The power of stories and art
Tinkerseeds began with the idea of exploring children's ingenuity through stories. Not only are children absorbed by the storybooks we read to them, their play is often driven by the stories they are authoring with their imagination, and the connections they make with other children and adults in their lives. We work to engage children through these stories which serve as a platform to learn the English language, art, science, math, empathy, social-emotional awareness, and everyday life.
Image of the child
Children are so much more capable and competent than adults give them credit for. We place trust in children to learn, with the intentional support of teachers and the needed structures and routines that enhance child-led learning.
Image of the teacher
Teachers are the facilitators of knowledge construction in the classroom. High-quality teaching is dependent on a collaborative team of knowledgeable, thoughtful, and conscientious teachers working together to decide what interests to nurture, how to respond to those interests, and also what to add to children’s learning experiences to fulfill the promise of early childhood education.
Enviroment as the third teacher
The environment, classroom design, and materials chosen for children’s work contribute to the learning experiences of the children and teachers. The environment is so important, in fact, that it is often referred to as the third teacher as inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach. Our school was thoughtfully designed, inside and out, as a place to learn and to live in.
Reggio Emilia Inspired
Our vision is influenced and inspired by the municipal preschools of Reggio Emilia, Italy. We are particularly drawn to the social learning, projects, attention to aesthetics, connection with the community, and pedagogical documentation and collaboration present in the Reggio Emilia Approach. As we continue to evolve and grow our practice as progressive educators, we include other educationalists and learning theories as inspiration and influences. We are followers of social constructivism (Lev Vygotsky), experiential learning (John Dewey), and project approach, all of which we have adapted to fit our cultural context and goals as a learning community serving young children and their families in Taiwan.
