“Explore, wonder, connect” are the key themes of a new booklet that supports South Australian early learning educators in their mission to nurture faith and curiosity in young children. Source: The Southern Cross.
Launched by Catholic Education SA in May, the booklet fills a gap in existing resources and provides a consistent message about Catholic identity for all early learning educators.
Written in simple, accessible language, it covers three themes – exploring sacred spaces and symbols; wondering about God and spirituality; and connecting to the Catholic story.
Marcia Burgess and Sue Coghlan, education advisors in CESA’s Religious Education Curriculum Team, worked on developing the new publication for about 18 months.
“It is basically a guide for educators to illuminate, explore, wonder and connect with the Catholic story,” Ms Burgess said.
The booklet has already been distributed to CESA early learning settings as well as to CESA-supported playgroups around South Australia.
It has been shared with principals and religious leaders and will be shared with an international audience at the Australian Catholic Education Conference in August.
“The feedback has been very positive and there has been a lot of enthusiasm about where it may be a useful resource in other settings,” Ms Coghlan said.
Joanne Bird, co-director at Nazareth Early Childhood Centre in the western Adelaide suburb of Findon, said the guide was a great tool for educators at the Findon centre, inspiring them to “look more deeply into the provocations in the booklet and make a more authentic connection with the everyday experience of Catholic identity”.
She added that the booklet was applicable to nurturing Catholic identity “from babies through to pre-school children”.
Assistant director Aurianne Warley said having “clear messaging” would give educators the confidence to start discussions about God and Catholic traditions.
“It means they can connect in a meaningful way and bring their own experiences (of faith) with a personal approach,” she said.
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Focus on faith in early learning (By Lindy McNamara, The Southern Cross)
