Piazza ORA 2021

$150/person*

The approach to education in Reggio Emilia was founded on principles of democracy, of acknowledging and strengthening each person’s right to participate as a citizen in relationship, and to build a vibrant, inclusive, creative, responsible culture. What do these values mean to us? We know from our conversations with educators across the province that there is a hunger for ongoing conversation about these issues!

ORA is providing an extraordinary opportunity to engage with Tiziana Filippini, pedagogista from Reggio Emilia, over the course of four encounters. Active engagement with ideas and translation to practice is essential for deeper understanding, so the series includes interim gatherings with break-out sessions where participants can share how their changing views are affecting what they are noticing, what they are curious about, what they are trying and understanding differently. The practice may be with children or with adults who are working with children. Documentation-in-the-works will be shared among participants to invite other perspectives.

There will be four 2-hour ZOOM sessions with Tiziana, one per month beginning in late February, a “pre-session” to set the stage, and four interim sessions. We are grateful that this year, Reggio Children will make a recording of the session with Tiziana available online for a few days following the live session in order to make it possible for everyone to participate, regardless of work schedule. This makes the series more accessible to everyone. The interim sessions will be scheduled in the evening.

The focus this year will be on intentionality in the teacher’s role as co-protagonist of learning. Intentionality is key in shaping activities, knowing what to document and when and how to respond while allowing children to learn together in relationship. Understanding better the role of the adult in children’s learning can be the thread that is woven through our “across the province” action research projects.

ORA’s mission is to walk with courageous educators who inhabit a place of hope and optimism, who listen and act with intelligence and compassion, and always in relationship with…. We are in dialogue with the educators in Reggio Emilia, and exist to organize opportunities to come together to interrogate our assumptions about children, educators, families, communities, and the places we inhabit, and to recognize and challenge our discourses so we can incline toward the level of joy, creativity, relationship, complexity and engagement that is the “everyday utopia” of Reggio Emilia’s education and cultural project.

In order to animate this mission, we are offering a discount on registration for groups of 5 or more who will commit to grow a relationship as pedagogical companions. It is not necessary that you work in the same organization.
1-4 members – $150.00/person
5-10 members – $135.00/person
10+ members – $120.00/person
Organizational Memberships can be purchased by clicking here to email Memberships

All registrants must be members of ORA. Registration is limited.

Piazza ORA 2021 Dates
February 16 6:30-7:30 pm (introduction with participants only)
February 23 12:30-2:30 pm
March 9 6:30-8:00 (interim session with participants only)
March 30 12:30-2:30 pm
April 13 6:30-8:00 (interim session with participants only)
April 27 12:30-2:30 pm
May 11 6:30-8:00 (interim session with participants only)
May 25 12:30-2:30 pm