The pedagogy and philosophy at the St Catherine’s Early Learning Centre (ELC) is derived and influenced by the Reggio Emilia approach. The founder, Loris Malaguzzi, viewed children as competent and capable learners. He most notably penned a poem entitled, ‘The Hundred Languages of Children’. This work refers to the myriad of methods and mediums that children use to express their ideas, knowledge, understanding and emotions.

The commencement of Term 3 has seen the learners in the Blue Gum Room experiment with one such medium, the ‘language’ of light. A corner of our room features an overhead projector and an array of transparent and opaque objects in various colours and shapes. The children have explored size, pattern, shading, light, composition and reflection. From this examination, the children soon appreciated the awe and wonder of the images around them. Multiple viewpoints were created and shared by other members of the group. This experience furthered the children’s fascination and intrigue, both in a literal and metaphorical sense.

“I have made a rainbow!” – Leah L.
“I have a lamp next to my bed and we see my shadow on the wall, just like here.” – Everleigh.