Specialty Programs at 
The Montessori School at Holy Rosary

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd Program Option

The program within the atrium provides close links to biblical and liturgical sources.  Materials on the life of Christ and His teaching help make the mystery of God concrete for the child.  The geography materials establish Jesus as a real person in time and space and Israel as the land through which God realized salvation for all.  Selected parables serve as keys to unlock the mystery of the Kingdom of God and to nurture the child's natural sense of wonder.  The atrium provides an approach for Sacramental preparation and understanding of the Mass through concrete materials under the direction of a trained Montessori catechist.  Any child who has had a presentation with the material may choose to work with it at any time during the week.

We believe:

• That God and the child have a unique relationship with one another,  particularly before the age of six
• That the growth of this relationship should be assisted by the adult, but is directed by the Spirit of God within the child
• That children need their own place to foster the growth of that relationship
• That the child's spiritual growth is best served through tangible but indirect means

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Background Information
Since 1954 in Rome, Italy, Sofia Cavalletti has pursued the revelation of the young child's religious potential, marking over thirty years of research and published material at both the preschool and elementary levels.  With the "self-teaching" principles of Maria Montessori and the theological mooring of Hebrew scholarship, Scripture studies and Roman catholic liturgy and doctrine, Cavalletti and her co-worker, Gianna Gobbi, developed an approach which not only appealed to the profound religious intuition of younger and older children, but which evolved from the children themselves.  Today the work (still active in Rome) has emerging centers in Italy, Chad, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and the United States.

It has been observed that children, even from the earliest age, eagerly seek religious experience in its deepest, most essential elements, without "childish" overtones.  When these conditions are present, young children live their relationship with God in enchanted wonder and profound joy which gives them peace in the satisfaction - it could be said - of a deep and vital need.  It seems the vital need is for relationship, which the Bible expresses as "covenant".

It is the joy of the children's encounter with God that has given birth to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd which, always and everywhere, is nourished by this same joy.

It has also been observed that children of the same developmental stage respond to certain themes of the Christian message in the same way, though belonging to different cultural backgrounds.  So it was that a curriculum gradually took shape, which appears to respond to the child's deep religious needs according to the various age levels.

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is not primarily academic in character.  Rather, it seeks to be an experience of life and an education in faith, through the celebration of an encounter with the Father, in listening to Jesus the one Teacher, and in obedience to the Spirit.
Reprinted with permission from the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Beige Booklet
©2002
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
PO Box 1084
Oak Park, IL 60304

The Association for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was formed in 1984 in North America with its main aim being that of "involving adults and children in a common religious experience in which the religious values of childhood are predominant"  Other aims include building community among catechists, outreach to every child, aiding the continuity and creative growth of the spirit of the catechesis, establishing rapport with the wider ecclesial community, and encouraging, documenting and spreading the research related to the religious life of the child and to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. 

"If we want to help the child draw nearer to God, we should with patience and courage . . . seek to go always closer to the vital nucleus of things.  This requires study and prayer.  The child himself will be our teacher if we know how to observe him."
Sofia Cavalletti

Next Pathways to God's Kingdom>>

See also our All-Day Program

Outcomes for Students in a Montessori Program
A Longitudinal Study of the Experience in the Milwaukee Public Schools

"This study supports the hypothesis that Montessori education has a positive long-term impact. Additionally, it provides an affirmative answer to questions about whether Montessori students will be successful in traditional schools."

"A significant finding in this study is the association between a Montessori education and superior performance on the Math and Science scales of the ACT and WKCE. In essence, attending a Montessori program from the approximate ages of three to eleven predicts significantly higher mathematics and science standardized test scores in high school."

http://www.montessori-ami.org/research/outcomes.pdf

The above referenced document, completed in May 2003, is a scientific study which determines the specific benefits of a Montessori education between the age of three through sixth grade.  Click on the link to read the entire document ( opens in a new window).  

AMI /USA School Recognition
While the name "Montessori" may be used by any school, the educational standards, teacher training and materials may vary widely.  Dr. Montessori began Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) to insure high standards in Montessori schools.
Teachers at the Montessori School at Holy Rosary are professionals, with college degrees as well as Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) training.  AMI was founded by Maria Montessori to ensure the integrity of her philosophy.  The training is rigorous with standards set according to Dr. Montessori's design.  Each classroom must be equipped with special materials and be well maintained.  Our AMI Certificate of Recognition confirms our support of Montessori principles faithfully put into practice.

"The real preparation for education is the study of one's self."  M. Montessori

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