Teaching RE for First Time

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RCinMT

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I responded to a recent appeal in our parish bulletin for RE teachers and aides for pre-school through fifth grade children. Over the last year I’ve read nothing but books about the faith but not the kind to prepare myself for RE–Chesterton, two Aquinas bios, the Aquinas Cathecism, Rodney Stark’s “God’s Battalions”…etc.

I might be getting ahead of myself here because I may end up just being an aide and not teaching but I plan to stick around for some time so…anybody have suggestions on materials I might read to prepare to cathecise effectively? Also, as one imagines must be the case, what if the parish has pre-packaged material that you know is watered down?
 
RCinMT said:
I responded to a recent appeal in our parish bulletin for RE teachers and aides for pre-school through fifth grade children. Over the last year I’ve read nothing but books about the faith but not the kind to prepare myself for RE–Chesterton, two Aquinas bios, the Aquinas Cathecism, Rodney Stark’s “God’s Battalions”…etc.

I might be getting ahead of myself here because I may end up just being an aide and not teaching but I plan to stick around for some time so…anybody have suggestions on materials I might read to prepare to cathecise effectively? Also, as one imagines must be the case, what if the parish has pre-packaged material that you know is watered down?
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Congrats on responding to the call! 👍 It’s great that you want to further your own formation in the area.

First, I would say that the person of the catechist (you!) is far more important than whatever curriculum, textbooks, etc. are used. Obviously, we want good materials to work with, but a good catechist can make due with even sub-par materials, and even the best materials in the world won’t be that effective if the catechist is not an authentic witness of the faith.

Here are some titles I would recommend:
If you find you don’t like the text series being used, you can always supplement and make a recommendation for change. The good news is that, since the U.S. bishops created the subcommittee in the late 90s to review textbooks for conformity to the Catechism, the quality of textbooks has increased dramatically. Not to say that there aren’t still some out there that are watered down. There are. But you can at least make due with them.

I’m sure your DRE would be happy to help you further, too!

God bless!
 
RCinMT said:
I responded to a recent appeal in our parish bulletin for RE teachers and aides for pre-school through fifth grade children. Over the last year I’ve read nothing but books about the faith but not the kind to prepare myself for RE–Chesterton, two Aquinas bios, the Aquinas Cathecism, Rodney Stark’s “God’s Battalions”…etc.

I might be getting ahead of myself here because I may end up just being an aide and not teaching but I plan to stick around for some time so…anybody have suggestions on materials I might read to prepare to cathecise effectively? Also, as one imagines must be the case, what if the parish has pre-packaged material that you know is watered down?
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Why are you assuming that the material is “watered down.?”
I would wait and see what your training will be before deciding the DRE doesn’t know what he or she is doing.
Read the Teacher’s edition of the book for starters. Those lessons are designed at grade level.
Discussing Aquinas with the 10 yr olds is only going to frustrate you, and I’m sure not in the lesson plan.
When we teach we meet people where they are, and lead them. We don’t water things down. Remember your audience.
peace
 
pianistclare said:
Why are you assuming that the material is “watered down.?”
I would wait and see what your training will be before deciding the DRE doesn’t know what he or she is doing.
Read the Teacher’s edition of the book for starters. Those lessons are designed at grade level.
Discussing Aquinas with the 10 yr olds is only going to frustrate you, and I’m sure not in the lesson plan.
When we teach we meet people where they are, and lead them. We don’t water things down. Remember your audience.
peace
Click to expand...
Thank you.
Well stated.
 
pianistclare said:
Why are you assuming that the material is “watered down.?”
I would wait and see what your training will be before deciding the DRE doesn’t know what he or she is doing.
Read the Teacher’s edition of the book for starters. Those lessons are designed at grade level.
Discussing Aquinas with the 10 yr olds is only going to frustrate you, and I’m sure not in the lesson plan.
When we teach we meet people where they are, and lead them. We don’t water things down. Remember your audience.
peace
Click to expand...
I think I inserted must instead of may. I am not assuming that material is watered down…just curious about if it is. I had no plans to discuss Aquinas, which is why I said that I haven’t been reading material suitable to the task.
 
Joe_5859 said:
Congrats on responding to the call! 👍 It’s great that you want to further your own formation in the area.

First, I would say that the person of the catechist (you!) is far more important than whatever curriculum, textbooks, etc. are used. Obviously, we want good materials to work with, but a good catechist can make due with even sub-par materials, and even the best materials in the world won’t be that effective if the catechist is not an authentic witness of the faith.

Here are some titles I would recommend:
If you find you don’t like the text series being used, you can always supplement and make a recommendation for change. The good news is that, since the U.S. bishops created the subcommittee in the late 90s to review textbooks for conformity to the Catechism, the quality of textbooks has increased dramatically. Not to say that there aren’t still some out there that are watered down. There are. But you can at least make due with them.

I’m sure your DRE would be happy to help you further, too!

God bless!
Click to expand...
Thanks
 
RCinMT said:
I think I inserted must instead of may. I am not assuming that material is watered down…just curious about if it is. I had no plans to discuss Aquinas, which is why I said that I haven’t been reading material suitable to the task.
Click to expand...
Ok cool.
Just ask when the training classes begin.
You should be training to receive a Basic Catechist certification.
You can even get the training online if you have too.
 
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