Our Pittsburgh Cohort has safely arrived in Italy and has joined 51 other Jewish early childhood educators from Boston, Chicago, District of Columbia, Israel and Maryland.

To help frame our time together in Reggio Emilia, yesterday, we were given a walking tour of the city and learned more about its rich history by parent volunteers from Reggio Children.

This week our Study Group is meeting at the Loris Malaguzzi International Center in Reggio Emilia. Our Study Group program includes:

• History of the Reggio Emilia educational project and projections toward the future
• Visits to preschools and infant-toddler centers of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia Istituzione
• Presentations/seminars by pedagogistas, teachers, and atelieristas on the values and principles of the Reggio philosophy
• Presentations of research projects carried out in the Reggio Emilia infant-toddler centers and preschools
• Topics including: the image of the competent child; teachers as researchers; observation, interpretation and documentation; children with special rights; the role of the environment; and the pedagogy of listening