I am a very new DRE at our parish and am working with the principle to make a change to a more traditional book series (Faith and Life by Ignatius Press). The series we use now is rated “red” by Catholic Culture. The principles concern is the reading level of the younger grades. She believes that 1st - 3rd grade is way above the heads of the kids and that they won’t be able to read it. Does anyone here have any advice? I disagree, but don’t know how to approach it. I know of several large families (among the most faithful at our parish) who will pull their children if a better program is not used next year.
quite frankly the reading level of our public school children in CCD is below national averages for the most part, and the majority of our children cannot handle Christ Our Life (Loyola) or the Ignatius Series. Had the HS texts from Midwest Theological Forum donated but not only can most students not handle the material, either can many parent volunteers.
Otherwise Faith and Life would be our first choice. We have been using Christ Our Life for years mainly because the catechists guides are so helpful for the catechists, many of whom are parents with only HS education not the best readers and redactors of information themselves.
One suggestion would be what we have done in a modified way, is tracking. We have one HS/Jr High track with a basic Teen Catechism, mainly children who have not been to CCD since their 1st communion, or who have reading delays and other learning problems. The other track is those who have graduated from Catholic elementary school, have been attending CCD regularly and can handle the HS textbook.
We do something similar for elementary, assigning children with learning delays or disabilities to smaller classes with teachers and aides who have some experience in this area (many public school teachers or special ed teachers) who use other resources besides the text. Children who can read at grade level and don’t have behavioral or other issues that slow learning are taught by the conventional textbook method. You could have one track with the new textbooks you prefer, and keep a class open, if you have enough room and teachers, for children who need more help and more “creative” resources than the text they cannot read.
the huge benefit with Faith and Life, which should appeal to pastors and administrators, is cost. You only buy the text once, and only have to buy a consumable workbook for each student each year, and only in the amount you need, much cheaper than the standard consumable textbook. If your families are discipline enough you can send books home for homework assignments, or have periodic parent/child session where the parents assist their child with assignments and lessons, if you think comprehension is a problem.
another factor to use in evaluating texts is the needs of your catechists. frankly in most programs the catechists, or a lot of them, are also in need of education or at least review, and a good text with a good guide helps fill that need. I don’t know if Ignatius has as much on-line support for catechists comparable to most of the mainstream publishers, but also I don’t know how much catechists take advantage of such assistance.
if you call for a sample text and workbook for your grade level they may send it for free or low cost. we got a whole set for catechist review and reference for much less than list price. everyone who sees them falls in love with Faith and Life. If we ever do get money ahead to make a switch I will probably go with it for at least one class each session, but it will take finding catechists who can teach well with it. We have a long way to go in formation for our elementary catechists
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