First time catechism teacher. Help!

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Dietrich

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Ok, this is going to take a minute to unpack. If you want to skip to the end, I understand, but I just want to give a complete assessment of the situation so your answers might be calibrated accurately.

For years my family and I have denied any opportunity to get involved with parish life. No KofC, no parish council, no doughnuts, nothing. We go to Mass, we leave. Period. That seemed like a tidy arrangement and we had no big complaints. Part of the reason, I should add, is that we move quite a bit so it’s been hard to put down roots.

However, a very sad thing happened to some close, close friends recently, and to make a longer story shorter, my wife and I resolved to become more involved as a result of what we witnessed in them.

I contacted my parish religious ed teacher and said I wanted to become more involved, and it didn’t take her long to offer the position of catechist for young people preparing for confirmation. I said I’d talk to her the next day, and when she and the other catechists gathered before the class (which I thought I’d just be observing) she pointed me out to the group and introduced me as the new teacher for the confirmation candidates! I was pretty surprised, but took it as a sign from God and just had to laugh a little.

Now, here’s what I’m walking into and why I’m asking for advice. When I got to the class, I saw it was being taught by an 18 year-old Junior College freshman, and occasionally assisted by a 19 year-old former high school seminary student. They were doing this with great courage and generosity because their previous teacher, who was twenty, became overwhelmed and quit. Not an ideal situation and I can see why I was so eagerly accepted. These two teachers were trying very hard, and were knowledgeable, but could not control a room of (basically) their chatty peers nor provide a coherent framework that will get the kids from here to confirmation with any degree of confidence.

In this meeting it became clear to me that there was almost no structure to the classes, no lesson plan, and the students (at least some) lacked basic understanding about some very basic stuff, asking questions about whether a saint has to first die and such.

I have no idea where to start, but I’m thinking a good idea would be to take a basic assessment of everyone in the class and then go from there. They need to know what the seven sacraments are and the fundamentals that I can’t believe the majority of them would possess.

My question: does anybody here have a similar experience? If so, what did you do to overcome it? Finally, what do I focus on to ensure they’re at least halfway prepared to receive this indelible mark on their souls? How do I come into this midstream and try to wrestle for control?

For your information, they parish is ‘using’ the Faith & Life series. They also have several YouCats lying around. So the material is there, and solid, but where to go from here?

Thank you and may God Bless you,

Dietrich
 
Dietrich:
May God bless you for taking on this class. I wish you the very best preparing these students.
I leave suggestions for those who have been there and done that.

Peace in Christ,
Mary.
 
Oh yes, what you are going through is true of many, but not all, parishes. I live in a diocese that was slack, but our new bishop has grabbed the reins, brought in the nuns, and wants to make sure that all of the kids get confirmed this year if they have not been confirmed; then he wants to make sure that they are confirmed before high school so they have the Sacrament and the foundation beneath them to deal with high school challenges.

There is a lesson plan but it is so important to be flexible and open to the group and the Holy Spirit.

You are right to want to assess where they are as individuals.

I was enlisted to assist and I notice that our nun who heads the program runs it with a great focus on the basics: 10 Commandments, Conscience formation, The Sacraments, Corporal & Spiritual Acts of Mercy, Vices and Opposing Virtues, The Rosary and the Mysteries, Saints, relevant catechism for their age, Prayer, Morality, and she always provides snacks.

Some of the kids have not had earlier catechism OR solid catechesis. We are playing catch-up in some ways. Our group is large and has different levels of knowledge and education. In class we have one program director who presents the weekly material, and then several assistants for breaking into smaller groups. This helps the different levels learn better and have a time to share their insights, struggles, ideas. Students are given quizzes, tests, verbal tests, and one to one interviews to keep it personal. We are aware that many of our kids struggle with school, family, finances, stress, loneliness, moods, disabilities, dreams, and traumas.

The students are required to keep a mass attendance card, do community service of some kind, and write a letter to the pastor explaining who they are, what they believe, and why they want to be confirmed. The priests have come in to talk on certain topics like confession, and Church conduct: How to behave, dress, participate at mass. Attending Exposition of the Eucharist. The meaning of the Holy Days, sacramentals, and traditions. The Magisterium. And how it all connects to Jesus.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO PRAY, GENERATE LOVE AND RESPECT, AND NURTURE THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST . Because of this, Sister did not push the textbooks until we had established good relationship with Jesus in class.

I am enjoying this so much since I was an adult confirmandi, in a big city church, who received only a little traditional groundwork and a lot of "tolerance"and New Agey stuff: I can remember a speaker who talked about Interfaith topics and he played George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord”, including those choruses of Hare Krishna, Hare Rama’s. I was very confused why I was being subjected to that nonsense in an R.C.I.A. group. My point is that I am now learning and reinforcing the real “meat and potatoes” of Catholicism with my students and I am having a wonderful time! And the students seem to appreciate no pandering in the presentation.

Stay open to some students requiring different ways of learning: Big muscle activity, standing up and drilling and rearranging flash cards, storytelling, taking a test verbally instead of written…whatever keeps them alert and open.

I, too, witnessed a tragedy and knew that assisting in catechism would be my only salvation.

Good luck. I’ll keep you in my prayers.
 
I forgot to mention that we also use the “Faith and Life” series.
 
Are these kids scheduled to be confirmed this spring…April or May? Gives you no time at all.

I’d email the parents and ask for their support. Encourage them to watch the videos on Catholicism you suggest, watch EWTN, develop a prayer life even if it is grace at meals, go to confession and receive the Eucharist on Sunday, take the kids to Eucharistic Adoration so they know about it.

Make a list of DVDs you think will help them understand their religion e.g. THE PASSION of the CHRIST, CATHOLICISM, MIRACLE OF FATIMA, ST. BERNADETTE, GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD etc.

Have the kids do a search on the saint for whom they’re named and on the saint they wish to be confirmed under.

Discuss the works of the Holy Spirit.

Ask the kids what questions they have regarding their religion. Ask if they know why they’re Catholic. My kids were very interested in John 6:53 or thereabouts.

Check out the EWTN schedule of programs and encourage them to watch the ones you suggest. Discuss them in class.

Set up now how many unexcused classes they can miss if any. Will some homework be mandatory? Will they have to pass an exam each month? And you have to have discipline. How that will be achieved is up to you and the director.
 
Dietrich said:
In this meeting it became clear to me that there was almost no structure to the classes, no lesson plan, and the students (at least some) lacked basic understanding about some very basic stuff, asking questions about whether a saint has to first die and such.

I have no idea where to start, but I’m thinking a good idea would be to take a basic assessment of everyone in the class and then go from there. They need to know what the seven sacraments are and the fundamentals that I can’t believe the majority of them would possess.
Dietrich
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Dietrich, For starters, pray to God to send His Holy Spirit to you and to help you, guide you and guard you when you teach this group. Also pray for the Holy Spirit to give you the gift of courage. God apparently has great faith in you and thinks you can do this!

I hope these websites offer you some help:

ewtn.com/devotionals/pentecost/pent1.htm

ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/selectseries.asp?T1=

lighthousecatholicmedia.org/store/categories

ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=7046&T1=

vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html#“I believe” – “We believe”

agapebiblestudy.com/Bible_Studies_Menu.php

youtube.com/watch?v=tlps1Svr2Fo&feature=related

usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism/catechism-of-the-catholic-church/

I hope and pray you find helpful tools to help you.
 
Wow! Thank you all for your swift and generous responses. I think an assessment is definitely needed, and then maybe we’ll do as one suggested and break into smaller groups, albeit the whole class is about 15-20 kids. Also, the parish was on the ball enough and they have Faith & Life and about twenty beautiful brand new and untouched YouCats. They just never use them is all!

The other difficulty to overcome: this seems like something that demands a lot of time, reflection, and careful planning (duh!). I’m going to do it, but bear in mind I have a full time job, am married, and have four children. My oldest is four. I am a former student of two of the handful of ultra orthodox liberal arts colleges and a graduate of one of them. I’ve made a science of complaining about what I disapprove of in the Mass and in parishes. I suppose God is telling me not-so-subtlely to put up or shut up! I have a solid grasp of the catechism (solid enough for high schoolers, anyway) but have no formal teaching experience.

Given the demands already on my time, and the fact that I feel like I’m pretty much a conversant, observant Catholic, any materials that cut to the chase or might serve as an assessment template would be great to have. The back of the F&L series book is pretty good. My only fear is that these young people will be 99% ignorant of even the basics. As some have pointed out, there’s not a lot of time, so the two hours per week have to be transmissible, coherent, and appropriate to the task.

We always started class in my first college with a prayer to the Holy Spirit-“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful…” I think that’s an excellent way for all of us to begin.

I have to run, but thank you again, may God bless you, and keep 'em coming!
 
This thread came just in time for me! I have been teaching 7th graders since September. They are in a 2 year confirmation prep program. I nearly quit after about a month or two, because I felt I was being asked to do the impossible. “We live our faith as disciples of Jesus” is the textbook we’re using, and we were given a lesson plan to stick to, often expected to cover 2 chapters in a single hour-and-fifteen minute class (once per week, with frequent days off). About half the students regularly arrive about 10 minutes late, making our time together even shorter.

I had to talk with one parent about the fact that her son hadn’t brought his book in for 3 weeks straight, and was not reading the assignments either (misplaced the book, supposedly). Thankfully, after having that talk, I noticed he had his book last week and was smiling and volunteering to answer questions, a very different picture from the grumpy guy who kept to himself and didn’t know what we were talking about.

Anyway, we (I have a co-catechist) had been following the assigned schedule as best as we could, trying to incorporate a different type of activity each time, when we came to a 10 commandments quiz. Everyone failed. That was our wake-up call that these kids were absolutely not ready to be confirmed. Luckily, they’re not scheduled to be confirmed until spring of 2014. So I made a “cheat sheet” for them and tried a different way of explaining what each of the commandments was all about. I made it bilingual because almost half my students are Spanish-speaking, and I thought maybe having the Spanish there might encourage their parents to help them study. There were words some of them didn’t know that worried me at first, until I realized they knew what “mass” and “priest” was, just not in English! phew!

Anyway, I decided that no matter what, they must become familiar with the 10 commandments, even if we rush through some of the lessons. Last week, I had them work in two big groups (girls and boys) answering a worksheet with various questions about the 10 commandments. Then we went over them, and I gave a quick repeat quiz, which all but one student aced.

But I want to keep coming back to the 10 commandments as we go forward, and I want to make sure we focus on other basics of the faith. Last week it became clear that the students didn’t know what I was talking about when I talked about Jesus’s “real presence” in the Eucharist. Several students said that Communion was a “symbol”! Luckily, my co-catechist is a Protestant convert, so she explained that this is a Protestant belief, but that we believe differently. Then I tried to improvise, and explained that indeed, this is a difficult teaching, and that many of Jesus’s early followers left Him over this, but that Jesus never corrected them. He literally said “this is my body”, and I alerted them to listen carefully at Mass to the priest’s words at the transubstantiation.

I’d rather the kids take away a few key tenants of our faith but truly grasp them, than to expose them superficially to everything in the book. We’re focusing on Baptism and Confirmation next time, and I’ve prepared a worksheet for them to have them think about the specifics of their own sacraments. Part of this lesson will be what someone here suggested - asking them why they want to be confirmed, and having them write and/or tell me why their Catholic faith is important to them.

We’ve also tried to have them read directly from the Bible on several occasions, after we went over how to look up a verse and what the different parts of a citation were. What I’m basically observing is that if there is no faith formation in the home, then we as catechists can only do so much. If the parents don’t care, we can’t do their job for them. All I can hope for is to provide an opportunity for students to ask questions that maybe they don’t want to ask their parents.

We had an ordination at our parish a couple of months ago. The bishop made a plug for vocations, and at the reception afterwards, he apparently told one of my students that he might be one of the ones that God is calling to the vocation of the priesthood. Except he didn’t quite say it like that. So in class, this student, bless his heart, asked me what the bishop meant. So I had the privileged of explaining to this young man that he ought to pray about whether or not God may want him to become a priest. Ever since that day, I’ve referred to him as my “future priest student”. He received this information so thoughtfully. I also commented about this on his midterm report. I’m getting goosebumps just now, thinking about how God may have let me have a front row seat to the workings of His Spirit in the vocation of a future priest!

It’s things like that that keep me coming back every week. I love my kids, and I love teaching them, and I wish I had much more time with them, and I wish we had more freedom in terms of how to spend our time and what to require of them. But for my part, I am learning obedience and perseverance, and I am seeing the fruits of these efforts.

To the OP, I’d say you have so little time, the best thing you can do is cut to the chase and make yourself available to any hard pressed questions they may have. Likewise, ask them questions. What would they like to know about the faith? I don’t know that you have enough time to make sure they learn everything they should know. (They should have a lot of the basics for their 1st communion, at least at my parish, but they don’t, which troubles me.) If they leave your class having spent time truly considering the importance of their faith, in whatever way, and having an opportunity and an outlet to discuss whatever questions they may have, then I think you have done your job.

God bless your efforts, as I know He will 👍
 
“I wish we had more freedom in terms of how to spend our time and what to require of them.” Yes. After you finish your first year, make a proposal to your DRE about changes and improvements you’d like to make for next year. I think it’s best when the teacher is given the goals for the year, and then is free to pursue them using her own gifts once she has the confidence and experience to do so.
 
We are all pretty busy but remember to relegate, relegate, relegate to whomever will help you with printing, making quizzes or study sheets, breaking into small groups, taking roll, whatever helps you get on with things.

Have some assistants make cards of the 10 Commandments, the 7 Sacraments, the Capital Vices and Opposing Virtues, The Gifts of the Holy Spirit and at every class, for 10 minutes, have them arrange the 10 Commandments into the right order, separate the vices from the virtues, describe the form and matter and prayer on each Sacrament: Example-Baptism: water, a priest says, “I baptize you in the name of…”

Talk about the connection between these Catholic concepts and our real life trials and behaviors. Have a priest discuss confession and ask them to attend confession this month. Discuss conscience.

Talk about the difference between the secular world, popular culture, and the Truth. Why would following Catholic precepts give them a happier life than just taking what they want?

How would a close relationship with Jesus give someone happiness in the midst of chaos?

Say a prayer at each class and give them a new one each week. Explain the history and scriptural significance of each prayer. Focus on the Nicene and Apostles Creed.
Make cards for the 20 mysteries of the rosary and 4 cards for Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious, and have them put the cards in order under the correct mystery. Show them how the 4 mysteries cover a different aspect of Christ and the church.

I had a priest friend who used to dress up like a televangelist. He’d walk into a catechism class and twang: “I hear you Catholics worship Mary” and “You Catholics are like pagans with your holy water and stuff.” He’d tell them that they weren’t Christians and their prayers were not from Scripture, anything to challenge the truth out of the kids and create a real learning opportunity. Kind of like a true/false sort of verbal test. It helped them learn and it helped them defend their faith. And it was fun.

Talk about countries where people have to worship underground.

Remember the Catholic church and the 5 senses: smell: incense, hearing: Sacred music, Visual: the colors of Lent and Easter week, touch: holy water, holy salt, holy oil; and taste: the Eucharist, of course, but have someone bring in hot cross buns and tell the history, or do a Mardi Gras feast before Ash Wednesday.

I think there is enough time for learning. Don’t be afraid to go back and review last week’s lesson for 10 minutes.

Talk with one student at a time about their concerns and interests in the Confirmation process while your assistants run some drills, or teach some prayers, or break into smaller groups. Find a parent or two if you are shorthanded.

If you have one or two people handy with a computer and copy machine, you shouldn’t be overwhelmed.
 
Any suggestions on how to retain discipline? I’ve talked to a couple of parents about their children being disruptive and that has helped. Nevertheless, I’m very surprised at the number of times I have to correct these kids. I wonder how they act during the week in their regular classes.

Our book suggests crafts but I have no time for that. I too have 75 minutes once a week to give religious instruction. It is not often that I can stay on the lesson of the week because the kids don’t have the background information.

I have a couple of kids who have shown up three times in 13 weeks. Personally, I think if they have three unexcused misses, they should be dropped. One arrived after a two month absence without a book. I have no idea what the parents expect, if anything ,other than using this as a child care service.
 
Re discipline I send misbehavers to cool their heels in another classroom where they sit apart, are a stranger, and have no-one to talk to for the rest of the period.
 
kkollwitz said:
Re discipline I send misbehavers to cool their heels in another classroom where they sit apart, are a stranger, and have no-one to talk to for the rest of the period.
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Wouldn’t work. 3rd graders and need to be supervised. :dts:
 
assign seating and arrange seats in semi-circle with you in the middle. Ask questions of the talkers. Be interested in how they learn. They might be nervous with lots of auditory or visual (name removed by moderator)ut.
 
Auntie_A said:
We are all pretty busy but remember to relegate, relegate, relegate to whomever will help you with printing, making quizzes or study sheets, breaking into small groups, taking roll, whatever helps you get on with things.

Have some assistants make cards of the 10 Commandments, the 7 Sacraments, the Capital Vices and Opposing Virtues, The Gifts of the Holy Spirit and at every class, for 10 minutes, have them arrange the 10 Commandments into the right order, separate the vices from the virtues, describe the form and matter and prayer on each Sacrament: Example-Baptism: water, a priest says, “I baptize you in the name of…”

Talk about the connection between these Catholic concepts and our real life trials and behaviors. Have a priest discuss confession and ask them to attend confession this month. Discuss conscience.

Talk about the difference between the secular world, popular culture, and the Truth. Why would following Catholic precepts give them a happier life than just taking what they want?

How would a close relationship with Jesus give someone happiness in the midst of chaos?

Say a prayer at each class and give them a new one each week. Explain the history and scriptural significance of each prayer. Focus on the Nicene and Apostles Creed.
Make cards for the 20 mysteries of the rosary and 4 cards for Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious, and have them put the cards in order under the correct mystery. Show them how the 4 mysteries cover a different aspect of Christ and the church.

I had a priest friend who used to dress up like a televangelist. He’d walk into a catechism class and twang: “I hear you Catholics worship Mary” and “You Catholics are like pagans with your holy water and stuff.” He’d tell them that they weren’t Christians and their prayers were not from Scripture, anything to challenge the truth out of the kids and create a real learning opportunity. Kind of like a true/false sort of verbal test. It helped them learn and it helped them defend their faith. And it was fun.

Talk about countries where people have to worship underground.

Remember the Catholic church and the 5 senses: smell: incense, hearing: Sacred music, Visual: the colors of Lent and Easter week, touch: holy water, holy salt, holy oil; and taste: the Eucharist, of course, but have someone bring in hot cross buns and tell the history, or do a Mardi Gras feast before Ash Wednesday.

I think there is enough time for learning. Don’t be afraid to go back and review last week’s lesson for 10 minutes.

Talk with one student at a time about their concerns and interests in the Confirmation process while your assistants run some drills, or teach some prayers, or break into smaller groups. Find a parent or two if you are shorthanded.

If you have one or two people handy with a computer and copy machine, you shouldn’t be overwhelmed.
Click to expand...
These are great suggestions and I’ll try to implement them, but honestly there’s nobody else doing this but me, apparently. The two teenagers are, I think, eager to lead their own lives and grateful to have someone come in and relieve them. The director of religious ed is clearly swamped beyond belief, and the pastor I have yet to see make an appearance. I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t even know I was there.

This presents another issue someone brought up. I haven’t been asked to sign any sort of agreement with the parish outlining rules and responsibilities I need to adhere to. I have no idea if I’m covered by the parish if someone makes an accusation or anything. I’m sensitive to this because I’m a male. I don’t think I feel comfortable being alone with any one of them in a room at this point.

Anyway, thanks for all the (name removed by moderator)ut. It’s a daunting task and I appreciate the constructive comments being made here. It’s a big help.
 
Kids need attention. If they are being disruptive there is a chance that they need more of it. Ask the children a lot of questions and keep them engaged.

I once had two brothers in my class and they were constantly disrupting, and mocking me and the lessons. So, I took them aside, maintaining patience, looked them in the eyes and said, “Do you know that when you disrupt my class it hurts me? It hurts me that you don’t respect me.” They never misbehaved in my class again.

My suggestion is to review what information needs to be covered in your class, engage all of their senses in the process, and be enthusiastic. It’s more important that your children feel loved and have a good experience because it is very likely that they won’t remember much about what was said but they will remember how they felt about it.
 
In our diocese we are required to be fingerprinted and to participate in the online training;“Shield the Vulnerable”. If it is not required, try to do it anyway. It is enlightening. I wish everyone could take this training. It takes about two hours maximum to complete.

And, yes, you are right: don’t ever be alone in a room with a student. Too many perceptions could lead to strange accusations in this environment PLUS: It is good to model for kids what is good so they won’t fall into a bad scene in another environment.

I wish I could help you out or send someone to assist. I believe I am not far from you and I may be able to enlist help. Contact me through my mailbox if you think you might need more assistance.
 
God bless you all for teaching. I did many years ago - we had a very poor program and I felt like I was teaching 9th graders what they should have learned in 3rd grade. In my area confirmation is in the beginning of 12th grade - very hard to keep them going that long. I had a problem with the teacher who had my oldest son (confirmation class) she refused to let him make his confirmation - the next year the nun taught him personally and could not understand what the issue was. I asked a good family friend who had been in his class and she told me that my son asked questions and basically the teacher didn’t know how to answer them. She said the teacher would say something like abortion is wrong - my son would ask why??? Apparently she had problems explaining why abortion was wrong – that was just one example. I hope you will all be prepared for the child who wants to know more or wants to make sure you know what the answer is - my son knew the answer but his teacher didn’t and didn’t want to hear from him. Fortunately we now have a much better program - just very few kids.
 
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