We’re in it together

3 is a magic number – for us, 3 represents the number of Fairy Godmothers that came all the way from Maryland, USA, to share with us a magic potion that is REGGIO EMILIA. In the first 3 days spent with them, from morning till evening, we learned how to enhance the curiosity and the creativity of children by trusting their abilities and making them feel comfortable with all the materials and different techniques.

But we are not alone in this process of changing and developing – on Wednesday 6 more teachers from Budapest and Sofia joined us in this training. It makes you feel more relax and hopeful when you see that kindergartens just like ours, that are in the countries close to us, are going through the same process.

Not only that we learned together but they worked with us to improve our space and we look forward to give back to them on our next meeting.

One of the things that stuck to me is what a difference it makes when you expose a work that the children do in a beautiful frame on a shelf –it shows your respect towards the children and how you view them.

In our training, we worked on the Jewish curriculum – how to take the Jewish holidays and point out with the children not only the historical background or the traditions but the values that we all need to have and practice. We discovered that by asking questions and allowing the children to be part of the learning process as partners we can reach an incredible universe filled with wonder.

Always with a smile on their faces and a hand ready to guide and help, these 3 Fairy God Mothers introduced to us by the SOS International: Enriching Jewish Identity, presented a new approach of the curriculum based on the interests of the child and his curiosity.

By bringing nature in our classes, by using recyclable materials not only we are sending them a clear message that we are responsible for the world we leave in, but it also allows them to be more creative and connect on a deeper level with the themes we are studying.

I feel encouraged and happy to have such a real support system not only from our partners in USA but also in the teachers that work in similar kindergartens in Sofia and Budapest. I look forward on continuing this experience and see the changes in our kids – because at the end of the day they are our future and they deserve everything!

Ana Maria Nedelea