LAST CALL WE ARE NEARLY SOLD OUT!!

Dear Educators,

Nearly 23 years ago, I attended my first Reggio conference and visited the schools of Reggio Emilia. That conference changed my life in so many ways. There would be no Branches if I hadn’t visited Reggio. There would be no Reggio-inspired infant or toddler programs. I wouldn’t have learned to listen to children and believe in their good ideas. Imagine schools with no ateliers, no hundred languages to inspire and make children’s learning visible, and no view of children with challenges as having special rights to be included, not special needs that push them aside. 

Imagine a school where teaching is only a job, not a passion. I could go on and on. I learned so much, it changed me, and I believe that the best way to inspire and support other educators is to come together to offer all teachers inspirational, professional development.

To carry on our commitment to providing continuing professional development for educators across the US. Next week, the West Coast Collaborative is excited to welcome back Tiziana Filippini and Loretta Bertani as speakers in our two day conference. I know they will inspire and provoke us through their questions, help us further our thinking, and help us think more deeply about the role materials play in children’s learning. Their presence connects us to a bigger whole and reminds us that the work we do in our classrooms every day – building relationships with each other, learning to listen with an open mind and heart, dreaming and creating different possibilities, sharing kindness and empathy, understanding, The Hundred Languages and the dreams of children – provides an opportunity for us to highlight equity for all children. It makes us shine brighter and gives us strength. We reflect on how we want all children’s education to be visible in our culture, that the children we educate today will help create our future. Maybe through education, we can change the way we are with each other. 

So come and join teachers from across the US to reflect with us and be inspired by the work and ideas of young children. Visit our schools and help us build a dynamic Reggio-inspired community, one teacher, one child, one family, and one community at a time.

With Love, 

Patricia and the WCC

Patricia Hunter McGrath
patricia@branchesatelier.com

Exploring the Relationship between Materials and Learning

Featuring: 

Tiziana Filippini and Loretta Bertani, Reggio Children

AND

The West Coast Collaborative: 

Bright Start, Santa Barbara 

The New School West

Branches Atelier

Growing Place – Lab School, Ocean Park, Marine Park

We invite you to join us for a multi-day, multi-site conference highlighting work with materials and the power of listening. You are welcome to attend one or both days. Due to the hands-on aspect of this event, space is limited and early registration is encouraged. 

Tiziana Filippini is a pedagogista who collaborates with Reggio Children with regard to research, conferences, and consultancies in Italy and abroad.

From 1978 to 2015, she worked as a member of the Pedagogical Coordinating Team of the Instituzione – Preschools and Infant Toddler Centers of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia.

Tiziana is currently one of the curators of the new version, “The Wonder of Learning: The Hundred Languages of Children”.

In addition to her work with the municipality, Tiziana was part of the original research group of Making Learning Visible, a collaboration between Reggio Children and Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The collaboration resulted in a book, Making Learning Visible: Children as Individual and Group Learners, which became very well known in North American early childhood circles and all over the world.

Loretta Bertani is an atelierista in the Robinson Crusoe Preschools and Infant Toddler Centres, Istituzione of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia since 1996

Loretta graduated at Instituto d’arte (Art college) of Reggio Emilia. From 1991 to 1995 she worked as an educator with the municipality of Reggio Emilia in local education groups, an experience addressed to pre-adolescent age groups and to the support children with school difficulties.

Loretta collaborated with the theatre group “Teatro Gioco Vita” of Piacenza for designing and leading workshops on expressive languages and on shadow theatre addressed to primary schools, as well as for street entertainment events for children and youth.

Click Here to Register on Eventbrite

Or Below

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SCHEDULE: 

Friday, May 5th 2023

12:30pm to 1:00pm (PST)

Registration 

1:00pm to 4:00pm (PST) 

Hands-on experience with materials 

4:00pm to 5:00pm (PST)

Wine and cheese reception

LOCATION:

Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club

1210 4th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401

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Saturday, May 6th 2023

AM:

8:00am to 9:00am (PST)

Registration

9:00am to 12:00pm (PST)

Presentation by Tiziana Filippini and Loretta Bertani, Reggio Children

12:00pm to 1:00pm (PST) 

Lunch  (included)

LOCATION: 

Wildwood Elementary Campus

12201 Washington Place, Los Angeles, CA 90066

PM:

1:00pm to 5:00pm (PST)

Open Campus at WCC Schools: 

Branches Atelier 

The New School West 

Growing Place – Ocean Park 

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*Early Bird* 2-Day Full Conference Ticket – $250 (after 4/10 – $300) 

Friday ONLY Ticket – $175 (materials and refreshments provided)

Saturday ONLY Ticket – $175 (lunch provided)

We offer a 50% reduction on admission for enrolled ECE students 

Questions and student discount inquiries: 

Contact allison@branchesatelier.com