Robin Duckett and Mary Jane Drummond 

How do we translate our values and beliefs into practice?
Action-research narratives and reflections on establishing creative, reflective early childhood pedagogy: early childhood educators and creative enablers describe their collaborative work for others who want to explore and grow.

• When we say we value children as competent, sociable, imaginative and expressive learners, what do we do about it in practice?
• When we say we need to be critical, reflective and creative in our practice, how do we realise these aspirations?
• When we try to create environments of enquiry, with space for children's fascinations, what will help - or hinder - us in doing so?

The history and identity of the Municipal Preschool Centro Verde Martiri di Villa Sesso narrated by the the people who participated in its creation. The book tells the story of an educational community over almost half a century (1945 -1997)

Introduction -  Sergio Spaggiari

Our First 26 Years -  Loretta Giaronni

Our School as part of the Reggio Emilia Experience - Max Ghiradi

The Centro Verde - the children's thoughts and words

Publisher: Reggio Children (2002)

A collection of wonderful ideas, microstories, children's thoughts and theories, fragments of 23 projects from Reggio Children.

Designed for educators' group discussion and professional formation.

"An open and engaging A3 folder of new and different contributions of children and teachers that, with a particular narrative and iconic synthesis, keep a trace of the basic project but express new concepts that can generate enormous educational potentials, able to elicit new ideas and new proposals."

Sections from the Reggio exhibition "THE WONDER OF LEARNING"

Published by Reggio Children (2009)

Are you looking for ways in which your children can explore their world through music and movement?

This slideshow/video summarises our 2-year project with a nursery and primary school in Kendal. Discover what we did, what we learned, what obstacles we faced and how the children engaged.

Production has been supported by Youth Music, and so we are able to make this free to download.

Working with Children in a Natural Environment, Early Childhood Educators Re-evaluate their Theory and Practice

This film documents research undertaken by Walkergate Early Years Centre and Sightlines Initiative into the best way to support young children's learning.

The dvd also includes extra professional development material on downloadable pdf files.

Two films presenting descriptions of a day in an infant-toddler centre and a day in preschool: the everydayness of being together, the strength of a way of organising that is designed but light, knowledgeable but flexible; a special care for the environments and the way of being in school, the idea that the infant-toddler cenre and preschool are places in which culture is created.

"Our hope is to raise normal children as the result of hard-won and everyday utopia" (Loris Malaguzzi)

• A day in an infant-toddler centre (running time: 13'58")
• A day in a preschool (running time 19'15")
  
  Production: Reggio Children 2011 DVD-PAL

This booklet tracks the development of one of the many ideas that the children conceived. Lots of theories and stories emerged through the inspiration the natural evviroment had of the children's creative and curious minds. An interplay between staff and children, the environment and the imagination.

An alphabet of learning from the real world

by Diane Rich, Mary Jane Drummond, Cathy Myer with Annabelle Dixon

An English translation of the Italian booklet produced for parents, and indeed anyone in the community, by the Municipality of Reggio Emilia.

It is a synopsis and introduction to the values and practice of the preschools: an essential companion for any visitor or interested enquirer.

"The development of Indications, carried out with wide community involvement and participatory consultation, represents an important achievement in ensuring that the guiding criteria for operating the early childhood services are transparent, shared, and put into practice, criteria deriving in large part from the actual history of these educational services."

Published April 2010 from the original Italian version (2009)

Have you ever wondered what would happen

• if children were given day-long, year-long opportunities to be in nature and explore wildness?
• if educators recognised how daring and imaginative children become in the wild outdoors?
• if educators and children, working together, used their classroom as a studio for the exploration and exchange of fascinatig ideas and questions?

In this book you will find some answers to these questions - and to many more.  [ downloadable flyer ] 

Robin Duckett & Mary Jane Drummond

An alphabet of what learners do
by Diane Rich, Mary Jane Drummond and Cathy Myer

... video from The Rising Sun Woodland Preschool project.

"A dragon in a tree, blossoming bluebells and daffodils, fungi, an enormous muddy pond, a chance to make fire...

Whenever the nursery children from Redesdale First School in North Tyneside go down to the nearby Rising Sun Countryside Park, they're sure of a few surprises.

Their weekly visits have introduced them to the great outdoors and allowed them to discover it at their own pace - and to discover new talents and abilities along the way.

It makes for enchanting viewing, as the children discover the magical environment of the woodland and make it their own. In the process, different individuals hone different skills and gain in confidence." (from Alison Mercer, Nursery World 2001)

A transformative film for early educators wanting to ground their creative practice in nature.