Innovations in Education
Join us for a unique opportunity to visit and study the early childhood centers of the city of Pistoia, Italy.
Monday, March 7 – Friday, March 11, 2011
Since 2004 The Carle has been privileged to host many educators from Reggio Emilia and Pistoia, Italy, to share their internationally renowned programs in early childhood education. We now invite you to join us for a unique opportunity to visit and study the early childhood centers of the city of Pistoia, Italy, and learn about the city’s strong commitment to families, culture, and history. Through school visits and meetings with various teachers and members of the pedagogical team*, participants will experience firsthand their careful attention to environment and their strategies of observation and documentation.
SCHEDULE
Following is a tentative schedule, subject to change:
Monday, March 7
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Tour of the city of Pistoia
5:00 – 7:00 pm
Educational Center, Villa Baldi Papini, Via dei Pappagalli, 29
Presentation on the organization and goals of services for children in Pistoia by Anna Lia Galardini, founding leader of early childhood Services in Pistoia, Italy and Director of Education, Social Services, and Cultural Affairs in the city. Reception to follow.
Tuesday, March 8
9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Visit La Filastrocca Preschool ages 3 – 5 with a library at its center and a focus on literacy
12:30 – 2:30 pm
Travel to LagoMago where lunch will be provided
2:30 – 4:00 pm
Visit Asilo Nido LagoMago Infant/Toddler Center in a beautiful lake setting.
Dinner on your own.
Wednesday, March 9
Take the early morning to enjoy Pistoia’s wonderful outdoor market featuring clothing, shoes, and home goods
10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Visit Atelier Area Bleu - Learn about the importance of the atelier as an environment which provides many opportunities to explore ways of knowing for both preschool and elementary age children. Hands-on, minds-on workshop will be part of the visit.
12:30 – 2:30 pm
Lunch provided at the school
2:30 – 4:00 pm
Visit Asilo Nido Il Faro Il Faro, a toddler center for children 10 months to three years old
Dinner on your own
Thursday, March 10
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Visit to Marino Marini, a preschool with a focus on science and nature.
1:30 – 2:30 pm
Lunch provided at the school
2:30 – 4:00 pm
Visit to Areabambini Verde, a science and nature center serving the preschool and providing programming for local elementary schools.
7:00 pm
Closing dinner
Friday, March 11
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Meeting with the pedagogical team* and reflections on the week’s experience
*Donatella Giovanni, Pedagogical Coordinator for Infant-Toddler Services of Pistoia, Tonina Mastio and Sonia Iozzelli.
COST
The cost includes the program fee, accommodations for 5 nights (Monday through Friday night with check-out on Saturday morning), a tour of Pistoia on Monday afternoon, Italian-style breakfast each morning, dinner reception on Monday evening, lunch Tuesday through Thursday, and dinner on Thursday. Each participant is responsible for covering their own flight and travel arrangements.
$2200 Large single room
$2100 Small single room
$1900 Shared double room (cost per person)
Museum Members receive a $150 discount off the total price.
Prices subject to change based on confirmation of hotel rate.
REGISTRATION
Registrations must be received by January 14, 2011 to take advantage of our special group pricing. A minimum of 8 participants is required to run the program. Please click here for information on how to register by Mail, Phone, or Fax. Additional paperwork will be sent with your program confirmation. For more information call 413.658.1155 or email programs@carlemuseum.org.
REFUND POLICY
- Full refunds will be given if program is cancelled by the Museum.*
- Refund requests received up to the January 14 deadline will be honored in full.*
- Refund requests received after the January 14 deadline will not be honored.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Located in Tuscany, Pistoia is the perfect location for day trips to Florence, Lucca and other nearby Tuscan cities.
General Information about Pistoia
History of Pistoia
Tourist Information
The dates of the program were chosen to give travelers the greatest flexibility in terms of arriving days before the program begins or extending one's stay beyond the closing date. If you choose to arrive early or extend your stay, we ask that you contact the Hotel Leon Bianco directly to make those arrangements. You will be responsible for covering charges for the additional nights.
If you are traveling with others not part of the study tour, depending on room availability, you might need to arrange for your own accommodations either at the Leon Bianco or a nearby hotel. If that is the case, we will make the necessary changes in the cost of the trip for you.
As mentioned in the program description, each participant is responsible for making their own flight and travel accommodations. We recommend that you fly into the Florence airport and from there take the train to Pistoia. The hotel is just a short walk from the train station.
Organized by The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and the Assessorato all’Educazione del Commune di Pistoia in cooperation with Smith College.