Rainbow Connection

The Reggio Emilia approach is a student-centered and constructivist self-guided curriculum that uses self-directed, experiential learning in relationship-driven environments.

At Rainbow Connection, the Reggio Emilia approach guides us on our mission to provide a safe and nurturing environment that promotes knowledge and inspires a life-long love of learning.

At its core, Reggio Emilia is guided by a handful of fundamental concepts that separate it from other early childhood educational philosophies, such as the Waldorf or Montessori philosophies, though each focus on the education of the whole child. One of the biggest differences between Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, and Montessori isn’t just the guiding principles, but rather, the environment that produced the foundations of each.

The Reggio style takes careful consideration of how both learning methods, environmental aspects, and relationships interact together to form the basis of the philosophy. As such, there are key elements of the philosophy to which a school must adhere to be a Reggio-inspired school:

1) Children are capable to construct their own learning.

2) Children are collaborators and learn through interaction within their communities.

3) Children are natural communicators and should be encouraged to express themselves however they feel.

4) The classroom environment acts as the third teacher.

5) Teachers are partners, nurturers, and guides who help facilitate the exploration of children’s interests as they work on short and long-term projects.

6) Documentation is a critical component of communication.

7) Parents are partners in education