Share and celebrate the learning from
EChO’s “Re-Imagining Childhood Project 2016-17

As a response to being a Partner in Carla Rinaldi’s Residency in SA, EChO initiated at two-year professional learning project, which aims to explore how the principles of the Reggio Emilia educational project can be interpreted for, and enrich our SA learning context. Through their participation in the project, Learning Teams are invited to see themselves as researchers of childhood, learning and their personal pedagogies. They question, reflect, celebrate, ponder, debate and grow in collaboration with each other and their EChO Critical Friend. During the two-year cycle of professional learning, there are many moments of ‘wonderful uneasiness’ through which philosophies and personal theories about a South Australian childhood, children’s learning processes and our pedagogy are strengthened.

You are invited to listen to the stories of growth and renewal in this EXPO style learning experience – each of the stories is different and unique. You will have the opportunity to read and view examples of learning and artifacts, as well as the chance to talk with the educators about their thinking.

Guest Speaker: Jan Millikan OAM

Jan is the highly-respected founder of the Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange. We are thrilled that she is able to open our Term 4 Conference. The principles of the Reggio Emilia Educational Project, which Carla Rinaldi shared during her residency in South Australia, represent choices that the educators have made in viewing their schools as places of research. Jan will explore the implications of the first principle in viewing the child as an active protagonist of their own learning, and the critical importance of this principle to re-imagining childhood. Jan will also explore the implications for the role of educators and the school.

Talk: Participation through at least a Hundred Languages: Children, Teachers, and Families

The Hundred Languages and Participation, are two of the major values underlying the Reggio Emilia educational project. This presentation will unpack these two values and the possibilities they provide for dialogue and collaboration both with and between groups of children, teachers, and families.

Guest Speaker: Tina Adamo

Tina Adamo is currently Early Childhood Advisor for Catholic Education South Australia. In 2012 – 13 Tina was one of two Catalysts for the State Government’s Re-imagining Childhood Thinker in Residence program with Professor Carla Rinaldi. She has been a part of education for more than 30 years spanning from early childhood to adult education at TAFE and University. Her experience in school leadership included establishment of Galilee Catholic School, Aldinga. Tina describes her career as privileged: filled with challenges and many opportunities. Tina is passionate about mind and heart connection, children, education and teachers and feels a strong responsibility to work with others to continually deepen our understanding of learning and to keep improving the educational experience for all. Her qualifications include a Degree in Junior Primary Teaching, Bachelor of Education (Special Education), Graduate Certificate in Professional Learning and a Masters in Educational Leadership.

 Talk: When Teachers See Themselves as Researchers

The courage of teachers & educators who are researchers of their everyday experience  with and alongside children, inspires hope that will move us forward.  Teachers & educators as researchers opens us up to different and unexpected possibilities. It is in the search for meaning that we have opportunity to discover, document and make visible new identities. Tina will draw upon her experience as a catalyst for the Re-imagining Childhood Thinkers in Residence Program   to share her insights into the role of documentation to bring into alignment the words and actions of our beliefs, values and practices.