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graciefaith
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| Posted: May 31 2007 at 2:23am | IP Logged
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I want to buy CGS this year. I planned to buy it last year but never did. My oldest is turning 6yo in Sept while my youngest will be 5yo in Dec. I'd like for them to be in the same manual as i dont think i can afford both and the Mass Kit. Do you think i should buy the 3-5yo manual or 6-9yo manual? Thanks!
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Rebecca
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I would use the 3-5. Even my ten year old found the presentations interesting and beautiful since he never had them when he was little.
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SuzanneG
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3-5. It's great for any age. DH and I get a lot out of it 
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Suzanne in ID
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Mackfam
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I wish I could remember the thread this was on a while ago, but Moira chimed in on a thread about her manuals, and advised people to start with the 3-6 manual if they hadn't done any CGS before and weren't sure where to start. We started in the 3-6 and my kids are 2, 6, and 10. The 10yo was certainly ready to move faster, but she was patient, and she got plenty out of the presentations too!
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Jen Mackintosh
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JennGM
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Mackfam wrote:
| I wish I could remember the thread this was on a while ago, but Moira chimed in on a thread about her manuals, and advised people to start with the 3-6 manual if they hadn't done any CGS before and weren't sure where to start. We started in the 3-6 and my kids are 2, 6, and 10. The 10yo was certainly ready to move faster, but she was patient, and she got plenty out of the presentations too! |
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It took me some digging, but I found that thread:What is an Atrium?
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Jennifer G. Miller
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graciefaith
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| Posted: June 01 2007 at 2:35am | IP Logged
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Thank you ladies! I'm glad to know i can start with the 3-5yo manual. Thank you again!!
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graciefaith
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Thank you for the link to that thread. I skimmed but I'll have more time tonight to read it.
What if i dont have any room in the house for an atrium? We live in a 3bdrm apt and school in the living room/dining room. Our altar is in the dining area and we have a baby coming in Oct. We will be converting our spare room, which is jam packed with a pc desk, futon, tv and bookcases, to the baby's room. We'll squeeze the desk into the living room and the others i will have to figure out. There really is no specific space for an atrium.
And one more, without having the manual yet, what key items would i need, besides the mass kit. I'd like to take a look at them now and see how i can budget them in this year. Thanks!
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Mackfam
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A couple of ideas when crammed into a small space. Clear off a bookshelf to use as your home atrium, or set up a small table right next to your current home altar as your atrium area. It doesn't need much really. Just keep one activity/presentation out at a time. Find a small space for a bin to store the rest of your activities in a closet or under a bed. You may have to get really creative with a small space, but try not to feel limited by the square footage. Honestly, the heart of the atrium is wherever you are presenting with the kids - living room, bedroom, hallway - the quiet in those moments, the reflections of your children. They are precious moments wherever they happen.
As far as supplies needed, there really isn't a comprehensive list in the manuals. There will be many trips to the craft store in your future, and the projects are not expensive to complete at all!!! Just come to these boards and search and you can find tons of info from the great ladies here who have awesome ideas!! I'd suggest ordering the manual and your mass kit as soon as you can, look over the manual and get an idea of where you'd like to start. Make out your list and then you can start crafting away.
HTH. Have fun.
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Jen Mackintosh
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SuzanneG
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graciefaith wrote:
What if i dont have any room in the house for an atrium?
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I wondered about this too, after reading and seeing pictures of everyone's. Don't worry about it. We've gone through different "phases" of it and the atrium has moved around, been "hidden" and then brought out again. Right now, it's been replaced by a play-yard for the 15-month-old, and there really is no other permanent place for it.....but the girls STILL do the altar work and we have presentations at the coffee table. With small spaces and little ones, it has to be very flexible!
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Suzanne in ID
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JennGM
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In previous discussions and in some of my reading here are some tidbits I've drawn out.
1) The Catechesis was originally set for once a week, about 1 1/2 hours. Outside of the home it's a place reserved, everything in a proper place. But if you're doing it in the home, it doesn't have to be available at all times.
2) You can set up little nooks and crannies, permanent places around the house. The prayer corner can be put somewhere away from the rest of the presentation materials.
3) On some of the yahoo lists people have mentioned having "portable" atriums, in rolling containers, rubbermaid containers, etc.
4) Not all materials from presentations need to be out. Rotate according to liturgical seasons and what is presented.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Family in Feast and Feria
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graciefaith
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Thank you ladies for all your advice! I appreciate it very much. Dh assured me that we would find a place to for it all. He looked into it and thinks it will be great for our girls and for us.
I have one more question. Do you ladies just use CGS or do you add other catechism material? Like can you use CGS and F&L series? or is it just best to stick with CGS and nothing else?
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JennGM
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graciefaith wrote:
Thank you ladies for all your advice! I appreciate it very much. Dh assured me that we would find a place to for it all. He looked into it and thinks it will be great for our girls and for us.
I have one more question. Do you ladies just use CGS or do you add other catechism material? Like can you use CGS and F&L series? or is it just best to stick with CGS and nothing else? |
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That's terrific that dh is enthuasiastic about CGS!
It's your choice about the F&L texts. For the ages of your little ones, the CGS is good material. Many are also using Cay Gibson's Catholic Mosaic for supplemental reading, discussion, and activities.
I love the suggestions from Mater Amabilis for Religion: Prep Level and Level 1b. First grade (1b) suggests F&L, but the areas covered are similar to the COGS presentations at this age.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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CatholicMommy
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We are using a supplemental curriculum for my preschooler (Who Am I?), only for the more guided teaching style and because the one we use contains lots of crafty type things. For schoolage, I plan to use Faith and Life for the same main reason: just to have a couple different ways of learning/reviewing the Faith, as well as the artwork I've seen in them. I do think that CGS pretty well covers the necessities for the most part, but extra components are always good, like Catholic Mosaic, Faith and Life, and others.
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Cheryl
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We've used CGS and Faith and Life over here. Today my ds 8 went for a First Communion prep "interview" with our parish's DRE. He's making his First Communion next Sunday. I procrastinated scheduling the interview. My ds has not gone to CCD and I think I was worried that I didn't prepare him well. (He's quiet and I don't want to drill him with facts.) The DRE told me that he knows more than any 8 year old she's seen. I am so relieved. She also said that he has a gentle heart. I'm not sure what that means, but it sounds wonderful to me.
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graciefaith
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Thank you again! I just recieved Catholic Mosaic and it looks great. Unfortunately our library here doesnt carry too many of the books. They do have one for next month though so we will do that. I will also put in a request for some of the CM books at our library. I hear they dont get many requests to buy books so they are very willing to buy whenever requests are made.
I've been looking at the MA schedule. Fortunately, we have the Picture Bible already and Once Upon a Time Saints. The girls love it when i read them a Bible story from there.
I think i will go ahead and get F&L for 1st grade.
Catholic Mommy, how do you like the Who I Am book? I've heard not so great reviews on it. Dd2 is only 4.5yo so it would be nice to have something extra for her as well.
Thank you all again!!
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CatholicMommy
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'Who Am I' pre-k/k:
I will say first thing that I do not care for the illustrations at all.  Since I am doing it all as a supplement (to two CGS atriums; other teachings/devotions at home), I don't worry about it, and when possible, I'll substitute something nicer looking.
I like the overall concept of it, and I generally follow the lesson plans. I probably change about 1/4 of the art activities with an alternative. I've not found anything questionable in it, but I could also be skimming those parts without realizing it.
Who Am I? is the best Catholic preschool program I ever used in my 10 years of teaching catechism at that level, until I discovered CGS (and there were years I would combine 3-5 curricula in one year with extra time to spare). I love how it starts with the Holy Trinity, includes lessons on the Rosary, the Saints, explains sin in a way that children can grasp... Since Faith and Life starts in 1st grade, we'll switch to that at the appropriate time - it would be great if Faith and Life had a preschool/K component.
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Mackfam
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I'm not a huge fan of Who AM I? Nothing offensive, just never really fit with our family/my teaching style. I really think it was personal because I do like the theology presented in the rest of the Image of God series - we use the books for older grades as supplements.
For preschool/early elementary I like "My Jesus and I," CGS, and I just use lots of Catholic Mosaic and liturgical year celebrations. I try to make sure they're memorizing some basic prayers. Plenty of good stuff.
The thing I had trouble with in using Faith and Life (which I also like, and supplement with) and Image of God was that I was running into the same problem as in History and every other subject that uses a textbook. It was dry, and my kids (esp my 6yo) were NOT connecting at all. That really troubled me! If I can't capture their hearts, let me restate that to say, if I can't present our beautiful, rich, and full faith in a way that captures the hearts and imaginations of my children when they are young, I think I've lost the best opportunity for doing so.
My best experiences, and theirs, have been when I just relaxed, and we learned together.
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Jen Mackintosh
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graciefaith
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Jennifer, can you give me a link to My Jesus and I? I cant seem to find anything when i google. Thanks!
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Blessed wife and mom of 3 girls, Sept. '01, Dec. '02 and Oct. '07
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Mackfam
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Here's the link to Catholic Heritage Curricula's site and My Jesus and I. I have the little book and the teachers guide. If you've never perused their site before, there's not much I wouldn't recommend! They have tons of wonderful books in their "little ones" category under religion.
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Jen Mackintosh
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trish
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My Jesus and I is such a sweet book. I've used it with my little one's for years. The pictures alone are amazing. In fact I've purchased extras to give away.
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: CGS ??
