Educator Spotlight: Jenny Bravo
Jenny Bravo has served as a teacher for two-year-olds at Tree Top Academy, a Reggio Emilia inspired school in Jupiter Florida, since 2023. Her talent in incorporating the Reggio Emilia Approach into teaching, by nurturing children's interests, has left us impressed. Learn more about Jenny in the interview below.
What do you love about the Reggio Emilia Approach? I love that with RE there is always something different every day. You can’t expect to have a repeat year, day, or even hour. You can see how each child gravitates to their interest and at the end, you see that you have learned so much along the way.
Can you describe a previous or current project that encourages children's curiosity?
I have two examples; most of the children turned 2 in November last year. They all started singing Happy Birthday and my co-teacher and I noticed that all the students kept singing. To extend the investigation, we went over colors, shapes, and numbers to see what we needed to have to make a birthday party. It all came so naturally to them; we didn’t even realize that we were learning along the way. This year we introduced light to them. It started with a sensory wall within the classroom that included a section that had four push-on lights. One of the students figured out how to turn it on and slowly they all started to take turns. We then added some flashlights and an overhead projection. In the classroom, you can see how each child starts to investigate and come up with ideas or new ways to see how the light works.
What would you love to learn more about or understand more deeply this year in your teaching practice? I would like to understand how the Reggio Emilia Approach affects the children's learning during their educational journey, and also see how they evolve from the start of the year to the end of the school year.
What advice can you give to teachers or parents who are interested in incorporating the RE approach? I believe it's important to encourage patience and allow children the space to simply be children. In our fast-paced world, we often overlook the beauty of letting children embrace the present moment and enjoy their natural curiosity.
How do you include the 3rd teacher (classroom environment) in your daily practice? I never understood what the 3rd teacher was until last year when the classroom environment evolved naturally. Setting up provocations and materials helps engage the children and they can explore by themselves. It's wonderful when the classroom becomes a warm, familiar space for children, where they can explore, personalize their areas, and feel at ease. The atmosphere, layout, and colors can subtly shape their learning experience. It's important to be thoughtful about the intentions behind creating this environment.