This session will explore how early education teachers can design PBL units that build on children's interests and align with standards. Ryan walks you through visual documentation of a PBL unit where he discusses how he planned activities that helped students answer their questions about a topic of interest.

Ryan Kurada is a Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) Coordinator at the Sonoma County Office of Education. He has taught TK, Kindergarten, and 1st grade at University Elementary School in Rohnert Park, California, where he developed their school-wide project-based learning program. His passion for early childhood education led him to visit Reggio Emilia, Italy, where he observed their world-renowned project-based preschools. Ryan is a strong advocate for project-based learning and its potential for making learning relevant, meaningful, and engaging for all children.

Explore how the Reggio Emilia Approach and PBL can overlap to help teachers support young children in diving into deep and longer-term projects or studies.

This session will explore how principles of the Reggio Emilia approach, such as the image of the child and the role of the environment, can support young children in engaging in sustained and personally relevant projects. Lisa will present examples of projects that emerged from children’s interests or observed needs, that transformed into meaningful class-wide learning experiences.

In this session, we will introduce key principles of the Reggio philosophy and approach, including the rights of children, the environment as the third educator, and the role of the teacher, and explore how they can intersect with, or complement, PBL in early childhood contexts.

Lisa Goddard is a first year PhD Fellow in Reggio Childhood Studies at the Reggio Children Foundation and University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy). She also serves as Pedagogista for a Reggio-inspired child care center serving children aged 0-5 on the Harvard University campus. Lisa has taught ages 2-7 in Italy and in the Boston area, and has served as a Curriculum Coach for an innovative toddler curriculum piloted through the non-profit organization Neighborhood Villages. Her current research focuses on the role of play in supporting teachers and children in taking risks to innovate new approaches to understanding nature and the climate crisis.

Second grader Xavier Mason and his family share how Project Based Learning has impacted them in a myriad of ways. Xavi will share a project he recently completed, from the initial idea and questions, to doing the research and creating a video. PBL has provided Xavi with a variety of avenues in which to foster his curiosity and develop a strong sense of autonomy. Nicole and Alex will share how PBL has influenced their parenting techniques, specifically how they support and empower Xavi’s learning by providing him with opportunities to lead and make choices, and develop independence.

Xavier Mason is a science enthusiast, vexillology fanatic, tree climber and budding birder. Intuitively working with PBL since before nursery school, he was more formally introduced to PBL in TK and has been actively incorporating projects in his daily life since then as PBL is strongly encouraged in his elementary school. Xavi is currently learning drums and guitar, devouring all things Rick Riordin, and has his sights set on becoming an Astrophysicist one day.

A Philadelphia native, Alex Mason is an actor with a background in architecture and design. He is a lifelong soccer player and thoroughly enjoys sharing his locally famous chocolate chip cookies.

Nicole Lemoine is a ceramicist and actress from Los Angeles. Her superpower is sharing information and connecting with others. She also giggles hysterically while jaywalking.