What is the Reggio Emilia Approach?

Compass Academy is a registered member of the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance, (NAREA)

The Reggio Emilia Approach®, developed by Loris Malaguzzi in the countryside of Reggio Emilia in northern Italy, is a child-centered early educational philosophy that hinges on the belief that children are powerful and capable individuals, with the ability and desire to construct their own knowledge. In this educational setting, all students and teachers have an equal voice in a collaborative learning process. As its popularity continues to grow throughout the world, the Reggio Emilia Approach® has been referred to as the gold standard of early education, and by Newsweek as the best early childhood education model in the world.

Reggio teachers employ strategies such as exposing children to a wide variety of educational opportunities that encourage self-expression, communication, logical thinking, and problem-solving. This approach considers the classroom as a “third teacher”. Much like the Montessori approach, great care is taken to create an environment that allows for the easy exploration of various interests using items from home, such as common kitchen tools, nature and animals, contribute to a comforting, “homey” classroom environment. Learn more about the history and philosophy behind Reggio Emilia here.