Summary
Developing Roadmap for Children’s Education
Marc discussed the development of a roadmap for milestones in children’s religious education, inspired by his experience as a director of religious education.
He shared his initial ideas about age-appropriate evangelization and relationship-building with Jesus, which were later found to be similar to the Good Shepherd’s approach.
Marc also mentioned the formation of committees to formulate plans for the Youth to Young Adult Initiative, with his committee focusing on children from infancy to 5th grade.
He expressed a sense of disappointment and excitement at discovering that the Good Shepherd had already implemented many of his ideas.
Integrating Catechesis With Montessori Principles
Gerard O’Shea, an Australian educator with over 30 years of experience in Catholic education and catechesis, wrote a book called “Educating in Christ” which incorporates principles from the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd approach into mainstream catechesis.
Marc discovered O’Shea’s work, including videos on developmental stages based on Montessori’s sensitive periods.
Franciscan at Home also began working with O’Shea to develop a comprehensive curriculum track based on his work and ideas around the same time.
Curriculum Development and Sensitive Periods
Marc discussed the development of the “Educating in Christ” curriculum, which Sister Mary Michael Fox and Dr. O’Shea are working on.
The curriculum is in its early stages, with some modules already completed.
Marc also introduced the concept of sensitive periods in child development, as proposed by Maria Montessori. These periods are divided into three stages: Concrete (ages 0-6), Cosmic (ages 6-12), and Cultural (ages 12-18).
Marc suggested that religious education could be tailored to these stages, with the concrete stage focusing on absorbing information.
Creating a Guide for Developmental Stages
Marc discussed the idea of creating a guide for parents and volunteer catechists to help them understand the developmental stages of children.
He suggested that this guide could also benefit Catholic school teachers.
The group, including Madison, Colleen, and Ellen, shared their experiences and confirmed that developmental stages were part of their teacher education.
They agreed that a multi-sensory approach and repetition are essential for teaching children.
The group expressed interest in having more resources to teach parents how to implement these techniques.
Developing Guidebook for Religious Education
Marc discussed the development of a guidebook aimed at parents and teachers to help them understand and implement religious education at home.
Based on Dr. O’Shea’s work, the guidebook condenses key points of his book into a more digestible format.
Marc’s vision is to distribute the guidebook to parents before their children start formal religious education, encouraging them to engage in religious activities at home.
He also mentioned the possibility of giving the guidebook to parents at baptismal prep, suggesting that early introduction to religious education could be beneficial.
Marc also shared his experience of using similar techniques with his children years ago when a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd teacher suggested them to his wife.
Teaching Children Through Repetition and Hands-on Activities
Marc discussed the importance of using repetition and different modalities when teaching children Bible stories and religious concepts.
He emphasized the value of celebrating the liturgical year at home with calendars, prayer spaces, and liturgical colors.
Marc shared examples of hands-on activities like “sin cookies” and “resurrection cookies” that help children understand abstract concepts through concrete experiences.
He also mentioned incorporating saints’ feast days and traditional foods into religious education, such as making wolf claw-shaped cookies to teach the story of St. Francis and the wolf of Gubbio.
Incorporating Faith Into Children’s Activities
Marc discussed the importance of incorporating religious elements into children’s activities to enhance their brain development and understanding of the Christian mystery.
He highlighted the significance of the Good Shepherd parable in transmitting the love of Jesus to young children and emphasized the importance of love, care, and protection in their development.
Marc also stressed the importance of movement and sensory experiences, suggesting activities like nature walks, games, and dioramas to engage children.
He mentioned using miniature church models and other manipulatives as practical tools for teaching children about the Christian faith.
Fostering Independence in Early Education
Marc discussed the importance of fostering independence through imitation in early childhood education. He emphasized the value of repetition, order, and clear instructions in teaching children.
He also highlighted the significance of tracing and allowing children to interact with the story rather than simply telling it to them. Marc mentioned using resources like dioramas with Scripture stories like the Parable of the Good Shepherd.
He also stressed the importance of restraint in teaching, allowing children to come to their own conclusions rather than being told the answers directly.
Marc concluded by mentioning Christian Smith’s research, which supports this approach’s effectiveness in children’s long-term faith practice.
Bible Teaching Resources and Guides
Marc discussed the resources available for teaching children about the Bible, including a website that accompanies Franciscan’s Educating in Christ curriculum, which provides detailed guides for teachers using these diorama resources, such as video presentations and concrete manipulatives.
He mentioned that these resources are free and accessible through a free account. Marc also shared his plans to create guides for teachers and parents for each developmental stage and grade level.
Engaging Parents in Religious Education
The team discussed strategies for engaging parents and children in religious education.
They considered using resources like the Good Shepherd Lesson and booklets to help catechists and parents. Incorporating the Good Shepherd Lesson for older students was also discussed.
The team agreed on the importance of parental involvement and suggested ways to encourage this, such as parent meetings and exploratory nights.
They also discussed the potential use of hands-on resources like Lego mass sets to enhance learning.