Chapter La scuola secondaria di primo grado nell’Ospedale “S.M. alle Scotte” Siena I.C. “P.A. Mattioli”

Overview & Synopsis

Through the account of a ‘journey’ in the pediatric wards of the “Department for Women and Children” of the “S. M. alle Scotte” University Hospital in Siena, a lower secondary school teacher working in a hospital setting illustrates her educational model. The school life stories of some among the countless hospitalized boys and girls bring out the features of a different way of doing school. At the center is the educational care of students, to guarantee their right to education, ensure continuity in learning, promote resilience and a sense of self-efficacy, and open up spaces of serenity and freedom. The proposed activities are flexible, inclusive, and ‘tailored’ to the psycho-physical, educational, and contextual needs of the students. The teacher uses digital tools, storytelling, and personalized and creative materials to foster learning and student expressiveness. This professional devotes particular care to building the educational relationship with the students through specific pathways designed and implemented to arouse wonder, curiosity, and enchantment – precious and generative leaven of trust, emotional well-being, and motivation.