Visible learners

Inspired by the innovative educational philosophy that originated in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Visible Learners offers research-based practices for fostering learning through interpreting objects and artifacts, group learning, and documentation to make students' learning evident to teachers. In this approach, learning becomes a visible activity that develops students' intellectual capacities as well as their individual and group identities as learners. Visible classrooms can be identified by five key principles--that learning is purposeful, social, representational, empowering, and emotional. The authors offer teachers and administrators practical ways to enhance learning by increasing collaboration and critical thinking across grade levels and subject matter. Also included is a section containing tools for incorporating guidelines in the classroom and the staffroom as well as ideas for engaging students' families.