Reflection on Week #5

   

Thursday morning in the Atrium by Jean Bell

The children are becoming more comfortable.  
Introduction to the prayer table:  we sit in front of our table - read a psalm reading or from our Bible.  Ask them to listen very closely. We ask a couple of questions about what was read - sometimes they will respond. 
They are doing great things with practical life - cutouts, dry pouring, flower arrangement.  The most popular item is the stacking dolls.  When finished with their work, they they look for something else to do.  They are very quiet- careful of each others mat.  We sing a song.

The Globe has been presented to a couple of the children, along with Altar and Liturgical Colors, Sign of the Cross and Genuflection.

Wednesday night in the Atrium   by Shelley Dahl

  If someone asked you “What season is this?" you might answer, “Fall” or some may say “Autumn.”   If someone asked you, "What celebration are we preparing for?" you might say, “Halloween” or maybe, “Thanksgiving.” In our atrium for the last few weeks the children have been learning all about the Church’s seasons and celebrations.  One notable thing is that none of the words we are likely to answer, that describe this time of year, are found among the names of the seasons and celebrations that God gives us through the Church.  Right now we are in Ordinary time (called ordinary not because it is the hum drum part of the year, but more because it is a growing season that is marked off, in order, by weeks.)  The Church deliberately gives us readings on Sunday and during the week that challenge us to be holy and to grow our faith.  

     Ordinary time is a great time to start the atrium, to begin helping the children in the atrium to grow and perfect their fine motor skills and their body control (sitting still and walking beautifully.)   With these skills, they can work with the materials and begin to concentrate on the lessons that God will teach them in their atrium work.   It is also great time to acquaint them with the Church calendar, the names of the seasons, and the celebrations we can all look forward to celebrating together.  

     Counting this week, we have 5 more weeks of atrium classes left in ordinary time (there is no class Thanksgiving week), which gives us lots of time for learning these lessons and many others.  The oldest children in the atrium, the 5 and 6year olds, and even some 4 year olds, have been seeing the presentation on the Liturgical Colors and one of the Altar presentations.   Most of the youngest children should be receiving some of these presentations in the next couple weeks.  You can reinforce what they have learned about their faith by asking what they have learned, and what they remember about liturgical colors.  Listen carefully, they may want to tell you more than I have, and maybe they will even sing you a song.