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Saturday, 29 October 2011


For three weeks in August, 14 students from the Graduate School of Education were part of the Bold Park community.

Associate Professor Christine Howitt worked with the students to explore how space and materials are used within the early childhood classrooms to promote creativity and flexibility in teaching and learning. Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) students were learning how to develop effective indoor and outdoor learning environments and how such environments assist with children’s social, emotional, cognitive, language and physical development.

The students worked in a learning environment that is a welcoming space refl ecting the lives and identities of the children in the classroom and their families.

Bold Park hosted our students, providing an opportunity to observe and interact with a working Reggio Emilia school. Our students witnessed fi rst-hand the important place of the environment in the teaching and learning process, and how the environment, too, can act as teacher.

Students made the following observations about the experience:

“Bold Park offers each child fl exibility, freedom, respectful direction, and respects the children by providing a beautiful, safe place to play and learn.”

“I have learned about empowering children with resources that are fl exible and allow for imagination and creative extension and challenges. I have watched teachers valuing children’s input...being driven by them and their thoughts in an effective manner. This is not just free play, but intentional play and intentional learning.”

“Never underestimate children: they are capable of amazing things. Don’t be scared to use non-traditional materials.”

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