"Sometimes you just have to take the leap, and build your wings on the way down!"
Nature Pedagogy: Through the lens of an Educator
By Lexie Biegun
By Lexie Biegun
           On a very wet, very typical December evening we hosted an Art Show at Lexie's Little Bears to showcase the work the children have been creating with our Atelierista Cheryl Cameron. The families were invited to walk through all 4 programs with their children, and (see) read, feel, smell and experience the "mark making" which has occurred in the programs. We use the term "mark making", as one acknowledged in the Reggio-philosohy for the young children who leave their mark on a page.... Its like (proof) of being there. A child will leave a mark that can be witnessed forever on. A mark can be acknowledged as a child's work. A mark speaks to us. A mark may tell us a story, or how a child felt when it was left... a mark has history, length and significance. Every child leaves a trace.... I will try my best to showcase some of the work Cheryl presented to us in the art gallery. We will be leaving the art up on the walls for some length of time that feels best.The children are so excited to tell us their stories, and the educators will document them as they unfold.This is a multi-faceted process in the philosophy of pedagogical narration. We are all learning, we are all invested in the time and the process. What is the end goal of this process you may wonder? Truly, there is no actual (end) to documentation, but our goal remains consistent, and that is to create an environment full of meaning. We need to continuously build on relationships with the children , their families, our colleagues and our community. Educators cannot speak just one "language"..... they need to be open to the HUNDRED Languages that children speak. (Loris Malaguzzi, The Hundred languages) Children use dance, music, movement and art to communicate with us. It is the job of the educator to always be open to view the child as a whole. To view them as a child who is full of wonder and potential; a capable and intelligent being. Educators adjust their image of the child constantly based on what the child teaches them about themselves! Through Pedagogical Narration we share our thoughts and our ideas. It is an act of visibility and communication. Documentation "shows" the art, the traces left, and the marks made. It shows time. Documentation makes the learning that has occurred visible to others. Throughout this process, I too am constantly learning and gathering. An educator must always be a researcher and a "learning person." (Loris Malaguzzi) I will do my best to document the art in the next few months.... thank you for reading. Lexie Biegun    
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