Brand new to this forum with questions about teaching PSR

[Jules141]

Hi everyone, I’m brand new to this forum

I am not even 100% sure that this is the right one for my questions, but it’s worth a shot! I’m also brand new to teaching PSR…I just had my third class yesterday and I am really struggling. I’m teaching preschoolers (4 and 5 year olds are a tough crowd!) and I’m having a really hard time getting them engaged in the lessons. I have several hands-on, craft-type projects planned for each class, and I tell them a Bible story from the curriculum, and I just can’t seem to get them interested. I’ve never taught before so I’m sure that is a factor too.

Yesterday we talked about the Prodigal Son and right after I told the story, I asked a few questions to try to get them talking. Nobody said a word!

I’m just hoping to try to find ways to get the kids interested and participating in what we are talking about. It’s early in the year, and I am already beginning to feel nervous about teaching each week.

I’d appreciate any and all ideas, suggestions, insights, anything!! Thank you

 

[puzzleannie]

it takes a while
when they do start talking they won’t shut up
and of course the 4 yrs olds have just learned that potty talk is hysterically funny–you also need a classroom rule that what happens at home, stays at home, because you will hear more than you need to know about their family life

a lot of your time will be spent on trips to the bathroom so recruit an aide for that, and for help with crafts

don’t pick projects that are too hard to do w/o a lot of adult help, and ask parents to cut out, punch holes etc. ahead of time.

the project or game should relate in some way to the lesson topic, and reinforce a concept, help memory of words and ideas etc.

a good catechist guide will have great suggestions, as will the website for your publisher;

teach only one idea or concept per lesson. Say it, repeat it, have them repeat it, sing it,ask them to repeat it, reinforce it with something that uses small motor skills–coloring, stringing beads, cut and paste etc., reinforce it with something that requires large motor skills - game, relay race, gymnastics (Simon sez style). Repeat it againt, ask them to repeat it. Evaluate the lesson. Plan for next week. Begin with a review of last’ week’s idea.

have a gathering activity that keeps them occupied while you are taking attendance etc., a coloring or other worksheet on last week’s lesson is a good one.

when you do a bible story, have a coloring sheet or other activity that is a good visual–or felt board, draw stick figures on the board, magazine pictures glued to cardboard, or any other “visual aid”. Read the story. ask questions about the story. With the visual aid, ask who the characters are and what they are doing, read or re-tell the story. Ask them to re-tell the story in their own words. When they hit upon one of the key points, praise them and reinforce it. let them make simple puppets of the story characters and retell it their own way (gently correct mistakes).

all men in bible coloring pictures are Jesus or God unless otherwise identified, so help them work out what the various characters in the story are doing, and who they are–the Samaritan, the robber, the victim, the innkeeper etc.

get hold of a resource that uses the children’s lectionary or a good Catholic picture bible for that age group–one with the old fashioned illustrations is great esp. in contrast to more “modern” looking art

try an Echo story, with or without movements and gestures (they repeat each line after you, and copy a simple movement i.e. planting a seed, picking up a water jar etc.)

 

[maria2334]

When I taught the preschool class, I also had this problem towards the beginning of each year. Don’t worry! As the children become more used to coming to class, more accustomed to you as their teacher, and simply more mature, they will be more engaged. That said, there are still classes when you will get nothing back from them and you’ll want to quit. Trust me-- I sure did sometimes!
I found it helpful to have the children actually act out the day’s lesson. I’d still talk to them and make them answer back, even resorting to calling on individuals until someone talked. For example, I would introduce what we are talking about, maybe draw/ write some things on our board, and then have the children play different characters. One could be the father, another could be the prodigal son, some others the pigs that he fed, one could be the other son, another the father’s servants . . you get the picture. Then I would literally have them all get up and act out the story. I would try to let them do it on their own, unless they came up with something completely off the wall. (One time my kids were acting out the carrying of the cross and they decided that Simon should save Jesus and run away with Him instead of just helping Him carry the cross.) Anyways, we always had fun with this and I know you will, too.
I will be praying for your class and your teaching efforts. You are blessed with such a wonderful age group! Have fun!

 

[puzzleannie]

OP reminds me of the time I had to have my class videotaped for my catechist certification process, and found a volunteer to do this for me. Our lesson (2nd graders) was also the prodigal son, first proclaimed, then acted out by the students, and I faced the problem of how to deal with one incorrigable whose antics would almost certainly destroy my video (and my peace of mind). He wanted to play the part of the pigs–which he did with gusto, but on the floor under a table, below the lens of the camera. Video came out fine I got a good grade, but evaluator did ask if the strange grunting noises were a defect in the videotape or speakers.

 

[Jules141]

Thank you so much for all of your helpful replies. I’m getting a bit better with time management and finding fun projects to do. I have a mom whose son is in the class who stays to help, and two high school students who are working on service hours who help in class as well. One of the boys in my class has really taken a liking to my female high school aide which is immensely helpful. She is very good with all the kids but Mikey especially. He’s very energetic

I am finding too that having games to play is great. They love getting up and getting physical, running around and playing games. I have a small group and often, things don’t take as long as I think they will, so we’ve ended up once or twice with not enough activity to fill up the whole time. I’ve learned to have extra activities just in case!

This age really is just precious and I am enjoying it more and more Thanks for all the suggestions and prayers!!

 

[Corki]

When I had that age group, what worked best was projects that spanned multiple classes.

For example, we made giant “beads” out of construction paper one week, taped them to the floor to form a decade the next, and spent several weeks walking over the beads while learning the “Hail Mary”. My group was very physical, too and this was a big hit since they were up and out of their chairs.

We also made Mass booklets. Each week we cut and colored one picture relating to one part of the Mass. They glued them onto construction paper. After several weeks, I put them together into books. While they were coloring, I talked about that part of the Mass and played kid-friendly music related to it.

Kids at this age take pride in being able to memorize things so repeating something week after week is a good technique. At the begginning of the year, I had them compose their own prayer to include praise, thanksgiving and petition. I still remember “…and thank you, God, for pizza, Power Rangers and peace.”

 

[Genesis12345]

If you have never taught, it can be tough! I did my student teaching on the second-grade level and people think because they are so young it is easy to teach them. Well, I could not come down to their level, so I received my certification in high school English because I have a better rapport with that age group and as a former Franciscan religious, I did a lot of counseling working with the high school students and this helped me out.

As for lesson plans, do you have a Religious Educator Coordinator? Or a Director of Religious Ed? DRE ] You should approach her, that is what she is getting paid for.

You said it is your first time. I know that in most dioceses that you have to take so many hours of religion to be certified and some of those classes implement on how to teach different grade levels.

Do you have your religion certificate for CCD? Or, are you working on it?

If not, you should be because you will get tredemous ideas on how to present a class. Good luck!!! I could NEVER work with that age group.

God bless you and I am sure you will do fine.

 

[Joannm]

We also made Mass booklets. Each week we cut and colored one picture relating to one part of the Mass. They glued them onto construction paper. After several weeks, I put them together into books. While they were coloring, I talked about that part of the Mass and played kid-friendly music related to it.

I did this too when I was teaching art in a Catholic school. I did it with second graders. It was a great way of incorporation religion into their art lessons. In fact, I tried to use a lot of religious themes in our art classes. We designed our own stations of the cross, we wrote icons, we calligraphied the psalms, One project I never got to do, since I left teaching, was to create a school bible, with each grade level doing a different bible story.

 

[leonie]

If you like read alouds, some of my favorites are

Bible stories, of course.

Angel in the Waters

St. Martin and the Mice (there’s a whole series like this, but the St. Martin one is the only one I’ve read)

The Wolf of Gubbio

Any Max Lucado book for kids

And, of course, songs, songs, songs.

 

[Jules141]

When I had that age group, what worked best was projects that spanned multiple classes.

For example, we made giant “beads” out of construction paper one week, taped them to the floor to form a decade the next, and spent several weeks walking over the beads while learning the “Hail Mary”. My group was very physical, too and this was a big hit since they were up and out of their chairs.

We also made Mass booklets. Each week we cut and colored one picture relating to one part of the Mass. They glued them onto construction paper. After several weeks, I put them together into books. While they were coloring, I talked about that part of the Mass and played kid-friendly music related to it.

Kids at this age take pride in being able to memorize things so repeating something week after week is a good technique. At the begginning of the year, I had them compose their own prayer to include praise, thanksgiving and petition. I still remember “…and thank you, God, for pizza, Power Rangers and peace.”

THAT is priceless

I like the rosary idea and the Mass booklets. Thank you!! I may use those.

 

[Jules141]

Jules141;4206676:

If you have never taught, it can be tough! I did my student teaching on the second-grade level and people think because they are so young it is easy to teach them. Well, I could not come down to their level, so I received my certification in high school English because I have a better rapport with that age group and as a former Franciscan religious, I did a lot of counseling working with the high school students and this helped me out.

As for lesson plans, do you have a Religious Educator Coordinator? Or a Director of Religious Ed? DRE ] You should approach her, that is what she is getting paid for.

You said it is your first time. I know that in most dioceses that you have to take so many hours of religion to be certified and some of those classes implement on how to teach different grade levels.

Do you have your religion certificate for CCD? Or, are you working on it?

If not, you should be because you will get tredemous ideas on how to present a class. Good luck!!! I could NEVER work with that age group.

God bless you and I am sure you will do fine.

I’m not certified to teach anything at all, and I hadn’t planned on getting certified. I didn’t know that was a requirement or a preference for CCD/PSR.

Our DRE called me one day out of the blue and asked if I’d be interested in teaching. I told him I’d never taught anything before, and he told me he was pleasantly surprised when I said said I’d give it a shot lol . He was really needing a few extra teachers, and he knew I had young kids at home and I guess he thought I’d be a good fit because of having my own young kids. It’s getting better, week by week, but it’s a challenge for sure. It is hard to engage them and keep them interested, but I’m getting to know my class, and getting to know what will keep them involved.

My DRE put me in touch with the girl who used to teach preschool (she is a teacher) and she has helped me in terms of lesson plans and ideas. She couldn’t teach this year because she just had a brand new baby when the PSR year was getting started. It’s great to have those ideas. but honestly when I’m in the class and they are all looking at me, wanting to be entertained, and I know I have a lesson to teach them, it’s a little intimidating to put both together.

Being a teacher (of any age group) is a gift and I’m just not convinced that I have it. I’m trying my best and the kids seem to be enjoying what we do most of the time, now that I have begun incorporating more physical activities.

Thanks for the response and the ideas! And the prayers