Life-Long Learning Grows
Learning through the philosophies of Sheva and Reggio Emilia.
As our youngest learners take their first steps into lifelong learning and Jewish community at JCC Chicago, they are guided by two educational philosophies that are as alike as they are distinctive: the Reggio Emilia Approach® and the JCC Association’s Sheva Early Learning Framework.
The Reggio Emilia Approach focuses on learning through experiences and social interaction and connections between nature, educators, children, and family. The Sheva (“seven” in Hebrew) Framework follows seven core principles of early childhood Jewish education, informed by multiple early education philosophies and the latest research on children’s learning and modern Jewish text.
Key aspects of the Reggio philosophy mirror Sheva values:
- In the Reggio approach, children interact daily with a variety of educators, while the Sheva value of B’rit (Covenant: Belonging and Commitment) emphasizes partnering with others in pursuit of shared vision.
- The Sheva value of D’rash (Interpretation: Inquiry, Dialogue, and Transmission), the idea that the spirit of inquiry and discovery leads to growth, dovetails with the Reggio idea of Atelier—a place that encourages experimentation, intuition, and spontaneous creativity.
- Reggio emphasizes the importance of documentation, while in the Sheva value of Masa (Journey: Reflection, Return, and Renewal), by documenting and retelling our stories, we are better able to take our next steps.
Our educators utilize the philosophies of Reggio and Sheva while guiding their community of students every day, catering to many different learning styles. Whether we’re exploring art and music, taking a nature walk around our neighborhood, or sharing our challah at Shabbat, we are fostering an environment of curiosity and wonder at the J.
Written by Anita Denes-Meador, Chief Program Officer, JCC Chicago