Welcome Summer!
Collectively we have lived through what has been the most tumultuous time not only for educators but for the entire world. Your stories of the ways to thrive even in the face of challenge have been inspiring. You have shared in roundtables online and in your participation with online professional development through these past two years. The ITP Directors group in the East Bay and San Francisco have met once a month to give support and share our vulnerability in the time of Covid. I think we can all agree that the principals of Reggio Emilia Approach give us clarity and focus to lean on most importantly “the image of the child.”
The good news to share with you is that we will be creating roundtables and occasions to meet in person beginning in the Fall 2022. Education is based on relationships. We look forward to seeing everyone and appreciating the wonderful work of the schools, teaching, leadership, reflection and creativity from all of you. We will also maintain online professional development when appropriate and useful to our participants. Thank you to the leadership of the ITP steering committee and ITP network of schools.
In closing I would like to share a Gianni Rodari writing to inspire us in the future.
Giovanni Francesco "Gianni" Rodari was an Italian writer and journalist, most famous for his works of children's literature, notably Il Romanzo di Cipollino. For his lasting contribution as a children's author he received the biennial Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1970. You may remember “The Grammar of Fantasy” shared in Reggio Emilia.
He was a close colleague of Loris Malaguzzi and visited the schools often in Reggio Emilia.
“Una Scuola Grande come il mondo
A School as Big as the World
illustrated by Allegra Agliardi, age 5+
Gianni Rodari talks about a school as big as the world itself. The teachers are professors but also carpenters, even the sun and the stars do teach something in that school. Some lessons are easy, some are difficult. You can learn how to speak, but also how to play and even how to get angry. You never stop learning, and what you do not know yet, is always much more important than what you already know. This school is the entire world: you just have to look around yourself and you will get full marks!
Wishing you a restful and creative summer with family and friends.