Zenaida Féraud-Pfisterer

​Creator, 100 Stories, L'Atelier



​Plymouth State University,

USA

B.S. Childhood Studies

Teacher Certification K-8

100 Stories, L'Atelier is anchored in twenty years of teaching experience in the United States, England and Switzerland. It comes from a desire to create a space dedicated to young children, that is rooted in the Reggio Emilia pedagogy and the visual arts in Richterswil, Switzerland. My most recent teaching experience includes, 8 years of teaching Kindergarten in Switzerland. The Reggio Emilia pedagogy influences my teaching practice in delivering inquiry based, inter-disciplinary experiences that also focus on the visual arts. 

 

​Why this pedagogy, and why am I passionate about incorporating the visual arts in early childhood education? The Reggio Emilia pedagogy embraces a child's natural curiosity and places them at the centre of their own learning experience. There is a shift away from activities that are modeled after an adult's example, and instead gives a child more autonomy. Simultaneously, there is structure and a method of teaching which encourages critical thinking, inquiry and a love for the learning process. Play and  learning opportunities take in account prior knowledge of subject matter, language and culture of the child. Although the Reggio Emilia pedagogy is not solely focused on the visual arts, I enjoy incorporating the visual arts with young children to make the space more inclusive, and to connect them to content across the curriculum. It opens up conversation, team-work, connection and joy even in the youngest children!   

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The mission of the atelier includes providing inclusive,  inquiry-rich provocations that focus on the process of play and learning. Qualified teachers provide the space with not only traditional materials and toys, but also with natural materials and loose parts for open-ended opportunities. As a result, children in our Pop-Up Atelier and Summer Program have opportunities to think critically, play and create with their peers, adults and the community in diverse ways. In our summer program, the group size is purposefully kept small, to preserve a quality of practice, and to provide a nurturing  environment for young children.