Article on Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

I found the following article on my jumpdrive, dated in 2014. The file has my name on it, but did I write this? The file name also has the name of our local diocesan newspaper. Was this published?

I don't even know! I don't remember writing this, but it IS my style! I am happy to have someone else say "nope, that's mine!" ;)

I think I would like to add more about the long-term experience of the child who has been in the atrium.

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I have been part of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for more than 10 years, in a variety of roles. My participation began before I became a mother and has only become more intense through experiencing the depths of our faith through my son’s deepening relationship with the Good Shepherd.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is typically a once-a-week 90-120 minute gift for the children and the catechists to delve into the depths of the most essential elements of our Faith. Level 1 is for ages 3-6; Level 2 is for ages 6-9; and Level 3 is for ages 9-12+. A child who attends all three levels of the atrium (the designated space for the CGS materials) will move through the stages of recognizing their relationship with the Good Shepherd (level 1), recognizing and desiring a response to this relationship – to remain with Him and follow His teachings, His voice (Level 2), and finally actively seeking to serve Him through the initial discernment of vocation, the child’s personal place in the Plan of God (level 3). Ideally, these experiences can be followed up into adolescence to further develop the history of the Kingdom of God through the Church, through vocation studies, ever-preparing for the Parousia, when God will be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28).

Indeed level 3, a space set aside for 9-12 year old children has so much for the adolescent and the adult; a growing number of adults request to spend time in the level 3 atrium to expand and deepen their own faith.

The level 1 child focuses on Jesus – the visible, tangible reality of the presence of God. We look to His life, His parables, His True Presence in the Mass, the geography of Israel during His life on earth, always focusing on the Church’s balance of Scripture and Liturgy, our primary sources for doctrine in all the atrium levels; establishing the reality of a current relationship with the Good Shepherd who knows me by name, loves me and will do anything for me that is for my benefit of remaining with Him. This is both enough and far more than enough.

God gave us His life, His Light, His joy in abundance.

The level 2 children expand this focus on the Good Shepherd into the reality that the Good Shepherd came for all peoples of all times – those around the world, those who came before us and those who will, God-willing, come after us. We explore all the level 1 topics again, adding a few more parables, life events, moments of the Mass, more geography, and now adding two key areas pertinent to this age: Moral Formation (moral parables and Maxims – Jesus’ instructions for how to live within the Kingdom of God) and finally, The History of the Kingdom of God – several long timelines that show the expanse of this history, with the particular moments of Creation, Redemption and Parousia, noting the Blank Page of history being written right now, by people together with God, just as the Bible came to us, work of human hands inspired by God.

We also prepare for the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist, through special times and retreats set aside for meditation on the True Vine parable, the Loving Father (Prodigal Son), juxtaposing the Found Sheep and Found Coin (Lost Sheep/Coin), and exploring the reality of the Healing of the Centurion’s Servant. These are moments cherished by the children who have the opportunity to delve into their faith with the responsibility of the choice they are making to come to these sacred sacraments. Through these special sessions, tied together with the atrium experience, the child’s sacramental preparation is beyond all other programs I have experienced before I came to CGS or since.

In Level 3, the children continue the same topics, but with fewer didactic materials and a greater number of abstract materials. Now the child is being called, not just to remain on the Vine, but to bear fruit – what is YOUR place in the Kingdom of God? We explore all 7 sacraments in depth, deepen moral formation, study the virtues, introduce the Liturgy of the Hours, explore each and every prayer of the Mass, and begin a study of Typology – the Church’s practice of seeking Jesus in the Old Testament and Jesus’ fulfillment of the Old Testament in the New – and the as yet unfulfilled prophecies that will come at the end of time: Parousia. Now we deepen our exploration of this "response". It is more than a passive remaining now. It is an active seeking. An active response in thanksgiving for the great gifts that God has bestowed upon us, for the reasons He created us and loves us. What will fill my blank page? How will I respond to the gifts of God? God has a Plan - how do I fit in and how can I help it move along towards the final moment of the Parousia? We explore the History even further: the Jewish People, Typology of Creation, Sin, Flood, Abraham and Moses/Exodus; Parousia when "God will be all in all" (1 Corinthians 15:28).

At each level, the child returns to the same themes, going ever deeper and truly experiencing his identity in the Kingdom of God.

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Level 1 Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Formation Course - Intensive

This summer I will be leading an intensive Level 1 Formation Course, with the potential to spread out Part 2 over the course of the coming school year (if there is enough interest).

Southeastern Indiana - convenient to Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana; close to Indianapolis and Cincinnati airports for anyone further out.


Part 1: June 8-12
Part 2: August 10-14

Register for CGS Level 1 Course at EventBrite


Invitations are open to come for one day, a few days, half or all of the course (cost pro-rated).


The first 3 days will cover Montessori principles, history, practical life and nomenclature - all awesome for a Montessori homeschool experience too!


Need formation at level 1 or level 2 - or an orientation to level 3 - and these dates don't work? Contact me! We can set something up :) (I can travel to your area, or set something up here).

Multi-level Atrium - Just for the fun of sharing

This atrium session we have all three atriums available to the children of appropriate ages, but the level 3 children have access to all three spaces (typically going between levels 2 and 3), and we occasionally all go into level 1 for some things, like changing the liturgical color :) 

Level 1

CUTIE! 

Exercises of Practical Life: Stringing beads

Liturgy: Re-creating the Liturgical Calendar
(we have coloring pages for this - I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE
when the children make it entirely themselves instead!)

Probably a bit young from the liturgical calendar... ;)
matching up the colors though
(hm? perhaps we need some simpler such EPL materials...)

Liturgy: Gestures

Scripture/Prophecy/Prayer: Tracing a Prophecy prayer card

Awesome concentration
Tracing and illuminating Scripture passages assists in meditation

Level 3

Moses Typology: They each choose their comfortable position

Not much movement going on here

But they sure get into these readings and conversations! 

Level 2

Reviewing some geography concepts

chit-chatting, sharpening pencils -
free movement and awesome conversation
even when our hands are not on the official materials

Such joy :) 

Protecting Baby Jesus

In one atrium I lead sessions, the infancy narratives are all in lovely square boxes with square-fitting lids. 

I said to the child in question, "I see the box is on the stable."

The response: "Baby Jesus needs protection." 

This was a 5 year old who was well-aware of the words of King Herod to the the Wise Men. 

Mid-west CGS Formation Courses

To be offered in St. Leon, Indiana this summer and into the school year:

Level 1 - Part 1:
July 25, 26
September 26, 27
November 14, 15
Part 2: TBA

Level 2 - Complete Formation Course: 
June 9, 10
July 7, 8
August 4
October 13
November 8
February/March dates: TBD


On-site lodging available (provide your own food; lodging is a house with full kitchen)


At the lovely St. Joseph location of All Saints Parish - home to 3 atriums (one at each level). Nearby St. John the Baptist location of All Saints Parish has a second level 1 for participants to visit; and nearby St. Paul location of All Saints Parish has a second level 2 for possible visiting (need to check on that).

All Saints Parish has the only level 3 atrium in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the longest-running parish-based Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium at any level within this archdiocese.

Come join us!


About the Formation Leader - Jessica Welsh is a National Association recognized formation leader.

I have been in the atrium for 10 years, following the growth of my son in the atrium (starting in infancy and now in level 3). I currently have 5 weekly atrium times: 1 level 1, 2 level 3 and 2 atriums that combine levels 2 and 3. I work with children who attend public school, private school and homeschool. 

On the side, I offer online Montessori homeschool support for primary (ages 3-6) and elementary (6-12 years) - based on AMI practices and albums.

I am excited to offer these two courses in my home-town and hope that everyone who can make it can come. I am also happy to travel elsewhere for courses, if you have enough people in need of formation :)

  

When there is Too Much Atrium !?

For those of you waiting for this story for the last several months??? I told you it would be long ;)

I used to be known for saying, "One can never have too much atrium."

It's not that I take back those words, but after 9 years, I add a caveat:
it needs to be group or individual-based - not an individual moving from one atrium group to another to another throughout the week.


Many catechists have the question of what to do with their own children if the catechist will be in an atrium several times a week. I had this question since my son was an infant, because as the mom of a nursling, he came with me everywhere - and as a single mom his entire life, he comes with me everywhere. And we homeschool.

Here is our experience:

Until age 3 1/2: 
Not-yet-dubbed Legoboy was with me while transitioning a preschool/kindergarten religious education classroom into a level 1 atrium: 2 years in this atrium, with a child "not old enough." I watched him phase into all the early 3 year old work, one by one. The "light" came first; then the colors; then the infancy narratives - from there it went several directions, but I recall geography early on. He has always been notorious for doing his work in a south-north orientation. He routinely turned our globes upside down (he figured out how to remove them from their holders); he would turn the topographical map upside down. At 3 he began working with the regions maps (he wasn't talking much during this time either - which left him LOTS of time for just taking things in - so he knew the names of the regions - we could get through part 2 of the 3 period lesson on ANYTHING - he just couldn't say the words to do the 3rd period) --- so that regions map? Yep. Upside down.
(Note: to THIS DAY he still does this - he can work in any orientation - and will "check" his work using the control in a different orientation than the mutes - talk about spatial reasoning!)

We did have problems with him, at age 1, standing on a table and dropping some glass items to the carpeted floor (nothing broke). I was in a presentation and my aide refused to do anything with him (yet I had to be in charge of her two boys... hmmm.) Some rough waters there.

From 2 onward, he really honed in on the altar work, the Good Shepherd, beginnings of the liturgical calendar - he was 9-15 months "ahead" on most of the work; with some things being spot-on to the suggested ages in the album pages. Never behind.

In his case, we had so much time to just go with the flow - complete observation and respond only when needed.

During these two years, I had Sunday mornings (religious ed), Tuesday evenings (children of the RCIA parents - so infants through age 12) and a varying day homeschool session (3-12 year olds). I also had a partial atrium in my home where I ran a family daycare and rotated materials in/out as space and the liturgical time suggested. 3 sessions a week for Legoboy, plus access at home. It was GREAT! Looking back, I think it was because level 1 is about "individual construction of the human being."


3 1/2 - 4 1/4

rolling mats at home (paper in this case)
for the fun of it

Attended an atrium in the city where I had my primary Montessori training. He was pulled from his Montessori school one morning a week to attend the atrium. At first, this caused quite the ruckus with the directress and the school board, but in the end, Legoboy's ability to move between these two very-Montessori environments AND have his spiritual needs fulfilled, won out over the adults perceived/inserted issues and the matter was laid to rest within a month.

At this atrium, he showed the catechist the "proper" way to roll mats (as learned at Montessori school ;) ), and he continued to receive both 3yo and 4yo presentations. The catechist was so wonderful of an observer, that she knew when he was ready to work with the 4 year olds and when he needed to be with the 3 year olds.

I helped out in this atrium when I could, but most of the year I was working (at his Montessori school) or had my observations and student teaching at other schools, so a generous family from church offered to transport him there/back (they didn't even have a child in atrium! they had a kindergartener in the parish school; while the times didn't perfectly line up, they went out of their way to make it happen).


4 1/4 - 5 1/4
We moved to our current area to set up two level 1 atriums, and begin on level 2. The Sunday morning level 1 atriums ran at the same time and he attended both of them at various times. No consistency in location but fantastic experiences with a variety of catechists - he also ended up being of assistance to some of them ;) I also offered a weekday session to alleviate our high Sunday morning numbers - he attended that one and I counted that as his actual atrium time for the sake of consistency.

During this year, one catechist and I worked with the 2nd graders and 2 1st graders to prepare for First Holy Communion and Reconciliation. We modified our preparation experience based on having a partial level 2 atrium, a mostly complete level 1 atrium, and children with ZERO atrium experience. Legoboy attended every one of these sessions, including the 2 retreat days. At the first retreat (in December, he was still 4 years old), the priest visited; as he prepared to leave he asked me if Legoboy would be coming to Reconciliation. Legoboy said he was not yet ready. Father said, "If he is ready before the other children do First Communion, just bring him to Reconciliation one day. He can also receive First Holy Communion with the other children, if he believes he is ready."

To be short-winded about it, Legoboy was indeed prepared, but free will and desire were able to be respected. He did not receive the sacraments that year; he was ready the following, but circumstances changed so he received what "would be" his 1st grade year.

With the sacramental preparation and my work with homeschoolers, this sometimes meant 5 or 6 times a week in an atrium for him at both levels 1 and 2.

I began level 3 formation that year, but the bit of work I did was with Legoboy playing with other younger children. So he did not start level 3 that year ;)


5 - 6
This "kindergarten year" we did atrium at home in pieces; I worked with homeschool families and mentored the local catechists. It was actually nice to step back and consider the essentials again. Get away from parish politics; besides the new DRE closed the 2 level 2 atriums I had started - she wasn't ready to be DRE over them. Since we were not part of the religious ed program at the local parish, Legoboy requested the sacraments from our parish priest who refused him - he will only give these sacraments to children who are age 7, going on 8. (we attend a parish further away than our local parishes - variety of reasons - not applicable to this blog)


6 - 7
I continued to work with homeschoolers in small groups at various times, which worked out fine for Legoboy because he could play with the younger children if I had the older children and only come for presentations at the right time. The level 2 atrium at the local parish, now with a different priest, opened back up and my request to have Legoboy attend was granted. I spoke with our parish priest again and he said Legoboy could be prepared for the sacraments at the local parish and receive the sacraments "per the plan outlined". Haha! The plan outlined included the following:

• preparation is done through CGS at the local parish
• priest family friend from the other side of the country travel to our area to hear Legoboy's confession at the local parish (with the permission of the local priest) in February; CGS retreat in March for 2nd Reconciliation; 3rd Reconciliation the morning of 1st Holy Communion
• seminarian family friend (Legoboy's Godfather) to be ordained that May - the only priest to be ordained at that ordination - to provide First Holy Communion at the ordination Mass. Second Holy Communion that evening at Father's first Mass; Third Holy Communion Sunday morning at Father's second Mass. 
• We let our priest know when all is done so he doesn't "skip" him at the Communion rail. 

7 - 8
Continue the above minus the sacramental preparation - some homeschoolers at various time, attend the local parish level 2 atrium. Lots of atrium, but still flexible in presentations.

8 - present
Here is where the fun begins. I opened the level 3 atrium last year at our local parish.

• I now lead the new level 3 atrium at our local parish(es)/parish (there's another post). Twice a week. 
• Last year, I also taught at a Montessori school once a week; this year twice a week. 
• Last year, I still worked with some homeschoolers at home; this year, I have rented the level 2 atrium at the local parish to work with level 2 and 3 children once a week. Nothing more at home.
• Half of last year I worked with a family one afternoon a week at the local parish; this year they are in the homeschool atrium. 

Legoboy was functionally a 3rd grader his "second grade year" - and really wanted to move to level 3 last year, what would have been his "3rd grade year" if in school. I wasn't 100% comfortable with him moving into level 3 - I was already getting the niggling notion that something wasn't quite fitting into place. I picked up a position teaching a combined level 2 and 3 atrium at a Montessori school - so he "attended" that one due to the inherent flexibility of ages/experiences; joined me for Sundays anyway; and went to tae-kwon-do Wednesdays. Sundays were not always easy - I had tried to pull him out but the CRE insisted I keep him in there - lovely lady, but she didn't understand the issue at hand.

Then we added in our Thursday family --- and the issue became VERY clear: Legoboy had atrium many times a week, lots of time for exploration, meditation and personal work - DEEP work - but the other children weren't staying up with him, because they were once a week. The homeschool families helped because of their at-home work - but it wasn't quite enough. He finally met his match with our Thursday family though, because even though they were once a week, the spiritual depth/intensity was there, matching his own - perhaps because of shared emotional history. I began giving him specific assignments on Sundays with the 6th graders to keep him fed until we could finish the year and fully re-evaluate.



This year, I did NOT want to repeat that experience. He was SO frustrated because he couldn't move forward WITH someone - he was always either alone, or constantly moving groups. This is where the Thursday family really worked out well, because here was someone he could at least move along with. I was very frustrated because my son who had been in the atrium since age 1 wasn't receiving what he needed and I couldn't pinpoint his needs right away.

That is where we can have too much atrium:
one person ready to move forward and deeper
groups of children once a week who aren't at the same depth just yet

So this year, Legoboy has the following:

• Sunday morning: personal Bible study he is doing - reading through Books of the Bible and illustrating each chapter - in the CRE's material making area
• Tuesday afternoon: assists me in the level 1 atrium or does his own work
• Wednesday evening: attends tae-kwon-do or joins atrium working on individual projects - focus on social benefits
• Thursday afternoon: attends tae-kwon-do (sometimes joins but works on art projects - again, social benefits)
• Friday afternoon: attends the homeschool atrium as a full participant

This actually really works out well, except for all the driving to tae-kwon-do. He is also working with the younger children in a meditative environment, which supports his working with the lower belts and younger children in the very active tae-kwon-do environment.

Now that we have identified the reality of "too much atrium" in the wrong combinations, we can address the issue at each atrium session and he can even attend every atrium all week and be just fine.

An interesting side benefit: experience proving that calling small groups is MUCH better than working with large groups - meet the children where they are at, worry less about grade level or age, focus on capability and NEED, and allow such children who are in different experiential places to be just where they need to be. We have mixed age classes to focus on the individuals after all!

Small atrium or large atrium?

Legoboy, age 9, assisting the work of the level 1 children
youngest child wondering which pieces he is allowed to handle
he's getting it ;) 

A Montessori classroom has the greatest experience at 30-35 children for the primary level (ages 3-6) and 35-40 for the elementary level (ages 6-12 - and yes, that is genuinely ages 6-12 in one group; if 6-9 and 9-12 are split out than 35 is ideal).

Really!? That many in one group with one trained teacher? Isn't that what we keep complaining about in the public schools? That one teacher has too many children when s/he has more than 25!?

Reality is, multi-age groupings, following the child, providing the keys, promoting a balance of freedom and responsibility, respecting all aspects of the child's development as well as all human needs and tendencies - all of these things lead to an environment in which the children function best with only one trained and perhaps one "non-teaching" adult.

Reviewing last year's presentations during their work time

What are the ideal numbers for an atrium that does not run on a 3-hour work cycle? I'm not sure. There are suggestions of around 15 and that seems about right most of the time. The children tend to hit their "breaking point" at 90 minutes in - reality is, the ideal that most atriums can achieve is 90 minutes, due to time constraints, parental concerns, lack of Montessori understanding and a slight limitation on the subject matter (it is one subject (Faith) in sub-categories with materials that simply do not add up to a full Montessori classroom - however we also only meet once a week).

Baptism pasting became an intense focus!
after an impromptu full Baptism presentation on
Light, White Garment, Water, Oils
We'll review the rest with the oldest children next week

But I wonder what would happen, even with 3-6 year olds, if we had a full 3-hour work cycle. In a Montessori environment, there is a false fatigue 60-90 minutes into the cycle, just before the children settle into their deepest work yet - as long as the adult knows how to let things be during this transition time.

He worked with the sheep for a few moments, then wanted to trace. 

Last week and today I caught myself thinking, "These children are done for today - good thing we only meet for 90 minutes." Then I realized what I was thinking! Oops! But 90 minutes is what I have with my level 1 children and that is all I am going to get (ok, so the parents tend to know now to pick up until 95 minutes have passed because I always run over ;) ). I would love the opportunity to experiment with a routine 180 minute atrium for the little ones. We would certainly bring in a snack option, additional practical life particularly in the art area, likely expand out the music... but these are conjectures. I simply wonder.

Waiting for the catechist

We have had a very small group both last week and this week. I would prefer to have more children.

Benefits to larger groups:

• the adult is not able (therefore tempted) to jump in on every single situation - much more observation has to be made from a distance, allowing the child to work things out for himself
• the adult *must* lay a strong foundation of respect and boundaries straight from the beginning; somehow having a smaller group allows the adult to be more lax in areas that need to be quite firm
• with the multi-age setting, the older children are typically experienced, having been in the atrium for 2 years - they have that strong foundation that they can pass on to the younger/newer children - as well as they know they are being watched and copied, so they feel that sense of responsibility to "be" the "big kid". 
• to reiterate and say another way in order to catch all the ramifications: the children model after each other - if the adult is prepared and the environment (physical and spiritual) is prepared, then the children will have fewer stumbling blocks and many more successes.
• there is a wider variety of work going on, so the children gain different inspiration from one another; they also more readily choose for themselves if they will work alone, work with someone else or observe another child(ren). The children also review previous presentations simply by seeing the other children work with it. Such options are much more limited with smaller numbers. 

So joyful!
He then spent a good deal of time coloring in his tracing
adding a sun, sky, and grass

Hanging the chasubles
across the room from their usual location
LOTS of movement needed by these littlest ones!

helping with the hanger

Such concentration on making such beautiful music! 

Singing "Alleluia" -
apparently we have a goal to sing as many versions as possible ;)
not all children were at the prayer table,
but this was our smallest class yet this year.  

Work of the Children - Start of the Year

What do the children do during their work time in the atrium?

The answer differs according to their atrium experience, temperament, interests and most importantly: the time of year. We have different expectations and a different selection of choices depending on the time of year.

We also try to over-present in the first few weeks to help the child acclimate and get some options available. When I give a new presentation, I may give the children some suggested options, or I may list some options and give them a choice between A and B for what they will do with the work now - with the other options as follow-ups at another time. This falls in line with the process of normalization as described by Maria Montessori - giving choices until a child can make choices of his own; while also allowing for the children to reveal themselves and their spiritual needs to the adult during times of wandering and considering all the open choices.


Level 1:

get out last year's presentations and review for oneself
in level 1, observation is also allowed  (see child in background)

wander
yes, this is allowed to an extent in every level
to a large extent in level 1

 

charm the catechist into lighting the candles 20 times in a row,
just so they can be snuffed
(the catechist is more than happy to oblige!)

polishing
so much polishing can be done with the items in use in the atrium
that we don't need "samples" for the children ;) 

Level 2:
In level 2, a very limited amount of wandering is allowed; some observation; but the requirement is to find work to do. The catechist should help guide this requirement but cannot catch every moment (hence observations from other adults are necessary too). The children can also be helping each other.

stand and look handsome
while your friend does all the clean-up

set up the altar

build on last year's work

tracing and artwork

walk the line

Level 3:

At this level, the children are truly collaborating. Almost no child does work by himself unless they are working on similar individual projects while chatting at the same table. The children can do more reading and research, but are still required to find real work to do. They are capable of doing so, with the right tools in hand.

share level 2 work with brand-new-to-level-3 children

plan communal prayer
(this would be an end of year option for 3rd graders in level 2)

plan communal prayer
she is thinking seriously about something - she is normally all smiles and wonderful silliness

Baby Atrium

We have some sweet visitors with us in the atrium sometimes.

They know what they like! And where they belong!

So handsome! 

Setting up our portable line
did NOT take long for the boys to find it! 

Returning to level 1 and inviting the 2 year olds to join us (their siblings are extras!) recalls to mind my son's first years in the atrium.

I discovered Catechesis of the Good Shepherd the school year before my son came to be. When I returned to my home-state to attend a Catholic college for a degree in theology, I even found a local formation course for level 1. I was unable to attend with my schooling schedule and uncertainty regarding my son.

At 2 1/2, he had been in the atrium for a year
1-4 parish sessions a week (depending on the season)
at-home atrium available anytime

It was almost 2 years later when I looked again. I would have to coordinate a weekend each month to make it happen, but it happened. I would drive an hour to my hometown each Thursday, do some housekeeping for an old employer (I used to be the family's nanny), visit with family; my mother would pick up my son after work on Friday and take him up north for the weekend (she went up north every weekend). I would stay at one of my grandmother's homes, then drive 2 hours north-east for a day-long training. At the end of the 9-5 day, I would drive 3 hours north and west to reunite with my son. We were still nursing so we got lots of snuggle time in before a late supper. After his bedtime, I would prepare some materials (anything that needed wood-cutting especially). Then we would get up the next morning, drive a bit south to Mass, drive the rest of the way home (sometimes stop and visit some more family) - and spend the week preparing the rest of the materials I had learned about that weekend.

The year I was in training, I taught a preschool class in the same (old nursery) room as the kindergarten class (who had different teachers, but we met at the same time). I was introducing concepts and materials as I could and by Christmas, the DRE asked if I would do a full-blown atrium and combine the two classes (there were issues with the other teachers). We (the DRE, my co-teacher and myself) spend Christmas break clearing out the room and preparing what we could.

Over the next 18 months I had homeschool groups, children of the RCIA, regular Sunday School children, my daycare children (I ran an in-home daycare at the time) and many visitors.

My son was 15 months old when we started atrium in our home and eased into it at the parish - his responses were phenomenal (to my oh-so-biased heart!).

Yes, he had his moments of standing on a table and dropping glass items on the floor. This would be when I was in a presentation and the co-teacher refused to do anything in regards to my son, yet I was expected to control her two boys doing cartwheels in the middle of the room. I had a new co-teacher by the end of the year.

Everything I was learning in CGS about how the 3 year olds respond - I literally saw, before my eyes, my son growing into those very moments:

• light - fascination with the light, respect for candles, attention to detail in snuffing, concentration 
• colors - hanging the chasubles, matching the colors, watching for the colors in the church
• the Good Shepherd - the sheep follow the Shepherd; the Shepherd loves the sheep - these are the first two concepts the children hone in on
• water - 3 pourings of the water at Baptism - no more, no less
• Sign of the Cross - he practiced for hours
• pouring water (cruet of water into 3 glasses)

There has been some talk and some experiences within CGS for the very young child (before age 3) - and the discoveries being made are so sweet and SO wonderful! 

I have so many stories to tell of the other children aged 3 through 6, then elementary children up to age 12 within the level 1 atrium, also connecting with these things. My son was only 1 and I saw it unfold before my eyes, like a miraculous opening of a rosebud, petal by petal - until at age 3, he was able to go so deep with the 3 year old work, then deeper and deeper each year until he began level 3 a year earlier than typical. And now he is a such a big boy, doing Bible studies of his own, able to speak intelligently about the Liturgy and about Scripture and - oh - I am so proud of him! 

The day he read from the Bible for the first time, in his own voice, with his own reading power, I cried.
(he was 5 by then...)

I have video of him as a toddler carrying statues and chanting, enacting the Mass (complete with a "Roman Missal", objects (statues and candles placed and rearranged on coasters)), drawings of angels and empty tombs and one beautiful story I will share on another day of the Good Shepherd and the sandpaper globe of the world. 

All before he was 3 years old - most of it before he turned 2. 

The religious capacity of the very young child... No wonder Jesus said, "Unless you become like little children...."

Setting up "candles" at home with crayons and dinner candle holders

Close-up of the "candles"

One of the very few photos I have of not-yet-dubbed-Legoboy in the original atrium
He set up the altar all by himself. So precise.
And he wanted to snuff the candles!
(surprised? ;) )

Legoboy's alter-ego in today's level 1 atrium ;) 

Today:

This past Pentecost
atrium time before the ceremony, as I was setting up

This past Pentecost
our ceremony

The Roman Missal work for level 3
How time has flown... 

This child has revealed so much to me - and I pray every day I will never place an obstacle in his path, although I know in my human weakness I have been and will continue to be an obstacle.

I am ever so grateful for the time I spend in the atrium with children of all ages - every level has its own gifts and graces. These children before age 3 have such a Light - such radiant souls.