The Wonder of Learning at BNS

Many spoke of how tranquil and beautiful the Natural Materials Atelier was. Williamsburg Northside's new Lower School building at N.7th and BQE/Meeker provided a wonderful view of the city, and Robin Koo of Teaching Beyond the Square was an amazing atelier designer.

What a treat: "The Wonder of Learning," the Reggio Emilia exhibition that travels the world, came to NYC this year, for the first time in 20 years. And not just NYC, but our own borough of Brooklyn! Rachel Schwartzman, BNS teacher, and BNS moms Kristin Eno and Mollie McQuarrie (who is the atelierista at Blue School) were part of a volunteer network of educators who contributed time and effort to make the show happen from January through May of 2015. 12,000 visitors from around the world came to see the official panels and videos documenting groundbreaking work with 0-5 year olds in the preschools of Reggio Emilia, Italy, on view at the Williamsburg Northside Elementary School building on N. 7th St.

What wowed so many parents and educators were the interactive ateliers created by Robin Koo of Beginnings Nursery/Teaching Beyond the Square, and a team of volunteer artists and teachers. The Natural Materials Atelier on the 7th floor of the show, and the Light and Shadow Atelier on the 6th floor, were rooms that many NYC children enjoyed with their parents.

Some BNS teachers were even able to take groups experience the ateliers: Jacqueline and Amy took their PreKs, facilitated by PreK art teacher Rachel Schwartzman.

Some BNS parents enjoyed the space on a field trip one day in February. Here are some images and thoughts from that day:

Anna Catherine, mom of K student 

"This exhibit has reinforced the incredible art of exploration and investigation for kids. I want to go home and paint all my walls white and install mirrors everywhere. I want to bring the kids to new and old places and look at them in new ways. The more I can explore and investigate, the more I can inspire them to continue to do the same." - Anna Catherine

AnnMarie, mom of BNS K and 3rd grade children, with young sister of another K student 

"I was truly inspired by the idea of giving young children so many creative ways to discover their world and expand the way they learn. At the same time, it felt like it should be common sense that kids should be in a creative environment where they are given every opportunity possible to learn and that they should have an important role in their community." -AnnMarie

Various teams of BNS teachers went to the Wonder of Learning, and all PreK through 2nd grade teachers experienced the show.

Greta and Amy became entranced with smooth stones and their possibilities. 

Bill and Doug enjoyed the Light and Shadow atelier. 

 

One teacher, Mary Ann (K), who has been to Reggio Emilia itself, as well as recently visited Sweden to research the Reggio-inspired preschools there, brought her images of the Light Atelier back to her kindergarten students.

"I showed them the pictures of the space and asked them what they thought. We discussed the white walls and the gauzy draped fabrics in the cozy corner. We had a conversation about our class bears. The children decided that they would like to recreate our closet as a Bear Den. So we got out the white paint and got to work!"

Post by Kristin B. Eno of Find & Seek, mom of Magnolia, K.