With our Reggio Emilia-inspired foundation, children at Grace Episcopal Day School generate questions through wonder, intentionally observed and captured by teachers who collaborate closely to reflect and design deeper learning experiences. While immersed in a rich environment of diverse viewpoints, lived experiences, and means for expression, we center children as co-creators of learning while nurturing ethical care necessary to empower each child to live and lead in solidarity with others.
Statement of Philosophy
Guided by our Reggio Emilia-inspired values, our program is designed to build a foundation for a lifelong love of learning. We believe joyful learning emerges through relationships — with one another, with ideas, and with the world around us. Children’s natural wonder and drive to seek meaning are supported by teachers who expertly guide inquiry and reflection while nurturing the development of academic skills and social-emotional growth. Learning experiences are designed to inspire curiosity, engage complexity, and cultivate deep understanding. We are committed to a vibrant culture of participation and dialogue where children are welcomed as valued contributors whose voices, perspectives, and identities matter. At Grace, critical thinking, creativity, and wonder thrive; thinking and learning are visible and shared; and playful inquiry and curious questions abound.
Our Approach
What does “Reggio Emilia-inspired” mean at Grace? What makes it unique?
At Grace, relationships are the heart of learning. We believe children learn best when they feel known, respected, and connected to the people around them. As children grow in an environment where their ideas and perspectives matter, they develop the confidence to ask questions, express themselves, and engage with others in meaningful ways.
This commitment to relationships reflects our Reggio Emilia-inspired approach to education. Rather than a prescribed method or curriculum, the Reggio Emilia Approach is a philosophy that views children as curious and capable members of a diverse learning community.
The Reggio Emilia Approach emerged in Italy following World War II when a town came together to create schools designed to nurture thoughtful, engaged citizens and strengthen democratic values. Recognizing that children are active participants in learning became a cornerstone of this vision.
Components of a Reggio-Emilia approach include:
Responsive teaching grounded in knowledge of child development and meaningful engagement with children’s ideas
Appreciation for the multiple ways children think, express, explore, and learn, metaphorically known as “100 Languages”
Learning environments rich in materials and visually inviting documentation of children’s learning processes
Partnership with families who are seen as vital members of the learning community
Awareness of how co-constructed cultures (family, classroom, school, communities, society) shape learning
Because the Reggio Emilia Approach is a philosophy rather than a formula, it looks different at different developmental stages and in different contexts. Reggio Emilia-inspired schools around the globe adapt the philosophy to their unique contexts and communities. What remains consistent is the belief that learning happens through relationships—with teachers, classmates, families, and the wider community. At Grace, Reggio Emilia-inspired values shape learning experiences, inspiring students to grow as confident learners, compassionate citizens, and empowered individuals.
Core Values
Our approach is grounded in five Reggio Emilia-inspired values that are central to all we do:
Voice, Participation, and Dialogue
We believe children are capable, thoughtful contributors to their communities. At Grace, students are encouraged to ask questions, share ideas, listen deeply, and collaborate with others. Learning happens through relationships, dialogue, and meaningful participation—because every voice matters and every perspective enriches our community.
The 100 Languages
Children learn and express themselves in countless ways, metaphorically referred to as “100 Languages”. At Grace, we honor the "100 Languages" of children by inviting them to think, create, build, move, explore, and communicate through a rich variety of materials and experiences. We believe every child deserves multiple pathways to communicate, participate, and discover their strengths, ideas, and unique ways of making meaning.
Research and Investigation
Curiosity drives learning. We nurture children's natural desire to wonder, investigate, and make sense of the world around them. By asking meaningful questions and pursuing authentic inquiry, students develop critical thinking, creativity, and the confidence to embrace both what they know and what they have yet to discover.
Visible Learning
Learning is not a final product—it's a process worth noticing and celebrating. Through thoughtful documentation, we make children's thinking visible, helping students, teachers, and families reflect on growth, deepen understanding, and appreciate the many ways learning unfolds for each child.
Environment
Our learning environments are intentionally designed to further cultivate our culture of learning. Beautiful and welcoming spaces filled with natural elements not only spark curiosity and expand possibilities, but also nurture ways of thinking, wondering, and interacting. We believe children deserve environments that communicate care, foster well-being, and affirm each person’s sense of belonging.
