The Rainbow Room is Barrow Street’s Atelier.
Atelier: In the Reggio Emilia educational approach, an atelier is a dedicated art studio and experimental laboratory that serves as the creative heart of a school.
The Atelierista: A specialized educator with a background in the visual arts who manages the atelier and collaborates closely with classroom teachers and children.
This year, Carly Moreno is managing the Rainbow Room as an Atelierista or “Materials Specialist.” She will work with children in their classrooms and in the Rainbow Room to explore materials, how they function, how they can be transformed, and how they can be used as modes of expression.
The “One Hundred Languages”: In the Reggio approach, the concept of 100 Languages refers to the countless ways children communicate, express, explore, and connect with the world. Rather than relying solely on verbal or logical language, children are viewed as multi-sensory thinkers who use a vast array of symbolic and creative mediums.
The atelier supports children in communicating and learning through these countless “languages”—including drawing, sculpting, light and shadow, wire, natural materials, and more!
In her work this year as an Atelierista, Carly is exploring a framework she calls being a “Barrow Builder.”
What does it mean to be a Barrow Builder?
The concept of a “Barrow Builder” frames our approach to learning in the Rainbow Room. It is the attitude and habits of mind we will practice to follow our curiosity, collaborate with others, and develop problem solving skills and persistence. Being a Barrow Builder means approaching the unknown through material explorations and building confidence in transforming materials to express one’s ideas.
Barrow Builder Habits of Mind:
- Curiosity + Engagement
- Problem Solving + Persistence
- Collaboration + Negotiation
- A Playful Attitude, Buoyancy + Humor
Rainbow Goals/Intentions:
- Work as a community to build shared knowledge of a material or approach
- Promote collaboration across classes through the lens of “Barrow Builders”
- Apply “Barrow Builders Habits of Mind” to explore and manipulate materials
For our first few weeks of small group work, we are focusing on two new building materials, Tegu Blocks and Kapla Blocks, and the unique opportunities and/or challenges they pose.
Both are wooden….both use flat planes…one is magnetic…one is not…
We will explore the advantages and limitations of both materials and see where our imaginations take us!
Material Spotlight: Tegu vs Kapla
To prepare, our teachers got a head start one recent morning working together with these materials as “Barrow Builders” in the Rainbow Room. We can’t wait to welcome the 3s/4s/5s into this new space starting November 13th! And we look forward to welcoming the Toddlers/2s/3s into our small group work in the new year!
Sources: https://www.reggiochildren.it/en/
