“Are you going to write your story now?”
I had the opportunity to observe “Story Time Workshop” in kindergarten and grade 1. Story Time Workshop is a reggio inspired literacy approach. Something that is really influential to me is the poem “The Hundred Languages of Children” by Loris Malaguzzi. I believe that if you are listening to their voices close enough you can hear all one hundred of children’s languages (and maybe 100 more!). The story time workshop is about encouraging children to tell their own story in a way that honours their language of play.
The basic methodology to my understanding:
The children play with an assortment of materials, they have choice as to which materials they would like to use and all materials are set up in a way that is aesthetically beautiful and inviting. Some materials available today:
- paint in analogous colours
- wooden blocks interspersed with branches
- thematic loose parts and materials for valentines day
- clay and dough with accompanying tools
- sheets and lights for shadow projections and sand with loose parts
The children use their materials to represent their stories through play. They discuss with each other and they create. Once they feel that they are ready or “done” they are encouraged to write their story. They grab their clipboard and start recording their stories. After this, they may return to the materials to to further represent their stories. Throughout this process the teacher is documenting through a variety of mediums (like video or photograph). The act of documentation in itself shows students the teacher is listening.
The students in this class are really engaged in the workshop. They love to write their stories… I think because they are given ample time to play and represent their thinking. I had similar results with successful writing when I waited until towards the end of my pumpkin investigation to do a writing activity.
Even the youngest K’s in the group understand the story workshop. I was playing with some loose parts with some of the children. I must have slowed down because a little one looked at me and said “Are you going to write your story now?”. With that prompt… I got right to work! She understood the framework and held me to that same standard for creative play and story writing.
Overall it was a wonderful experience. The atmosphere of the room is different from a traditional classroom. I was particularly intrigued by something one little girl said to me. I had sat down, grabbed some beads and said “I wonder if I can make a pattern?”. The girl said to me with conviction “You can do anything!”.
Wether she meant that she had full faith in my abilities or she meant that I had choice in what I wanted to do… I’m still not sure. However one message is clear, the environment in a reggio inspired program views students as powerful and rich, they can do anything.
