Today was my first day as a Sunday school teacher. It was wonderful and the kids were great.
I have some questions though. Anyone can answer.
I have been a Sunday School teacher/Catechist/Religion Teacher / Youth Worker for many years. It is a wonderful calling from God to be allowed to participate in the formation of Saints.
How should you approach young children on sensitive or complicated issues?
One word - don’t. Let them ask you. Answer only the question being asked - don’t add any unasked for or unnecessary information.
Stick to the syllabus - don’t take it upon yourself to give them sex education or information about death, unless there is a lesson plan for it in your syllabus - and in that case, make sure there are other adults around when you are teaching it exactly according to the plan laid out, so that when the inevitable misunderstandings occur, you have adult witnesses to testify to what you
really said, and that you did not go beyond the material you were supposed to teach.
What should parents look for in a good religious educator?
That he or she is faithful to the teachings of the Church, and that he or she likes their children.
What should they demand in terms of results of religious education?
That their child likes going to Church, and looks forward to Sunday School, as well as being up-to-date on the information that they should know at their age.
What are the roles of parents in this process?
To bring the child regularly to the classes, help the child with any home reading or home activities that are sent along, don’t double-book the child with sports or other pastimes at the same time as the Sunday School or Religion class, and communicate with the teacher about any problems they or their child are experiencing. Also, have and keep a copy of the calendar of events, and plan ahead for anything that might be on a different day or at a different time than the usual class.
How should discipline best be enforced?
Consistently, with large doses of patience and a charitable sense of humour.
Let them know that you like them, and let them know you have confidence in their abilities to pay attention, take turns, and be kind to one another.
Punishment, whatever you deem appropriate to your situation (time-outs, lines, etc.), should not be very harsh, and should apply only to situations where the child was doing something bad on purpose. Otherwise, a gentle reminder of the rule will suffice.
Reward good behaviour with praise and smiles, and do it often. The “attention-seekers” will then out-do one another in shouting out correct answers and doing kind things for each other in order to win your glances, instead of doing things that you don’t like them to do.
If you get a kid who is
really rebellious, who doesn’t respond to gentle correction, call his/her parents to pick him/her up early, and tell them why. Also remember that not every kid needs to be in your class - it’s okay to ask a kid’s parents not to bring him/her back, if he or she is continually disruptive.
