Interesting Websites and an Abbreviated Reading
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd www.cgsusa.org
mymontessorijourney.typepad.com (go down to Resurrection Rolls)
An interesting article, or just read the abstract at the top! www.ecrp.uiuc.edu/v1n2/holloway.html
catholicblogger1.blogspot.co.nz/p/free-printables.html
I think I have publicised this site before, but it’s worth a reminder: allelu.com/activities-resources/song-lyrics-34.html
Godly Play is based upon the recognition that children have an innate sense of the presence of God: www.godlyplayfoundation.org/newsite/Main.php

From the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn:
Philosophy of Religious Education in Catholic Early Learning Centres
Fowler’s second stage of faith development (Intuitive-Projective Faith) and play based learning – these are two key principles in Catholic early learning.
Fowler’s second stage of faith development indicates that preschoolers are powerfully and permanently influenced by faith examples and stories shared by significant adults in their lives. At this stage children are constantly making sense of the world around them and are repeatedly faced with the unknown. Their imagination, natural sense of awe and wonder are unreserved by logical thought patterns. As children make
sense of themselves they are making sense of their own spirituality. Images and stories give shape to a child’s understanding and feelings towards the self, others, God and the environment.
The challenge to remain authentic to play based learning in Religious Education leads to Thomas Groom’s Shared Christian Praxis. The adoption of Shared Christian praxis, to play and pray experiences and developing reflection of these experiences offers a pathway for Religious Education in preschools to remain authentic to play based learning and to Religious Education. Educators can plan experiences that are guided by the children’s interest as guided by their play.
In order to remain authentic to the developmental age of pre-schoolers, children need to experience:
- a sense of personal and communal relationship with God,
- a sense of love and belonging in family and Church,
- a sense of God’s presence in Creation,
- a sense of celebration; in relation to the birth of Jesus.
A deep sense of listening and presence is essential from educators of preschool children, with opportunities for children to develop their being, encounter and make meaning of their world, to develop their sense of belonging and to become who they are, made in the image and likeness of God.