PSU Credits: 1 graduate credit or 1 CEU is available through Portland State University. The CEU option is a non-graded transcript record of attendance. The graduate credit option has an associated assignment along with event attendance. Register here: PSU Continuing Education Wonder of Learning registration coming soon.

Professional Development on the Oregon Registry: Approved for 13 clock hours at the Set 2 level.
Core Knowledge Categories: Learning Environments and Curriculum, Observation and Assessment, Personal, Professional and Leadership Development

Friday, April 13
8:30am - 4pm
Morning: Portland Children’s Museum
Afternoon: Mentor Graphics Child Development Center in Wilsonville

This event is designed for teachers/providers new to the work of the city-run schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy, as well as experienced practitioners.

Participants begin the event in the Wonder of Learning exhibit at the Portland Children’s Museum. The morning is a combination of exhibit exploration and dialogue with Lella Gandini about the messages of the exhibit and ways in which the exhibit gives visibility to collaboration, the role of materials and creative thinking. Participants move to Mentor Graphics Child Development Center for lunch and afternoon sessions exploring the following questions provoked by the morning visit to the exhibit:
• How does the Wonder of Learning exhibit support dialogue and give visibility to relationships between people, communities and cultures?
• How is learning made visible through many expressive languages of materials and the arts?
• How can environmental design nurture collaboration and creative thinking?
• What tools, materials and mediums engage young minds and support discovery and investigation?
• What are the roles of teachers and parents in supporting learning and each other through observations and sharing?
• What can we learn from observing and listening to children who participate in programs that nurture their creative capacity?

Saturday, April 14th
8:30am - 4pm
Mentor Graphics Child Development Center includes visits to 3 ECE centers

Participants gather at Mentor Graphics Child Development Center to receive an overview of the day and their visitation schedules. Participants have about 2 hours per visit in three schools: Mentor Graphics Child Development Center serving children 8 weeks through 5 years, 6 months. Creative Children’s Center serving children from 2 years to third grade. Helen Gordon Center at Portland State University serving children 4 months through kindergarten.
Each school shares stories about their own school journey and ways in which the work of the municipal schools of Reggio Emilia continues to influenced their school culture, growth and development. Participants visit classroom environments and have conversations with school staff. Each center will prepare an atelier (studio) of materials for teachers to explore as a medium for expressing ideas or telling stories.
Lella Gandini will facilitate conversations about studio work in one of the schools.
Participants return by bus to Mentor Graphics for a closing reflection.