This panel will explore the Reggio Emilia Approach, its history and growth in Italy, as well as its use in the U.S. school system, through presentations that embrace the perspectives of scholars, teachers, school directors, and parents. Some of the questions that this panel will address include:

How has the approach evolved from its local beginnings in a relatively small Italian town to its international diffusion today? How can the Reggio approach accommodate the specific context of U.S. families’ lives, where full-time working parents may not have the time to be as involved as this approach expects? How can the Reggio approach accommodate for special education children in the U.S. system?

Program

-Introductory remarks: Dr. Teresa Fiore (Inserra Chair, MSU)
-Guest speaker’s talk: “The Reggio Emilia Approach: Italian Beginnings, International Growth” by Lella Gandini (Leading advocate of the Reggio Approach in the U.S.)
-Respondents’ contribution: “Three perspectives on integrating the fundamentals of Reggio Emilia in an American School”, a joint presentation by
Kathleen Berkowitz (School Director, A Child’s Place School, Lincroft, NJ)
Debbie Piescor (Master Teacher, A Child’s Place School, Lincroft, NJ)
Dr. Gina Miele (Professor of Italian, MSU, and informed parent at A Child’s Place School, Lincroft, NJ)

Event will take place in Lecture Hall, Room 101 in the Feliciano School of Business. This program grants Professional Development credit hours. Registration required. For more information and to RSVP, visit the organizer website.