UNIVERSITY LIGGETT SCHOOL \ ACADEMICS
\ ACADEMICS
Reggio Emilia Inspired Prekindergarten
Advancing Wonder Since 1878
Empowering young learners: A unique blend of Reggio Emilia and The Liggett Approach
University Liggett School’s Prekindergarten program uses the self-guided Reggio Emilia approach to learning. Our youngest students are encouraged to draw upon their innate curiosities and are empowered to ask questions and to independently and collaboratively explore their understanding of the world and their place within it.
We believe in fostering a rich learning environment that empowers young children to reach their full potential. By combining the strengths of Reggio Emilia and The Liggett Approach, we create a vibrant space where exploration, discovery, and collaboration thrive.
The Reggio Emilia Approach: Cultivating Curiosity and Creativity
Inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, our classrooms become "the third teacher," where the environment itself sparks curiosity and imagination.
-
We celebrate the diverse ways children express themselves. This includes exploration through music, movement, visual arts, and storytelling, alongside traditional language development.
-
Children are participants in their learning journey, engaging in open-ended projects that spark their curiosity and sense of wonder. Teachers guide their exploration and fostering critical thinking skills.
-
We document children's learning through photos, videos, and observations. This shared becomes a tool for reflection, communication, and collaboration between children, teachers, and families.
The Liggett Approach: Building skills and empowering voices
The Liggett Approach complements the Reggio Emilia philosophy by providing a framework for building critical skills and fostering student agency.
-
Our classrooms are designed to be student-centered, with teachers acting as guides and mentors. Student voices are valued, and their interests and passions are woven into the curriculum.
-
We believe in offering children opportunities to make choices, fostering a sense of ownership and engagement in their learning. This allows them to explore their interests and develop a sense of agency.
-
While we celebrate learning outcomes, we also emphasize process and individual growth. We provide a supportive environment where children can experiment, make mistakes, and learn from their experiences.
A synergistic approach to learning
By combining the Reggio Emilia and Liggett approaches, we cultivate a unique learning environment that is both nurturing and stimulating. This blend allows children to:
- Develop strong foundational skills through engaging, hands-on activities.
- Express themselves creatively through a variety of mediums.
- Become collaborative learners who work together to solve problems and share ideas.
- Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills through open-ended exploration.
- Become confident and self-assured individuals who are eager to learn and explore the world around them.
More to Explore
Children who thrive in our program are independent, socially and emotionally ready, curious, respectful, and kind. They are ready to be away from you for longer periods of time.
Our admissions process is designed to assist you in determining if University Liggett School is a good fit for your child at this time. Please reach out with questions.
We build upon children's natural curiosities through Project Work, starting in prekindergarten. Our students ask themselves what they already know about a topic; they conduct research to discover what more they want to know; and, finally, they demonstrate and share what they've learned.
A brilliant example of the Project Approach is our prekindergarten class' exploration of fabrics. Arising organically from students' interest in classroom scrap fabric, teachers led a discussion on "What do we know about fabrics?"
The class discovered that there was much more to the topic than clothing, alone. That simple act of questioning led to a wonderfully interwoven set of inquiries, discoveries and hands-on experiences that unfolded throughout the school year to deepen student connection with the topic and its place in their world.
Through the Fabric Project, our teachers integrated the subject matter in a variety of ways to bring about greater meaning and understanding including:
-
- Identifying the numerous ways fabrics appear in our lives and asking students to bring in examples
-
- Sorting, labeling and describing fabric samples for presentation
-
- Engaging the students in textile art projects, including tie-dyeing and batik
-
- Fine tuning small motor skills with weaving and sewing projects
-
- Integrating physical education with the use of student-created dancing ribbons
-
- Exploring the science of fabrics, as well as the different ways fabrics are used and valued around the globe
Peggy Dettlinger
Head of Lower School
Sheila Bracken
Early Childhood Program Director
What is Reggio Emilia with prekindergarten teacher Summer Turfe?
Why I believe in Reggio Emilia with prekindergarten teacher Summer Turfe.
We believe in the capability and the competency of children.