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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: Jan 30 2009 at 9:37pm | IP Logged
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You might have access to the To Know, To Love, To Serve set mentioned above. They are very Catechesis of the Good Shepherd based at the youngest levels, even though they are still technically a textbook curriulum. The samples I've seen are much nicer than the usual texbtook, and you could always search the boards here for ideas on supplementing that with hands-on materials.
Just an idea....
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Marcia
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I did a quick look over the books that another mommy bought (the To Know, To love, to serve) and one quick thing I noticed is they use the wolf and the heirling in the first couple chapters for preschool....CGS doesn't use this until the children are 6 or 7....it's sometimes very scarey for the children to think the wolf will come and get them when they understand they are the sheep.
CGS is in Australia. I have trained with a man from Melbourne. Here is the school he is the principal of...you might want to contact him. Or at least find out if the school could link you up with other CGS connections....
http://spatment.melb.catholic.edu.au/
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An Aussie Mum
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Thanks Marcia nad CatholicMommy.
I have looked on the internet at KLS and it does look quite good. I might go with it, I just need to find out if the children need to be going to CGS classes as well because although there are some in Australia there are none where we live. If it can be used as a stand alone curriculum then great!
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Erin
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HI Aussie Mum 
I'm not sure what diocese you live in but I am in the Lismore diocese, these books are used in our schools not CGS classes. I know they are also used in the Melbourne, Sydney, Wollongong and Armidale dioceses.
We can buy them from Portico books, and the other numbers on the website. I also rang the Melbourne number and they don't sell to individuals but if I decide to get these I'm going to see if our local schools will add me to an order, which I'm sure they will.
You ladies have inspired me to look at these more thoroughly, I have an appointment to see the local RE co-ordinator at the parish school. I'll let you know what I think of the books.
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Erin
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| Posted: Feb 06 2009 at 4:17am | IP Logged
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I went to the school and had a good look at the Know, Worship , Love books yesterday! I only got to look at the P/K- 2 books, which is good for here, although personally I also wanted to look at the older grades too.
The presentation is lovely; very gentle colours, the pictures are pleasant. Drawings not quite cartoony (which personally grates)Layout is visually attractive, not crowded.
Regards content; a story first, first one I looked at in the P/K book was The Good Shepherd  actually three chapters were spent on this first up . The stories captured the major points of the Bible, quite meaty really without overwhelming the child.
Following is a page with "I Wonder" these bullet points which the teacher asks the children to ponder tend to pull out the main parts. Very atrium in that the teacher asks the children to reflect, she is not to interfere.
Then there are Bible passages to look up, always leading back to the Bible.
Then a Home Activity, sometimes this is a hands on activity, sometimes some more questions for the parent to discuss (remember these are used at school and the child takes them home of a night and parents read over with their child)
It finished up with a prayer section.
The RE coordinator was excited to tell me about Godly play and showed me the figures they have made and the mat they pull out and use. I could see the influence of Sophia Cavelletti strongly. Although let me hasten to add although I have read parts of Cavelletti and have Moira Farrell's Home Catechesis I haven't studied/used them thoroughly enough to be an 'expert' 
There is a teacher's manual that they are able to download because they are a school, I'm looking into how I can access this myself. It was from the manual that the teachers had learnt more of the background to it all.
I only briefly looked at the grade 1, it had more content per story and I studied the grade 2 a bit further. Some things I looked for and was happy with include; the altar was called 'altar' not table (grates me when it does) and the Eucharist was definitely called the Body and Blood of Jesus although I did feel there was a slight bit too much emphasis on community, (but then if I had studied more I may have been totally happy) and the pictures depicted were of children receiving on the Hand. Being nit picking I know but I am aware that others here notice these things too.
I was very impressed with the RE Co. she had blown up pictures of the tabernacle, altar etc laminated them and had the children labeling them. Obviously you could easily enlarge on these books. They looked very easy and doable, but downloading the manuals may be an issue when I rang Melbourne they weren't too useful there.
Hope I've helped, feel free to ask more and I'll do my best to answer.
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amarytbc
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Chats With God's Little Ones is a lovely, Charlotte Mason type book
It sounds like you are already approaching the faith as described in the book, so it probably isn't right for you but I wanted to mention it on this thread for those who may read it in the future. It's ideal for someone who doesn't know how to naturally bring in the faith and catechism with young children.
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Erin
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Back to chat more about this  I followed up and rang our diocesan Catholic Education Office, planning to see if I could access the download. The first woman I rang, said, "I don't think you can have access as only qualified teachers can."  Really annoys me when people can't think outside the box, dh told me to calm down 
Anyhow a day later the lady in charge rang back when I was in town and gave my ds a message (risky that) she told me to go to the Sydney Catholic Education Office and look under Primary Curriculum, which I did and finaly found it.
As it is public, anyone can access it, no password needed I don't know what the first lady's problem was.
So here it is, as non-Australians don't have access I really think you could use this as enough. The RE coordinator told me, that the books were for the children to take home so the parents knew what they were learning and hopefully back up.
After you look at the overviews the sidebars lead you to each grade. Let me know what you think!
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An Aussie Mum
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Thanks Erin, I have been busy tonight looking at all this info. I actually bought the Year One book from Portico books this week so I could have a look. I liked it but without a teachers mannual I found it a little bit lacking some depth. After looking through all the info on the website you gave I have decided to definitely give it a go. All this info gave me the exact 'depth' I was looking for.
Thanks again!
Kate
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Erin
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| Posted: March 21 2009 at 7:43pm | IP Logged
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Precisely, it really needs the teachers manual.
Kate, having the book in front of you, do you think our American friends could use the 'program' without the books?
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An Aussie Mum
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I think you could certainly do some activites from the guidelines but probably not an entire curriculum.
I guess I wouldn't be enitrely sure on that until I am using it properly myself (I will probably start next term).
Kate
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Kindergarten Catechesis?
