Tri-County Early Education Students Visit Boston University Wheelock College Exhibit

Early Education students at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School visited the Wonder of Learning: The Hundred Languages of Children Exhibit. The exhibit was held at Boston University Wheelock College of Education and Human Development, hosted by Wonder of Learning Boston (WOL Boston). This was a rare and valuable opportunity for Tri-County students to experience the exhibit, which travels throughout the country and has not been hosted in Boston for decades.

The Hundred Languages of Children is the basis of the Reggio Emilia approach, a model of early education that originated in Reggio Emilia, Italy, in the 1940s. The Reggio philosophy views children as having one hundred languages - or one hundred ways - through which they can express themselves. The approach is considered one of the best educational systems in the world for children from birth through age five, including principles of curiosity, interaction, problem-solving, and experiential learning. (WOL Boston).

The students were guided through the exhibit by Professor Emerita Mary Mindess of Lesley University. Professor Mindess encouraged students to immerse themselves in the exhibit in order to appreciate its richness. When students were finished exploring the exhibit, they engaged in a round table discussion with Professor Mindess, during which they examined the ways in which Reggio principles can be incorporated into their work with the children and shared their thoughts. 

After working with Tri-County students, Professor Mindess had this message: "To the students at Tri-County, who were engaged, reflective and clearly thinking about the 'Wonder of Learning', it was a pleasure working with you and hearing about all the ways that the Wonder of Learning Exhibit has inspired you."

The students returned to Tri-County inspired to incorporate the Reggio Approach into their work with the children at the Tri-County Children's Center, the laboratory preschool at Tri-County. As Nate Anderson, a junior, explained, "It was inspiring and it opened my eyes a bit to the different philosophies of learning. It will help me to become a better teacher."

Hope Bassignani, also a junior, added, "It was a great experience and I learned a lot. I liked looking at all the activities for preschool children."

"Tri-County Early Education students are teachers in training who create developmentally appropriate activities, identify goals and objectives that support development across all domains, and implement their plans with the children of Tri-County Children's Center", said Lisa Oxford, Early Education teacher. "We were grateful to be able to provide this professional development opportunity for our students, and we are confident that their participation in this exhibit will further enrich their work with our preschool children."

To learn more about the Tri-County Children's Center, go to https://tcchildrenscenter.com.

Tri-County RVTHS, located at 147 Pond Street in Franklin, is a recipient of the High Schools That Work Gold Achievement Award and serves the communities of Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Plainville, Seekonk, Sherborn, Walpole, and Wrentham.

Tri-County Early Education Students Visit
Boston University Wheelock College Exhibit

In the photo are:
Back row/standing from l-r:
Madison Mayo of North Attleboro, Professor Mary Mindess, April May of Plainville, Catherine Courtney of Franklin, Nate Anderson of Seekonk, Nick Follett of North Attleboro, Lilli Munroe of Franklin, Amanda Hughes of North Attleboro, Mackenzie Bishop of Plainville, Abigail DiFloures of Franklin, Nancy Arloo of North Attleboro, Ashley Brown of Franklin

Seated alone:
Rita LaRose of Franklin

Sitting/front row from l-r:
Ashala McLean of Plainville, Brianna Bussaglia of Franklin, Grace Buttrick of Seekonk, Julianne Nolan of Bellingham, Hope Bassignani of Franklin