by Jennifer Francois
The atrium has a language all its own and the children are picking it up readily. Since this is not a traditional religious education or preschool environment, we don't use typical words like "classroom", "toys" or "teacher". Instead we use more traditional Montessori words to describe the coming and goings inside our atrium.
Atrium: The atrium is the room where the children meet. It's an early church word for the space where catechumens were prepared for fuller life in the Christian community and where they prepared to share in the Sacraments. Not necessarily in the church and not on the street, but it exists as an in between place of prayer and preparation. The atrium is a more like a “retreat house for children” than a classroom. They are being prepared for fuller participation in the mass and in the life of the Church.
Catechist: an adult who comes along side the child as a guide to the atrium. Not a teacher in the usual sense of the word, but rather a person who creates a specially prepared environment where the child can encounter God in scripture and liturgy. A catechist must complete a 90 hour formation course by an approved formation leader for each level of CGS. The catechist recognizes that she participates with the Holy Spirit as she and the child contemplate with wonder the mystery of God.
Materials: This is the word that the children may use to describe the things they work with during their atrium time. They are mostly of a natural or a valuable nature and often times handmade by the catechists themselves, their husbands or parish members. For example, the raised surface map, globe, art shelf supplies, pouring pitchers, crystal cruets, and silver trays and lovingly hand painted wooden peg dolls are all considered materials of the atrium. An example of using this word properly might be: "After I worked with the sponges and water, I restored my materials to the shelf".
Work: purposeful activity of the child in an atrium. At the beginning of the atrium session, after initially gathering together, we might dismiss the children one at a time by asking them, "Do you know what work you would like to choose?" Setting up the model altar would be considered a "work" as well as pouring beads using a funnel or putting together a pasting collage. An appropriate question for your child on the way home from CGS might be, "What works did you choose today in the atrium?"
Grace and Courtesy: little lessons on manners that help the child learn positive social behaviors. We have been teaching these lessons from the first day in the atrium. Some of these might include: greeting a person by shaking their hand and looking at them in the eyes, getting an adult's attention by resting their hand on their arm or shoulder, saying excuse me as they pass by anther child, not stepping on another's mat, etc.
Presentation: a lesson given to a child. Sometimes the presentations are one to one. And sometimes a catechist will give a presentation to a small group of 3 children. The child is always asked if he would like to receive a presentation, and he has the choice of responding yes or no.
Mat: You could travel to a Montessori school anywhere in the world and you will see Montessori students working at floor mats as well as at child-size tables. The purpose of the floor mats and tables is to define the student’s workspace and to reinforce Montessori's principle of "freedom within limits". The Montessori preschool students are shown how to walk around the mats, how to place their work on the mats and how to respect one another’s personal workspace. They also learn that it is never okay to disturb a classmate’s work or join a classmate’s work unless permission is given by that student. - from the North American Montessori Center website.
Restore materials: A term used in atrium that means to put away the things that you have been using. Once a child has chosen a work from the shelf, placed it on his work mat, and worked with the materials, he will be expected to return the items to the shelf where he first got it, so that the next child can use them. A catechist might say after ringing a bell, "Let's restore our materials now that our atrium time has come to an end".
Atrium voice: Very similar to an inside voice. But even quieter! A little louder than a whisper.
Atrium walk: Very similar to regular walking. But even slower! And more careful! For example: "Thank you for using your atrium walk as you carried that tray of glass pitchers and 200 small beads."
Care of the Environment: this is a Montessori term for "housekeeping" for lack of a better word. This term encompasses several works we have for the children to help take care of our shared space. The children take pride and joy in caring for our special environment. Example of this include plant watering, dusting, sweeping, flower arranging, pencil sharpening and sometimes silver and brass polishing.
