Language: English

Language: English

Language: English

ISSN: 1071-6246

Abstract/Notes: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and Godly Play are the two best known variants of Montessori style Religious Education programmes. While they have much in common, there are also obvious differences. This article offers a brief outline of the distinctive features of each programme, including some analysis of their effectiveness in terms of contemporary educational research. The article identifies four areas of significant difference, namely, the understanding of the Imago Dei, the stance taken towards sacraments and sacramentality, pedagogy and the conduct of the sessions themselves. The author argues that these differences create a natural constituency for each programme. Godly Play with its heavy emphasis on the Scriptures as ‘story’ and the interpretation of the Imago Dei in terms of a ‘symbolic/language’ mediation of divine reality fits in well with the insights of mainline Protestant and Evangelical Churches. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd interprets the Imago Dei in terms of sacramentality and ontological similarity – grace building on nature through the use of the material/spiritual composition of the human person. This is better suited for use in Catholic, Orthodox and Anglo-Catholic contexts.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1080/01416200.2017.1292209

ISSN: 0141-6200, 1740-7931

Abstract/Notes: Since Martin Luther, religious education has largely been identified with catechism that used question and answer method, particularly in the Catholic church. For a person with intellectual disability, this offers a grave difficulty in religious formation. Could there be alternatives? The present study aimed at exploring the benefits of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) for children living with intellectual disabilities. The participants were 23 children and nine care-givers in a Catholic context in Kenya. Observation guides and interviews were used to collect data that showed that children with intellectual disabilities had the ability to spontaneously relate with the spiritual world, and in some cases, with Jesus. The findings confirmed that the CGS offers children with special needs the space, tools, and time to get in touch with the Divine through witnessing to the narrative of the Word.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1007/s40839-018-0069-5

ISSN: 2199-4625

Abstract/Notes: Deux pédagogues italiennes, Sofia Cavalletti et Giana Gobbi, ont appliqué au début des années cinquante la méthode Montessori à l'éducation de la foi chez les enfants entre 3 et 12 ans. Celle-ci s'appuie sur l'observation des étapes du développement spirituel des enfants et développe pour chaque âge les outils nécessaires à son épanouissement. Une de leurs disciples présente cette expérience. [Two Italian pedagogues, Sofia Cavalletti and Giana Gobbi, applied the Montessori method in the early fifties to the education of the faith in children between 3 and 12 years old. This is based on the observation of the stages of the spiritual development of children and develops for each age the tools necessary for its development. One of their disciples presents this experience.]

Language: French

DOI: 10.3917/commun.262.0121

ISSN: 0338-781X, 2779-1726

Abstract/Notes: The following research study collected and examined the current practices of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd catechists in Level I (ages 3-6) Atria throughout Wisconsin. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), founded by Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi, is the religious formation experience of children using the principles of the Montessori method. Around the question of religious formation, we explored literature regarding the Moral Development, Spirituality, and Religious Education of young children. Finding little on the religious formation of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, while also considering the cultural practices and societal norms of local communities, we created a 22-question survey for CGS Level I catechists examining the qualities of the Atrium, catechist, prayer in the Atrium, and community support specific to Wisconsin. Using an online platform and distribution, we gathered surveys from 67 catechists from all five Roman Catholic dioceses in Wisconsin (Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, La Crosse, and Superior). Results focused on laying a foundation of baseline data of current practices. Results revealed that the current implementation of CGS is consistent with catechist training recommendations. Also, most dramatically, 100% of catechists regarded the catechesis as somewhat (31%) or strongly (69%) impacting the faith of the young child. Likewise, 89% of catechists also considered the experience strongly impacting their own faith. The mutual benefit reported for both adult catechists and children suggests that the effect of CGS in religious formation settings is compelling and worthy of investment and further study.

Language: English

Published: River Falls, Wisconsin, 2023

Abstract/Notes: In the thesis we study the visibility of good manners in children’s everyday activities within the Montessori Pedagogy frame of reference. The aim of our thesis is to study if the instructors’ objectives are realized and how good manners show in children’s everyday activities. This study was conducted using qualitative methods, we aimed to gather an in-depth understanding of the benefits of Montessori pedagogy. We collected the material by inter-viewing kindergarten teachers and video-recording children in their everyday activities at the kindergarten. The interviews were analyzed using theory-oriented content analysis and the observation matrix was created on the basis of the results of the interview analysis. The observation data were analyzed using the observation matrix. The interviews revealed the importance of adult exemplary behavior, common rules, respect for others and for the environment, settling disputes by discussing and practicing good manners. Calm behavior of the groups can easily be detected from the observations. The adult’s consistent behavior is a model for the children. Children are given time and opportunities to solve disputes by themselves. Adults are continuously observing children’s activities and helping them when needed. The children’s way to interact with each other and their daily activities often includes respect for each other in addition to supporting, advising and helping each other. Caring for the environment is commonly noticeable in the children’s daily activities. The adults aim to practice Montessori pedagogy in their daily activities and encourage the children to practice good behavior and manners. Children practice good manners sponta-neously, without the adult guidance. Especially in the presence of adults children strive to practice the learned behavior-models. Continuous quality evaluation is important when developing early childhood education. From a quality perspective it is highly important to evaluate the teacher’s activities and behaviors and their relevance when working with children. It is also advisable to ponder the significance of early childhood education for the child’s future. / Opinnäytetyössä tutkitaan hyvien käytöstapojen näkymistä lasten arjessa montessoripedagogiikan viitekehyksessä. Opinnäytetyön tarkoituksena on selvittää, toteutuvatko ohjaajien määrittelemät kasvatustavoitteet tapakasvatuksen osalta leikkikoulun toiminnassa ja miten hyvät tavat näkyvät lasten arjen toiminnassa. Opinnäytetyön yhteistyökumppaneina ovat kaksi pääkaupunkiseudun Montessori-leikkikoulua. Opinnäytetyö on kvalitatiivinen eli laadullinen tutkielma. Aineisto on kerätty haastattelemalla leikkikoulujen työntekijöitä ja havainnoimalla lapsista kuvattuja videoita heidän arkisissa toiminnoissaan. Haastatteluaineisto on analysoitu käyttäen teoriaohjaavaa sisällönanalyy-simenetelmää. Havainnointirunko on laadittu haastatteluanalyysin tulosten pohjalta. Videomateriaalin analyysin tukena on käytetty havainnointirunkoa. Haastatteluissa tuli esille aikuisen esimerkin tärkeys, yhteiset säännöt, toisten huomioiminen, ympäristön kunnioittaminen, ristiriitatilanteiden selvittäminen keskustelemalla sekä hyvien tapojen harjoitteleminen. Havainnointituloksista näkyy hyvin ryhmien rauhallisuus. Aikuiset käyttäytyvät tilanteissa johdonmukaisesti ja ovat käytöksellään mallina lapsille. Lapsille pyritään antamaan aikaa ja tilaisuuksia selvittää tilanteita itse. Aikuiset seuraavat jatkuvasti lasten toimintaa ja ohjaavat heitä tilanteissa, joissa lapset tarvitsevat tukea. Lasten välisessä toiminnassa ja vuorovaikutuksessa näkyy usein toisten huomioon ottamista, tukemista, neuvomista ja auttamista. Lasten toiminnassa näkyy monella tavalla ympäristöstä huolehtiminen. Aikuiset pyrkivät pääsääntöisesti toteuttamaan toiminnassaan montessoripedagogiikan mukaista tapakasvatusta ja kannustavat lapsia käyttäytymään hyvien käytöstapojen mukaisesti. Lasten spontaanissa toiminnassa näkyy ainakin osa leikkikoulun ohjaajien välittämästä tapakasvatusmallista. Lapset pyrkivät erityisesti aikuisten läsnä ollessa toteuttamaan opittuja käyttäytymismalleja. Hyvän varhaiskasvatuksen kehittämiseen kuuluu jatkuva laaduntarkastelu. Laadukkaan varhaiskasvatuksen kannalta on tärkeää tarkastella varhaiskasvattajien toiminnan ja mallin merkitystä lasten kanssa työskennellessä. On hyvä myös pohtia sitä, kuinka merkittävä rooli varhaiskasvatuksella on lapsen myöhemmän elämän kannalta.

Language: Finnish

Published: Helsinki, Finland, 2013

Language: English

Language: English

ISSN: 0277-9064