NAREA Fall Conference

Educators from Reggio Emilia, Italy and Giving Tree

I had the opportunity to attend, alongside six colleagues, the NAREA conference over Sukkot Break.  NAREA stands for the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance.  NAREA's website explains, "We exist to closely connect the practices and philosophies of the town of Reggio Emilia, Italy, to its advocates and education professionals in the United States and Canada and those individuals to each other. We do it through sharing knowledge, community-based professional development, and a unique, direct relationship with Reggio Emilia’s resident experts. We are a network of educators, parents, and advocates seeking to elevate both the quality of life and the quality of schools and centers for young children. We envision a world where all children are honored and respected for their potential, capabilities, and humanity. Our mission is to build a diverse community of advocates and educators to promote and defend the rights of children, families, and teachers of all cultures through pedagogy that innovates" (https://www.reggioalliance.org/narea/, 2023).

NAREA has conferences two to three times a year across North America. The latest conference was hosted by Butler University.  Previously, I have had the privilege to attend the NAREA conferences in 2016 in Toronto and 2020 in Atlanta.  For me, outside my study tour in Reggio Emilia, the NAREA conferences have had the greatest impact on me as an educator inspired by the Reggio Approach.  This week's conference was my first opportunity to share the experience with educators from our school.

Each of the educators from Giving Tree completed an application stating in what ways attending the NAREA conference will help them grow as an educator and what three takeaways they are hoping to bring back from the conference.  Each person that applied had different reasons for attending, but each application showed the educators deep commitment to the profession of early childhood educator. Additionally, each educator gave up their precious Sukkot break to attend very long days of learning.  We were very fortunate to be able to cover the cost of all seven application fees through the Empower to Educate grant.  A giant thank you to Alethia Minzlaff for her hard work securing the grant that focuses on professional development.

The NAREA conference's title was Children and Adults: Researching Learning Together.  The speakers at the conference were two educators from Reggio Emilia, Italy.  Claudia Giudici is a pedagogist and Sara De poi is an atelierista.   They shared presentations regarding the multiple forms of children’s and adults’ research through documentation and the multiple doors to knowledge through the 100 languages. Additionally, conference attendees were able to tour local Reggio inspired schools, St. Mary's Early Childhood Centers and IPS Butler Lab Schools.  We participated in interactive ateliers, small group discussions, encounters with the Mosaic of Marks, Words, Material exhibition and atelier.  

Along with hosting the conference, Butler University is hosting the Mosaic of Marks exhibit until December 1. The exhibition-atelier Mosaic of Marks, Words, Material is set up at the South Campus of Butler University.  It is an opportunity to explore and discover the poetic weave that intertwines drawing and words, graphic language and storytelling, graphic tools and material supports.  It is open to the public and I encourage all of the Giving Tree and HHAI families to explore the exhibition.   Butler University website shared, “The intent is to build wide zones of discussion about the experience, actively involving teachers, parents, researchers, and pedagogista in Reggio Emilia, in Italy, and around the world. Dialogue, exchange, comparing ideas, and listening continue to be the primary tools and strategies for constructing the educational experience at all levels: teaching practice, teacher education and professional development, family participation, and relations with the city at large. It is a project that is constructed day by day, with the contribution of all, in a dimension of continuous interaction, evaluation, and rigorous critical analysis.”  Here is a link for more information on the Mosaic of Marks exhibit: .https://www.butler.edu/education/reggio-children-exhibition/

I found each moment of the conference informative and inspiring.  I ended each day with a renewed commitment to children, the field of early childhood education, and the Reggio approach.  Sharing the experience with my coworkers was my favorite part.  We ended each session by meeting as a group and sharing our thoughts.  For me, watching our younger teachers experience NAREA for the first time was beautiful.  I am thrilled of the collective investment that my colleagues have shown for the profession, as well as the children and families of Giving Tree Early Learning.

Reflections from the Giving Tree Educators

"The NAREA Conference provides me the space to grow relationships with my colleagues, reflect on the connections between the Reggio Emilia Philosophy and Conscious Discipline, and knowledge of concepts to facilitate into the classroom to provide the best learning environment for the children. I appreciate the opportunity to attend the NAREA Conference with Giving Tree and I look forward to continuing my journey in learning with children in my new school family." -Moonstar Olinger

"My biggest takeaway, beyond seeing the way they trust the capability of even the littlest learners, is that as educators, we have a responsibility to be learners alongside our students. We are all researchers and have to be open to the ideas and questions of all the other learners in the program. We need to have a spirit of collaboration in our learning." -Krysti Adams

"The NAREA conference gave me a chance to take a step back from the classroom and review myself. The conference helped me see the ways I can better my space and truly focus on the environment as the third teacher for the children. One of the biggest take always I had from the conference was that listening is active. By slowing down and being present in the moments throughout the day, we are able to better observe the children as well as ourselves." -Alisa Bryan

"My takeaway inspirations were how vital it is to give children the gift of time to explore, learn, and process learning opportunities. Approaching learning holistically and organically resonates with me as the way we truly help children succeed as life long learners. I was grateful to be part of the conference." -Georgia Pappas

"The NAREA Fall Conference reaffirmed, revitalized, and renewed my belief in children being constructors in their own learning and teachers joining them and helping them evolve in their journey.  It cemented my belief that as educators we are always growing and evolving with the ultimate goal being to transfer and foster that passion and hunger to learn to the children we serve."  -Alethia Minzlaff

"It truly was a honor to have been able to hear and learn from these amazing educators for 3 days.  The passion in which Claudia & Sara would talk about Reggio Emilia children was incredible.♡" - Maria Gonzalez