The pedagogical potential of wonder for joy-filled learning and teaching

Abstract

This paper examines the pedagogical role of wonder in education, comparing its treatment in the essentialist Wit & Wisdom curriculum and the progressive Reggio Emilia approach. The paper argues that authentic wonder fosters joy-filled, meaningful learning, yet is often undermined by neoliberal, standards-based educational models. Using critical policy analysis, the authors explore how Wit & Wisdom commodifies wonder as a measurable product, while Reggio Emilia nurtures it as an innate epistemological impulse. The paper highlights the vital importance of cultivating environments that provoke deep wonder, fostering transformative, educative experiences for both teachers and learners.