listening through presentations and discussion groups.

This seminar day will be facilitated and presented by REANZ trust members Lesley Pohio, Helen Aitken & Glenys Waller along with our guest presenters Shelley Jolly & Tracey McAllister from St James Kindergarten in Auckland

The day will include a range of presentations, discussions and visual examples of visible listening within our work with children.

Central to our discussion will be how as teachers in Aoteraoa New Zealand we can be inspired by pedagogy from Reggio Emilia Italy, whilst simply avoiding replication.

Key Presentation:

GUEST PRESENTERS – SHELLEY JOLLY & TRACEY McALLISTER

In this presentation we will open our door and welcome you to share a visual feast of how our physical and social environment strives to reflect responsive, reciprocal and meaningful listening. The presentation will also provide practical ideas and inspiration through documentation and discussion. Links will be made to the pedagogy of listening from Reggio Emilia, and how we have used this knowledge to create our own unique Whāriki.

REANZ’s Commitment to connect with Regions outside of Auckland: We are hoping that this Seminar day will also be an opportunity to form a Waikato network group who can continue to foster & disseminate information relating to REANZ and Reggio inspired practice. Could this be you?

Thoughts on the Waikato Seminar Day:

‘Connecting with Reggio through the pedagogy of listening’

Seminar facilitated & Presented by Helen Aitken, Lesley Pohio & Glenys Waller

with guest  presenters Shelley Jolly & Tracey McAllister (St James Kindergarten, AKA

Seminar review written by John Menneer                                                                              

Explorers Early Learning Centre
185 Grey St, Hamilton East                      
www.reggioinspired.co.nz      

Marcus (5 years) “Dad where are you going tomorrow”?

Teacher Dad:  “To a course on listening.”

Marcus:   “Listening?”

Teacher Dad:   “Yes, a course on learning how to listen to children.”

Marcus:   “Why aren’t us kids going”?

Teacher Dad:  “Why do you kids need to go?”

Marcus:  “to learn how to listen to us.”

Reflective Dad:   “Oh…yeah”

The seminar was held on Saturday 22nd August in Hamilton at the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) in a stunningly modern and beautiful building and setting.  This provided a relational space (to use a Reggio phrase) that acted as a very stimulating environment in which to learn and receive new information; the third teacher was well represented.   Christine Coombes, who is the Team Leader of the Early Childhood Education programme at Wintec opened the day with a warm welcome, followed by a karakia and waiata. 

The dialogue above with my 5 year old son occurred the night before the seminar and forced me to reflect on what my expectations of the next day might be.  I decided that in fact I wasn’t going to a seminar to “learn how to listen”, but was looking forward to exploring the concept of listening from the perspective of gaining insight.  The real learning would come later when I interacted with children and engaged in reflective practice.   The seminar was brilliant and fulfilled my child-initiated expectations.

Lesley began with a presentation on “Exploring Cultural Contexts for Italy and Aotearoa”.   This was a great place to start as she addressed one of the most important questions those of us who embrace the Reggio Approach face, that is, how do we avoid duplication and find a fit for Reggio within our own cultural context in Aotearoa?    An obvious response to this question is ensuring that Te Whāriki is still honored in our practice and early childhood environments, and is not relegated to a lower order simply because Reggio is the underpinning philosophy.    Lesley probed somewhat deeper than this, highlighting the importance of thinking holistically and considering our own cultural values, lifestyles, society, and sense of community as we develop our own approach to Reggio, while still maintaining the fundamental principles that underpin the Reggio Approach.  Lesley’s presentation gave me much food for thought as my teachers and I progress on our own journey of discovery as we develop our philosophy at Explorers based on the Reggio Approach.  I often ask myself:  Will I still call our philosophy the Reggio Approach in 10 years time?  Maybe it will become the Hamilton Approach, or the Explorers Approach, as we take on our own cultural context.

The “Pedagogy of Listening” was the next presentation and was given by Helen Aitken.    Although ECE teachers aren’t allowed favourites, this talk was the one I enjoyed the most.  Helen first gave a definition of ‘pedagogy’ which was helpful since the word seems to have so many enigmatic qualities:  “Pedagogy:  The art and science of teaching (what we’re doing and why).”   Helens talk was full of inspirational art and science regarding listening to children.   Some memorable “learning” phrases I particularly enjoyed with reference to listening were “Listening with all our senses”, “seeing through the child’s eyes”, and visible/visual listening – “how is the notion of visible listening being enacted by the teacher?”  The notion of “visible listening” was a concept I loved and which has become more obvious to me now.  This week I asked one of my teachers if she had any language for a child’s drawing I wanted to display, her response was:  “No, Alisha didn’t say much when she was drawing, but she expressed herself a lot through her body language [visible listening]”.  I was impressed with the teacher’s pedagogy of listening, and we documented the child’s body language, which is now part of the display.   I think I like the term visible listening because it challenges me to listen by observation as well as by hearing.   Listening with all my senses is now my pet mantra.

The morning went quickly with the sharing of Lesley’s and Helen’s knowledge and experience.   After morning tea two teachers (Shelley Jolley and Tracey McAllister) from St James kindergarten addressed the seminar.   Their presentation gave the practical outworking of being a listening teacher.   Several of my teachers said they enjoyed this presentation immensely.   I thought the opening of this presentation was innovative with Shelley giving their introduction in sign language.  This was very fitting and although I exercised visible listening I still didn’t understand what was going on until Tracey translated.  I thought this was a valuable lesson in showing the importance of using all the senses (eyes and ears in this case) to gain understanding, especially if you can’t understand the body language!  Shelley and Tracey spoke of many interesting points relating to listening, such as: Having a responsive environment (not one that just looks good) – what resources do you have to achieve this?  Thinking about your daily routine and supervision – does it support listening?  Listen to your environment – what is it telling you?  Lastly, different children need to be listened to in different ways.   A topic of interest to me was Shelley’s discussion on schemas, and functional dependency as an example of schema.  I found this to be a very useful concept to improve my pedagogy of listening as it gave me a framework to understand why children sometimes do what they do.  During the discussion on schemas my thoughts were immediately drawn to a 3 year old girl (Riya) who comes to Explorers and whose schema is often revealed during water play.   I’ll be less frustrated now at Riyas’ repeated water play sessions in the children’s sink in the arts area – I see her schema now.

The balance of the day (following lunch) was further presentations and some group work again led by Lesley and Helen.  Lesley gave some interesting insight into making learning visible with a PowerPoint exposé of different forms of documentation displays from within early childhood settings and also within the community (on walls, fences etc).  These were quite inspiring with many good examples from Reggio Emilia city and its pre-schools – maybe this talk was my favourite?   This address presented several challenges for me:  How can I listen without documentation?   And even more challenging, how can the broader learning community listen without documentation, and how do we make learning visible to our local community?

As last speaker of the day, Glenys Waller of St Cuthbert’s school gave me some hope with their use of the Reggio inspired practice at primary school level.  This I’m sure is a positive step, especially for new entrants who might come from a less prescriptive early childhood environment.  I’m sure that it would help with their adjusting to the more formal setting of a school environment. In finishing this review I’ll close with the words of Tracey and Shelley:  Be brave teachers, be passionate teachers, and be teachers that go into uncertain space (I like the last one)