Ask the Right Questions, Get the Right Anwsers

One of our parent catechists suggested an idea for the blog.  She remembers that when she would ask her kids “what did you learn today at catechesis?” they wouldn’t seem to have much of a response.  After taking the catechist training and learning the language specific to CGS, she started asking a different question.  When she asked “what work did you do in the atrium today?” they would tell her all about what they’d done.  Thinking along those lines, here are some good questions and words to use with your children:

·        Did an adult/catechist show you a new work today?

·        What materials did you work with?

·        Which works did you do today?

·        Did you pray today?  What about?

As you can see, we don’t use the words “lesson” or “activity”, but instead talk about materials, works, and prayer.  Maybe these words will trigger better responses from your children.

Here’s what’s been going on:

Level I (3-6 years)
Presentations:
- The Parable of the Mustard Seed continued
- Altar II was presented to some students (Altar II introduces the tabernacle, ciborium, genuflection, bread and wine, and the idea that Jesus is present in the bread and wine.
-Preparation of the Cruets

We’re about to start the “parable of the leaven bread”, which is a huge favorite among the kids.  Once Lent starts we’ll be looking more at the parables and begin talking about baptism.

Level II (7-9 years)
Presentations:
-

Notes:


Level III (10-12 years)
Presentations:
- The Vocation of the Prophets continued
- Wednesday night’s class has been putting together a prayer service to celebrate and remember Clint Hunsche.  This will take place on Wednesday, Feb 8.

Notes: The students on Sunday night have been creating their own materials to reenact stories of the prophets that they’ve been studying.  I’m tentatively promising photos of this in the next post… These presentations on the prophets will continue in Level III for at least another week.