CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Look at this sweetheart! This is Anna Skiba, a member of our preschool Catechesis of the Good Shepherd class. Why is she numbered? Well, isn't that a cute way of helping a little one learn how to make the Sign of the Cross? Children can look in the mirror in the classroom and practice!

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to the religious formation of children. It is rooted in the educational principles of Maria Montessori. Children gather in a room specially prepared and are provided with simple yet beautiful materials that they use to become more involved in Scripture and in Liturgy.
A few weeks ago we brought a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd technique into our first grade classes, inviting our CGS teachers to come to the first grades to tell the Good Shepherd story, itself, using the prepared materials that are so essential a part of this technique.

Children are intrigued by play...and as the story is told, using the materials, it appeals not only to auditory, but also to visual and kinesthetic learners.   In a regular CGS classroom, the materials are left available for the children to use to retell the story. 

We are fortunate to have two trained CGS teachers in our program:  Bernadette Leone is the head teacher in our CGS class; Ellen Campbell teaches a Fifth Grade session.  Additionally, we are blessed with a CGS teacher in the school - Gerie Ossman, and two future CGS teachers:  Amanda Venema and Amy Schneider are presently enrolled in the training program.  Amy is the assistant in our CGS class.  With luck next year we will get more teachers interested in training and we can expand our program.  If you might be interested in CGS, check it out more thoroughly here.