The Hundred Languages Of Children - A Poem

My, my, my it's been a late night with her. So, I'm just going to post a poem - my favorite poem. I always get a bit of a lump in my throat when I read it. The poem, "The Hundred Languages of Children" was written by Loris Malaguzzi, founder of the 'Reggio Emilia' approach to childcare. My brain is too mushy tonight to explain this approach well enough but, I've found a site that explains it fabulously: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggio_Emilia_approach I had the opportunity to work with an educator who was learning about this approach and practising it in her classroom. It was the most amazing experience I've ever had working in childcare. The children were so stimulated, curious - they were little scientists! Our role as teachers was basically that of facilitator. We observed, recorded, and documented their play and provided whatever it was they needed to take it a step further. Projects could go from a few days to over a month. It is absolutely amazing what children are capable of if we back off and give them the space and opportunity to really explore their interests. The Hundred Languages Of Children The child is made of one hundred. The child has a hundred languages a hundred hands a hundred thoughts a hundred ways of thinking of playing, of speaking. A hundred always a hundred ways of listening of marveling, of loving a hundred joys for singing and understanding a hundred worlds to discover a hundred worlds to invent a hundred worlds to dream. The child has a hundred languages (and a hundred hundred hundred more) but they steal ninety-nine. The school and the culture separate the head from the body. They tell the child: to think without hands to do without head to listen and not to speak to understand without joy to love and to marvel only at Easter and at Christmas. They tell the child: to discover the world already there and of the hundred they steal ninety-nine. They tell the child: that work and play reality and fantasy science and imagination sky and earth reason and dream are things that do not belong together. And thus they tell the child that the hundred is not there. The child says: No way. The hundred is there. Loris Malaguzzi (translated by Lella Gandini)

Comments

Mum and soon to be teacher said…
So beautiful!
March 25, 2010
Anonymous said…
Marveling is spelled wrong!!!
October 29, 2010
Holistic Mommy said…
Ooh looky, so it was :)
October 29, 2010
generic cialis 20mg said…
Hello, I do not agree with the previous commentator - not so simple
November 23, 2010
Anonymous said…
I worked as a teacher in a reggio based school and LOVE their philosophy creative thinking should be nurtured not killed
April 10, 2011
Anonymous said…
No, it's not simple. Good teaching is an incredible amount of hard work. However, it is an act of love for your students. Environment, documentation, project work based on an image of the child that is competent, strong, curious, intelligent and capable brings joy into teaching. Relationships are essential for inquiry based learning. Being a part of the children's journey as they grow and learn is amazing and worth every sweat drop, minute of time and ounce of effort. When this takes places in a classroom it is simple to do one thing - find the joy.
May 17, 2012
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