Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/waste-materials-as-resources/5020920/
I first learned about the Reggio Approach in 1997 while attending a conference in Windsor, Ontario. I was instantly intrigued by the unique pedagogy. In the years that followed, I immersed myself in books about the Reggio Approach trying to learn as much as I could. It was not until 2004 when I travelled to Reggio Emilia to attend the Crossing Boundaries Conference and Study Tour that I truly came to appreciate the depth of understanding that was needed in order to make such a system of education work.The Remida Centre, in particular, made a huge impact on me. It is a unique warehouse that is home to the biggest collection of recyclable items that I have ever encountered. Remida is not a simple collection of paper rolls, egg cartons, and tissue paper. It is so much more! It was my introduction to this collection that sparked what we now refer to in our schools as ‘loose material.’ [For those of you who have read Louise Caldwell’s book, Bringing Reggio Emilia Home (1997), you know that she also makes reference to loose materials. However, I did not discover Caldwell’s work until years after we began our own exploration.]
What is ...