Reggio Emilia Study Tour

Reggio Emilia, Italy

April 13 - 21, 2007

• Study Tour Details  | 
• Course Description  | 
• Interest Form

Thank you for your interest in the Reggio Emilia, Italy Travel Program. At this time our study tour for April 2007 is full. If you would like to be added to our list of alumni and friends interested in future tours, please e-mail kmcsweeney@wheelock.edu . Thank you!

An opportunity to learn about and to be part of a special educational experience and study tour to the world-renowned Municipal Preschool system of Reggio Emilia, Italy. The “Reggio Emilia Approach” has provided inspiration to educators worldwide and holds a powerful perspective on the culture of childhood that resonates with the Wheelock mission to improve the lives of children and families. During the trip, join a group of 50 students, faculty, alumni, and friends of Wheelock for a powerful educational and cultural exchange with these innovative Italian educators.

During the tour learn about

• Innovative classroom, equipment, and materials design
• Education based on deep relationships with children and parents
• The powerful “Hundred Languages of Children” philosophy
• The community of Reggio Emilia and it’s enduring commitment to social justice and community-based social practices.

Study Tour Details

The anticipated total cost per person of this trip is approximately $3000. This includes:

• A three-and-a-half day educational immersion in the Reggio Emilia Approach with visits to preschool and infant-toddler centers, lectures and discussions and a guided tour of Reggio Emilia.
• Round-trip airfare from Boston to Milan and ground transport to and from our hotel in Reggio Emilia (depart Boston at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 13, 2007).
• Double-occupancy stay in a family-owned modest hotell, Hotel delle Notarie. Additional $330 for single occupancy. An economy (no frills, not centrally located hotel) may be available at a somewhat reduced priced.
• A daylong guided sight-seeing tour of Florence, Italy with its world famous architecture and museums and other cultural events.
• Transportation to field sites.
• Some meals, including breakfasts.
• Two public educational events with Reggio Scholars in Boston, before the trip.
• A reception with Wheelock President Jackie Jenkins-Scott.
• Online community sessions with Wheelock faculty and other alumni.
• Evening debriefings in Reggio Emilia with Wheelock faculty and other alumni.
• A Wheelock College Reggio Emilia Tour bag.
• Professional Development Points available.

Those interested in this study tour have the opportunity to enroll in a 2-credit Wheelock College Graduate School Course in conjunction with the tour (additional cost of $1570). Course begins January 30th and will meet on Tuesday evenings 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Course Description

A series of seven seminar meetings held at Wheelock College will wrap around the study tour in order better understand the Reggio Emilia Approach, and to support our joint work to translate the Reggio ideas to our American contexts. The study tour will include school visits, presentations at the Reggio Children International Center, and cultural experiences. During the travel portion of the program, students and faculty will meet with others to debrief their experiences and to write entries in reflective journals. The course will culminate in presentations to the wider Wheelock community illustrating what we have learned and its application to American settings and teaching practice.