Parent Child Night is one of my favorite events of the year. It is a gift to watch from the sidelines as the children bring their parents into their learning environments and present some of their favorite materials to them. The children's pride in their work and their love for their families is always so evident. This year was no exception!! After receiving the presentation on the Parable of the Good Shepherd at the age of three, and having had plenty of time to come back and work with the material, the child is invited to listen to the Parable of the Found Sheep in order to hear more about this Good Shepherd and His love for those in His care.
Gifts from the children...
In presenting the Parable of the Good Shepherd to the children, one of the questions that is always asked regards the identity of the sheep. Jesus is very clear in revealing that He is the Good Shepherd...but He leaves us (and we leave the children!) the opportunity to discover who these sheep are that have such a dedicated protector and guide. In the Atrium, this parable is first read to the child at the age of three and, as he grows, further Scriptures and presentations are given which expand the beautiful image of the Good Shepherd caring for His sheep.
This week in the Atrium two children were gathered to hear the Parable of the Good Shepherd for the first time. After listening to the Scripture and conversing together about the love, care, and attention given by the Good Shepherd to his sheep, the children were asked, "I wonder who these sheep might be. The Good Shepherd knows their names, right? But do you know the names of His sheep?" A 5-year-old new to the Atrium this year began pointing to each sheep, naming them one by one: "Peyton, Riley, Josh," and then pausing and looking at the child sitting across the sheepfold from her, touched a sheep and said the name of that child, "Chloe," and continued, "my brother, my grandmother," until she had named each sheep. The catechist then asked, "And this one on His shoulder?" The child responded, "A girl. It's a girl's name," and, pointing to herself, "Maybe me!" Dr. Montessori observed that young children are in a time of particular sensitivity to specific parts of the environment. These "sensitive periods," as she called them, are characterized by interest, concentration, and repetition. They leave the child refreshed and energized even though the activity in which the child is involved may be intense and prolonged. Four primary sensitive periods recognized by Dr. Montessori for the child of 3-6 years include language, order, refinement of the senses, and refinement of movement. The child of this young age is developing a sense of both internal and external order. That is why it is so important to have a clear order within the Atrium environment. Each shelf has a specific "subject" as its theme and the materials are set on it from left to right, top to bottom, simple to complex, in the order they will be presented to the child. Each material has a specific purpose, placement, and "look." For the child, the more the environment is ordered, the easier it is for them to grasp the essence of what is to be proclaimed.
Matthew 13:45-46:
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it." Seeing a 5-year-old returning the "Pearl of Great Price" material to the shelf, the catechist commented, "I wonder why Jesus told us that parable about His Kingdom. Who is the merchant? What is the pearl?" The child walked away silently. As the Atrium session continued, however, she returned multiple times to the catechist to share her thoughts... - "The merchant is Jesus and the pearl is Jesus as a baby." - "Actually, the merchant is us and the pearl is God." - "The pearl is the Light." - "The pearl is Jesus." - "The pearl is joy." - "The pearl is peace." - "The pearl is hope." - "The pearl is the lamb." - "The pearl is the three gifts from the magi." - "The pearl is the cross." - "The pearl is everything God made." |
Carolyn Kohlhaas
CGS Catechist and Formation Leader (Levels I, II, and III) Categories
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