CCD Teacher guidelines?

[T.A.Stobie_SFO]

I would recommend that you work to get your girls comfortable reading the bible and the catechism of the catholic church.

Build each session around some aspect of that or a theme appropriate to the year. Have them reading the bible and catechism and discussing what they read and have them learn how to find what the church teaches about the topics.

I agree with you that the topic for the year is very slim.

Challenge them. Get them to really work. They can. If they do so, you will have taught them something that will carry with them for a lifetime.

Give them periodic opportunies to bring in their issues and use the catechism and bible to address them.

 

[KCT]

TAS2000:

But the point is, I am appalled at the fact that teaching our kids about their religion has become thus. A warm body with no training or background but good intentions could be very dangerous.

I hear you. Our parish had a woman who was living with her boyfriend as a CCD teacher. We also had at least one non- Catholic working in Confirmation prep. Give the kids as much solid information as you can and send some home, too. Pray and sacrifice for the students as well. —KCT

 

[puppylove]

This is my first year teaching 8th grade CCD. I have a total of 11 kids, 4 boys, 7 girls. The lesson plan is based on the past Sunday’s readings. Some lessons require using art supplies which the parish doesn’t provide, so I must improvise. I try to use an incentivie by giving lollipops to those who can tell me what the gospel was about. Last week, not one could tell me nor cared. These kids are here because their parents make them go to religion classes. Even one kid said she doesn’t go to church! I am an untrained CCD teacher who attended Catholic school for 8 years so I feel like I have an advantage and plenty knowledge. This week I plan on making up my own lesson plan, of course, using some advise from the teacher’s guide.

 

[Path]

I too am in the same boat, 7+ 8 graders new to the church. We are using the Faith First books which are kind of a joke. For example they want the students to tell about what Advent traditions they have at home! These kids dont even go to church. I have no training but I pray like crazy and think this may be the most important job of my life. I have spent some sleepless nights over these kids trying to think of ways to get to them to love the Lord. The senior teachers have been a big help, with ideas, worksheets, and sympathy! No one wants 7&8 graders. Anyway I am keeping track of what works and what doesn’t.Next year I should be much better! I try to make up for my lack of teaching experience with enthusiasm for Jesus. I also do motorcycle ministry on the streets and we get excited if we spend a whole weekend and get one person interested in the Lord. How much more exciting to bring 12 to 15 kids to the lord. God Blessing to us both.

 

[puzzleannie]

Your DRE or diocese should be offering catechist training. I offered classes all through August, but since half my catechists didn’t come, and half quit, and volunteers came trickling in throughout September and October they did not have the benefit of the training, including workshop on how to use the catechist manual, and all the fine resources we have for them. So, I repeated the trainings, including mandatory new catechist orientation, and still missed half the new ones. Have offered the orientation, mandatory in our diocese, 6 times since August 1 in English and Spanish, still have 8 people who have not come, so I have to tell them tomorrow they cannot contintue in the classroom.

I also have mandatory training for sacramental prep catechists, because I would like to insure we are all on the same page regarding the sacraments, but still haven’t got everybody.

Every DRE I know complains of the same thing, catechists ask for training, bible study, methodology, help with discipline, special topics, but do not attend the courses when they are offered.

 

[TAS2000]

I can sympathize, as it is the same thing with other ministries in the church. We tried holding training sessions for our extraordinary ministers, lectors, ushers, and alter servers when the new guidleines for mass came out, and few came.
No one wants to volunteer, but then they complain that it is always the same people in charge of/doing everything. I know our DRE has indicated there are workshops out there, and I know through my involvement in Parish Council that there are SUPPOSED to be mandatory classes for all teachers requred by the diocese, but I have not been offered any, or heard them mentioned by the DRE. They announced at mass a week before the classes were to start that we still needed several teachers. That was how I volunteered. One week before classes were to begin. So “firing” the volunteer teachers who don’t attend the mandatory classes (offered during the summer, I believe) isn’t an option. I haven’t a clue as to how to improve the situation. That might be a topic for another thread.

Currently I am trying to make up flash cards of the basics of our cathechsim and Catholic faith since I can’t find any resource for this. I did find a mention of the “friendly defenders” flash cards (internet search), but that seemed more geared to how to answer questions asked by non-catholics. I want more to teach these guys what their faith is, before I go into defending it. Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?