"For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7 

“The child’s development follows a path of successive stages of independence and our knowledge of this must guide us in our behavior towards him. We have to help the child to act, will, and think for himself. This is the art of serving the spirit. An art which can be practiced to perfection only when working among children.” Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind 

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Podcasts by Series 

Level One Book Study 

Level Two Book Study 

Claire Paglia and Cathy Johanni join us to discuss four tools that can be used in your atrium and in your home: modeling, scaffolding, isolation of difficulty and purposeful work.  

Claire Paglia is a child of the atrium. As an adult, she is an AMI-trained guide who has been in the primary environment for 12 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in education with a concentration in Montessori from Loyola University, Maryland. She worked for a year as a course assistant for the primary training center. In 2012, she received her Level I formation and has been a catechist at her church in varying capacities since then. She enjoys spending time with her family and particularly enjoys preparing Montessori-friendly spaces at home for her three children. @_athomewithmontessori_ 

Cathy Johanni lives in Columbus, Ohio where she has enjoyed accompanying children on their spiritual journeys for more than two decades. She is recognized as a formation leader in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at levels I, II, and III.  She has been involved in Montessori education for a decade, working with children ages 5-14.   A member of the editorial committee for the United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Annual Journal. Cathy has authored articles and contributed to The Roman Missal Third Edition and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: Changes to Materials . She holds a Bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology from Princeton University, a Master’s degree from The Ohio State University and Montessori Elementary certificates. Married for 31 years, she is the mother of five. 

CGSUSA Store 

Five Reasons to Stop Saying “Good Job” by Alfie Kohn 

Episodes to help you further explore Freedom and Discipline: 

Episode 30 – Freedom and Discipline with Claire Paglia 

Episode 133 – Freedom and Responsibility with Sr Mary Teresita 

Episode 134 – Freedom and Responsibility for the First Plane Child 

Episode 135 – Freedom and Responsibility for the Second Plane Child 

Episode 139 – What to Try When it Seems to be Failing? With Cathy Johanni 

Episode 141 – Normalization with Claire Paglia and Sr Maria Teresita 

Episode 142 – Adults as Potential Obstacles in Development with Pilar Bewley 

The Prepared Environment: Making Materials 

with Don Martin (The Catechist's Husband) and Lynda Catalano 

Tuesday, August 26, 2025 

7:00 - 8:30 pm EDT 

Join Don Martin, CGSUSA Vendor, The Catechist's Husband, and Lynda Catalano, CGSUSA Formation Leader, who will share her wisdom and passion for making the materials by hand. Don and Lynda's sessions will be followed by time for questions. All those present will be registered for a drawing for an atrium material from the Catechist's Husband. 

Mark your calendars for this SPECIAL EVENT. 

Registration information will come in July. 

This is a free Zoom Session 

BECOME AN ORGANIZATION MEMBER!  Organization Members are any entity (church/parish, school, regional group, diocese, etc.) that either offers CGS and/or supports those who serve the children as catechists, aides, or formation leaders) Organization Members also receive the following each month: 

Click Here to create your Organizational Membership! 

AUDIOBOOK: 

Audiobook – Now Available on Audible 

CGSUSA is excited to offer you the audio version of The Religious Potential of the Child – 3rd Edition by Sofia Cavalletti, read by Rebekah Rojcewicz! 

The Religious Potential of the Child is not a “how-to” book, complete with lesson plans and material ideas. Instead it offers a glimpse into the religious life of the atrium, a specially prepared place for children to live out their silent request: “Help me come closer to God by myself.” Here we can see the child’s spiritual capabilities and perhaps even find in our own souls the child long burdened with religious information. This book serves as a companion to the second volume, The Religious Potential of the Child 6 to 12 Years Old. The desire to have this essential text available in audio has been a long-held goal for many. The work of many hands has combined to bring this release to life as an audiobook. 

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