CCD/Religious Ed/Catechism/whatever you call it!

  • Thread starter Thread starter KarenElissa
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
youth night started as well as elementary did, grade 7-12, all my catechists showed up, including a returning volunteer, and one I did not expect to return, from being 3 catechists down a 9 am today, I now have an extra person as session coordinator and sub when needed. All HS & Jr Hi catechists are highly qualified, have at least 5 years experience, and are master catechists. Aides are HS seniors or college kids who relate well to the students, have a good grounding in the faith, and are dependable and trustworthy, and enthusiastic. This is going to be a good year.

plus two experienced catechists who just moved to town from upstate just walked in the door and volunteered for Saturday, so all gaps are filled, and we have double coverage where we need it.

AND a former confirmation candidate who was a catechist all through HS and college just brought her new baby in to arrange for baptism. Life is sweet and I do love catechists. Pray our convocation does not get blown away by Ike (as happened 3 yrs ago).
 
miamijoe said:
First time 6th Grade (assistant actually) here. We are using the “We Believe” series so it’s Old Testament this year. I’m the only young male teacher (can 35 still be young? Please?) I wanted to do that assistant thing first to humbly defer to others who have more experience than I and learn from them. There is a pretty good 6th grade topic that has been around for a few years that I just enjoyed reading and getting great ideas from.
Click to expand...
Hi,
I’m 25, and when I make 35 I’d definitely appreciate being considered “young.” lol. I’m teaching 6th graders again (only my 2nd year) and we’ll be using the We Believe texts as well. Our first day was today but we haven’t yet received the books from the distributors. Overall I think the text is fine - the church has used this company for the longest. I also utilize other sources to teach the kids; in addition a few videos pertaining to certain topics we cover…
Did a mini recap today from what they learned or don’t remember from their last instructor - since we had no books, we used the student Bibles and read through parts of the OT. Some of the students were embarrassed to admit they weren’t sure how to navigate the Bible, so I had the entire class do a run through - now they’re all on the same page.
 
Yay! I got word today that I will be teaching third grade again this year! I’m particularly happy because there are some new things I would like to try this year (including different ways to present big topics such as the Trinity and increasing understanding of the Mass) and I can now spend time on those more since the book is familiar.
 
My husband teaches high school level. The kids meet every Sunday at 4-5:30 pm then Mass at 6 pm. They really have it good this year. The grade levels are 9, 10 11 graders. Each teacher has a particular class they teach ie. Jesus, The Church, The Saints, Morality, etc and my husband has a new class Apologetics. The first day he went over the Creed. The parents learned new things and were quite impressed.
The kids are rotated through each class over a 3 year period. They teach the kids a new prayer at the beginning of the class. Our Pastor is scheduled to talk the 3rd week of each month to everyone and the fourth week they will do something charitable. One Sunday, my husband will take the kids through the Church.He goes over what everything means. A lot of people did not know about the relic under the altar. So the parents learned also. He also talks about the meaning of the Mass and its elements. These kids will eventually get Confirmed and we hope that what they have learned will help continue their Catholic faith.
 
I am teaching First Communion this year. It is my third year teaching, although for the past two years I taught the kindergarten class. My parish started an interesting thing this year and made First Communion preperation a two-year class, so that we have more time to adequately prepare the kids to receive Our Lord. So, that basically means that I have the same kids again and will also have them next year.
This year we are reviewing the basics (which I taught them for the last two years) and focusing on the Sacraments in general and Penance, its roots and how to receive the Sacrament. Next year we will focus on the history of the Mass (from Moses to the Last Supper), how to participate in the Mass, and how to serve Our Lord in our daily lives, and then learning and studying in depth the Apostle’s Creed.
Most of the teachers in my parish are around my age (21). Our youngest teacher is 18 and there are only 2 over 25.
 
maria2334 said:
Most of the teachers in my parish are around my age (21). Our youngest teacher is 18 and there are only 2 over 25.
Click to expand...
wow! I think I’m one of the younger ones at my parish and I’m 26. We seem to have a quite a few seniors teaching.
 
This is the 3rd year of teaching for me. I taught 7th one year and 8th the next year. This year I am teaching the high school class. There are mostly new kids to me as the kids from last year are in confirmation class. Only saw one familiar face, a girl named Maria.

Last Monday was the first day of class. It was a hot day so I brought in a big tub of ice cream for the kids. Not a one of them took any ice cream except Maria. The rest of them were deciding if they should trust me as their teacher. Maria was sent to the DRE to see if she was supposed to be in confirmation class. She took her ice cream with her. We continued with our reading of Psalms 16. I have the kids take turn reading verses. About 5 minutes later Maria popped her head back in the door, “Mr. Todd can I have some more ice cream?” My answer was yes. By the end of class the kids had decided that I was okay and then they each had some ice cream.

This week the parents will be joining their children in class to meet with me. I will explain to the parents and kids my point system for class room behavior. If the kids earn enough points through the course of the year they get to go to a year end pool party. This point system works great as all I have to do is pick up my pen and start marking on the score sheet. One by one the kids fall silent until order is restored to class.

One poster asked for teaching ideas for class. Last year the kids and I would spend about 20 minutes each week reading from the bible. We read about Joseph and how his brothers sold him into slavery. We watched videos (about 15-20 mins per week). We had vocabulary tests/games. An emphasis on vocabulary is important as it is the basis for their learning. We took prayers and I explained what words meant, such as ‘hallowed’. Do not assume that the kids know what you know.

This year the HS kids will have 3 projects, one per season. Project one is we are raising money to donate to Maryknoll Sister Margaret Donavon in Tanzania. She has a project that helps people learn to build their own homes. The other 2 projects I will let the kids come up with and they will be centered around the local town and our parish.

Also, this evening in class we are going to over why we have paintings, statues, etc in the chapel. The value of giving based on Mark 12:41-44.

The last subject tonight will be reading the first section from the book Kolbe, Saint of the Immaculata. The section describes his encounter with Colonel Fritsch of the Nazi S.S. If you have not read a detailed description of Saint Kolbe’s life I can highly reccommend doing so. It was only last year that I learned about this little catholic priest from Poland. His example of faith I believe all catholics should know about and I can enthusiatically share this with my students.

If the kids can see your enthusiasm and hear your passion for Christ in your voice they will listen and they will learn.

Okay, I have gone on a lot, but that is part of who I am. Words, especially typed or written words are one of my interests. So I hope this post will be of help to you and those children in your classes.

A humble creature of God,

Mr. Todd
 
Today was my first class at last. This is my second year teaching 3rd grade and it is the opposite of my class last year - 6 girls and 3 boys…As part of the intro I asked a bunch of questions to see what they knew and they are more knowledgeable than the group I had last year, which is great. I have a lot of ideas that I’d like to try this year - things I learned in the process of teaching last year.

But there are some discipline issues. This group is interesting in that all of them go to the same school, most are in the same class and know each other well. Two of them were persistant talkers (and not in response to our discussion). Even the usual tried-and-true standing over their desks was only temporaily successful. I can see that the first part of class next week will be reiterating the rules but I’m not sure that will work with them. I can’t have them be a distraction to the rest of the class - we only have an hour a week and then 15 minutes for the entire CCD (all grades) to assemble, say closing prayers, etc. If anyone has advice for addressing these issues, I’d appreciate it. Thanks!
 
First, engage the class immediately, as soon as the kids walk in. Don’t allow time for “pre-class” conversations. If you are still waiting for people to arrive, give the early arrivers a “preview” of the day’s lesson, or a quick mini-lesson - get them looking at you and listening to you, right from the start.

If they start turning towards one another, say, “Show me your eyes - it helps me know that you are paying attention, when I can see your eyes.” (This pre-empts the “But I can talk to my friend and pay attention to you at the same time!” gambit.)

And if all else fails, stand on the desk and shout “R-E-S-P-E-C-T!! IT’S WHAT YOU NEED TO GIVE TO ME!! Please?” 😛

(I saw someone do this once, and it was actually rather effective.)
 
For your group of talkers - next week, separate them. Assigned seats for everyone - boy girl is a good way to cut down on chatter.

When they begin talking, you stop talking and look at them. When they realize that you are not teaching, they will look at you, you respond “okay, can I go on now?”. It works.
 
Thank you for the advice - I will try any/all approches next week. I did try separating them and actaully got flack from them! Sigh.
 
KarenElissa said:
It’s that time again, the kids are back in school and RE starts back up again? Is anyone else teaching? What grade? What class?
Click to expand...
I’m helping out with the 7th/8th graders this year for the first time. As I said in another thread - I still look a lot like an 8th grader!! I’m in my mid-twenties. So far, my biggest concern is really engaging the kids and allowing them to ask questions. I personally left the faith around age 14 due to poor catechesis, so I hope I can help them love and understand the Catholic faith!
 
JudieK said:
This year I’ll be teaching 6th grade (Old Testament). I have taught 9th grade (3 years) and third grade (1 year). I love teaching. Last year I taught my third graders (who were preparing for First Holy Communion) “The Big Picture” of salvation history. I felt it was crucial that they know WHO Jesus is, why we needed a savior in the first place, how he was prefigured in the OT, what the “Passover” was and how it was the foreshadowing of the Last Supper and eucharist, etc. The DRE was adamant: “Just teach parts of the mass!!!” I argued that the parts of the mass don’t mean much if you don’t know why we have mass in the first place. No one thought third graders could handle “the big picture,” but they certainly could. Those kids GOT IT. When they received their First Holy Communion, they KNEW that it was the fufillment of the Jewish Passover, they KNEW Jesus was the “lamb,” they KNEW that what they were doing was part of the ongoing mystery of the sacrifice at Calvary. The other 3rd grade class (which my daughter was in) instead colored pictures of the Easter bunny and eggs, Santa, elves, lepruchans, etc. I felt very good about giving those kids everything I had. I used the “Faith and Life” series by Ignatius Press to shape my lessons, since we didn’t have texts to use.

Since I seemed so intent that the kids know “The Big Picture,” the DRE felt I would be “perfect” for teaching the OT to 6th grade. Most teachers don’t know much about the OT anyway, she said. I agreed to take it on. I am actually looking forward to it. I just wish that I could two years in the same grade, since I spend hours preparing lessons and activities each week. It would be great to be able to use the stuff the next year, too! It’s like reinventing the wheel every year. Anyway- may the Holy Spirit be with all of us cathechists this year as we strive to pass on our Holy Catholic faith to a generation so very much in need of God!!! Judie
Click to expand...
We are using the Faith and Life series, and I too felt compelled to share salvation history by giving the 7/8th graders the “big picture” and learning about the Jewish Passover. It sparked some interesting discussion. It’s encouraging to see this was so compelling even for younger kids!
 
auntie_me said:
Thank you for the advice - I will try any/all approches next week. I did try separating them and actaully got flack from them! Sigh.
Click to expand...
Remind them that you are in charge. They have no right to give you flack.
 
SimplyStated said:
I am teaching an 8th grade Confirmation class and I need help! I have 16 boys who when asked why they are there the majority said because my mom made me. I have an 8th grader myself so I know some of it is a phase but I am struggling to get their attention! Suggestions?
Click to expand...
Wow, if I were you I’d start a separate thread specifically about that topic! I don’t have any advice for you really, my boys today were four and five years old. :o One general rule is that everyone likes to be listened to, so maybe ask them some questions.

I think it would be a good idea to start a separate thread specifically on that subject though, I’d be very interested in reading the advice you receive.
 
auntie_me said:
Today was my first class at last. This is my second year teaching 3rd grade and it is the opposite of my class last year - 6 girls and 3 boys…As part of the intro I asked a bunch of questions to see what they knew and they are more knowledgeable than the group I had last year, which is great. I have a lot of ideas that I’d like to try this year - things I learned in the process of teaching last year.

But there are some discipline issues. This group is interesting in that all of them go to the same school, most are in the same class and know each other well. Two of them were persistant talkers (and not in response to our discussion). Even the usual tried-and-true standing over their desks was only temporaily successful. I can see that the first part of class next week will be reiterating the rules but I’m not sure that will work with them. I can’t have them be a distraction to the rest of the class - we only have an hour a week and then 15 minutes for the entire CCD (all grades) to assemble, say closing prayers, etc. If anyone has advice for addressing these issues, I’d appreciate it. Thanks!
Click to expand...
I teach 5th Grade CCD (Sacraments). This is my fifth or sixth year teaching. I ask the children to look around the room and tell me what they see that reminds them of Church. They identify the Crucifix, the pictures of Mary, the Holy Water. I use this as a time to tell them that as we are in a setting similar to Church, I expect Church behavior out of them. They would not talk to others, move around the Church, etc., so they should not do it in class either.

I recognize that they have been in school all day and have pent up energy. It is important to keep them all engaged in the lesson, so we take turns reading, talking, asking questions etc. We make “field trips” such as when we go to Chapel. There we can talk about Mass, the meaning of the items in the Chapel etc. On the rare day when all else is failing, I remind them that Jesus said that when two or more are present in his name, he is also present. They should think about how they are behaving in front of Jesus. This always works.

Good luck with your class. It is a wonderful, trying, but ultimately fulfilling experience.

God Bless.

DGB
 
I have second graders this year. Two classes on Friday and two on Saturday. About eighty children altogether. This is a year of preparation for the First Holy Communion for them, so have the meetings with their parents, too…o, well 😉
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top