News About the Future of the Minnesota Reggio Network
--The Steering Committee that worked to bring the Exhibit to Saint Paul has come together once again with the intention of improving the Minnesota Reggio Network. The members are collaborating to create ways to increase and deepen participation.
Highlights in the Minnesota Reggio Network History
--In February, 1998, educators from around the State met at the invitation of Barb Murphy in the University of Minnesota Lab School to share their interest in the Reggio-Emilia philosophy and the inspiration it had generated in their practice. The network has continued to meet regularly since then. There are 750 names on the Network mailing list to which news is sent about professional development opportunities as well as Network information. Monthly, 10 to 20 members meet to collaborate, dialogue, share experiences and questions.
--Minnesota Reggio Network was officially founded as a Non-profit Organization in 2002.
--During the year 2004, St. Paul hosted The Hundred Languages of Children exhibit. The teachers in the network collaborated on SEEING CHILDREN, a collection of projects from 12 Minnesota schools, which was exhibited as a companion exhibit at The Minnesota Children’s Museum and the Summer Conference. This research centered around the experience of context and environment. Each school explored the questions of “How do children respond to and express their ideas about their environment ?” and “How do we, as teacher-researchers respond and make visible the learning created?”
--From the first meeting in 1998 at the U of M, until November of 2004, the Network meetings have been hosted by MacDonald Montessori. As one of the responses to the presence of the exhibit, Amelia Gambetti suggested, at that time, to invite other centers to share in the hosting. The invitation was extended and generously accepted. Now the meeting place of the Network is rotated among many centers in the Metro area.
Goals of the Network
Aims and intentions for 2006-2007:
--collaboration and dialogue about the many aspects of our practice;
--creation of SEEING CHILDREN III;
--aim towards a time and venue to make these projects visible;
--hold monthly meetings and explore different environments inspired by the Reggio philosophy;
--specific topics at monthly meetings prepared and presented by hosts;
--explore ideas from literature about education;
--give time and importance to reflection on our work;
--promotion and connection to the wider community of the midwest, NAREA, Reggio Children, International Network;
--exploration of the environment, recycling, and shared resources;
--continue to develop and expand the website to make visible the work of the children, teachers, parents and Reggio-Inspired community.
Please RSVP, address any questions and/or join an e-mail
list by contacting Sandy Burwell at Macdonald Montessori –
651-227-1039 or melchisedech1946@yahoo.com
LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR:
Saturday, May 17th. Stepping Stones Program at Eisenhower elementary has invited us to their center for the last meeting of the year.
From their staff: "Our outside playscape should be looking beautiful with blooming flowers and it would be a good way to show how nature ties in with the children's learning."
ALSO:
Channel 2 aired a show about MacPhail Center for Music and their program integrating music and nature. Dianna Babcock is coming to talk about possibilities for collaboration with our nature exploration. We can talk about continuing our research with nature on into next year and share panels from the conference.
Directions to Stepping Stone: The school address is 1001 Highway 7, Hopkins. Take 494 to HWY 7 east to 12th ave, turn left at the stoplight the school is right there. If you are coming from 169 take hwy 7 west to 12th ave, turn right at stoplight the school is right there.
