Teen Timeline version of Great Bible Adventure-anyone use it?

[puzzleannie]

got DVDs and leaders’ guide, they are out of student books, but am considering using the 8 basis lessons as one block for 1st yr HS-Confirmation

has anyone used the program, do you want to review the content, how well it worked with your teens, strategies, tips, strengths and weaknesses of the program

 

[YinYangMom]

got DVDs and leaders’ guide, they are out of student books, but am considering using the 8 basis lessons as one block for 1st yr HS-Confirmation

has anyone used the program, do you want to review the content, how well it worked with your teens, strategies, tips, strengths and weaknesses of the program

I wish we could use those in our program. I don’t recall your set up but ours is 1.5 a week and that just doesn’t allow for a program like GBA. How much time do you get with your HS group? How many kids do you have? How often do you meet? I think the program is great for that age but it’s a lot to cover.

Last year our DRE tried to incorporate more bible study within that 1.5 a week setup by setting aside an hour each month for a different aspect of the bible. I spoke on the old testament and the new to 6-8 graders and used the timeline from GBA as the outline for my talks. My hope was to convey the overall message of “one couple - one church” covenant to the kids so that they could at least walk away knowing that even though the bible is thick, seems to be jumbled and put together in a confusing format, the content in complete and there is one story being told in there. I then gave them the outline at the back of the workbook which spells out how to read the bible in so many weeks (can’t recall at the moment how many) and encouraged them to share it with their parents.

Each Advent and Lent I distribute it in hopes that the families will give it a shot for the season but I haven’t had any feedback to know if it worked.

 

[puzzleannie]

we have 26 sessions, 1.5 hrs each. Diocese is doing a big push this year to get more people reading the bible, and this seems the perfect way to jump start HS. We have already been doing 15 min. with Sunday gospel, we just want to go deeper. Esp. since the adult version of GBA is being taught this year as well. This won’t affect the prescribed curriculum, we will still cover what has to be covered, but are looking for experience of those who have used this particular program, esp. tips to make it work in a large group.

 

[HouseArrest]

We used it with two of our kids at home this past spring. We loved it. The video segments are anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes long. It took us at least an hour and half every lesson. I would have preferred to break each lesson up into two one hour nights but it just wasn’t possible for us. There is a lot more we could have done with it - you have a little introductory assignment at the beginning and some inital Q&A and that and then there is the discussion at the end. Don’t forget the free quizzes you can print out at greatadventureonline.com. (Actually I think they might be the same quizzes that are in the leader’s guide.) There is also all that info in the back of the leader’s guide that makes a great resource and could provide a few lessons as well. Did you see the portrait studies? We did not get to those but I am hoping to revisit in a year or two.

I am considering getting the second one - the Matthew one. My kids reacted positively to the idea. By the way the two I did this with are now in 6th and 7th grade - they go to Catholic school - I wanted to see if it was possible for me to homeschool religious ed with them - info I’ll need when choosing a high school. If I even think about the public school we’d be hs-ing religion. (I realize they’ll get less agreeable as they get more “teenage”!). I actually have searched threads on some of the different materials out there and your advice has led me to many things I am now considering! So thanks!

 

[HouseArrest]

A question - why can’t they do GBA with the adults? Is it a big time committment? Do you think a teenager would be able to handle it?

 

[kage_ar]

Yes, a teenager can handle it - it is a great program. I see sooooo many Catholics who are almost afraid of the Bible.

You will love this program

Do the adult version too!!!

 

[HouseArrest]

Yes, a teenager can handle it - it is a great program. I see sooooo many Catholics who are almost afraid of the Bible.

You will love this program

Do the adult version too!!!

I wish there was a GBA somewhere near us. When I look at the map the closest place is like 2 hours away. It’s too expensive to buy - in the hundreds of dollars. I think I spent $120 or so on the Teen Timeline and that included the leader’s guide and two student workbooks. I wonder if I could borrow it from a parish?? Is that legit? I do loan out my Teen Timeline DVD’s.

 

[puzzleannie]

A question - why can’t they do GBA with the adults? Is it a big time committment? Do you think a teenager would be able to handle it?

from what I have seen the DVD presentations are different, and quite frankly, now that we have done the adult version twice in the parish, the teens would not find the presentations interesting. also that is 26, can be up to 40, lessons, teen version is 8 (or 10-16 if you break it down).

I am very impressed with the leader guide, and the one lesson I have had time to view on DVD. We have discussed it and will break each DVD presentation down, about 15 min. is their limit. some of the activities will work well, other just don’t fly here.

one thing we have tried, just does not work, is teens and adults together, whether it is parent-student meetings for Confirmation, bible studies, or other presentations. Needs and expectations of each group are too different

HA, your kids are younger teens, we were thinking of 9th graders, but do you think it would work with 7th & 8th? what about 6th graders, where the traditional textbook curriculum is salvation history? to me DVDs seem a bit too old, but I am not the expert.

have you done any of the Come and See for children with your family?

 

[HouseArrest]

from what I have seen the DVD presentations are different, and quite frankly, now that we have done the adult version twice in the parish, the teens would not find the presentations interesting. also that is 26, can be up to 40, lessons, teen version is 8 (or 10-16 if you break it down).

You are saying you don’t think the teens would find the GBA presentations interesting, right? Or are you saying the teens would not find T3 interesting after doing GBA?
I am very impressed with the leader guide, and the one lesson I have had time to view on DVD. We have discussed it and will break each DVD presentation down, about 15 min. is their limit. some of the activities will work well, other just don’t fly here.

one thing we have tried, just does not work, is teens and adults together, whether it is parent-student meetings for Confirmation, bible studies, or other presentations. Needs and expectations of each group are too different

That makes sense to me, but because of my inexperience would not have thought of it myself. I bet that is the case more often than not.
HA, your kids are younger teens, we were thinking of 9th graders, but do you think it would work with 7th & 8th? what about 6th graders, where the traditional textbook curriculum is salvation history? to me DVDs seem a bit too old, but I am not the expert.

**Well I did this with 2 of my kids who were at the end of 5th and 6th at the time (did I write that correctly the first time?) and they really liked it. I don’t think they were too young. Of course I think you could go higher in age as well, as your discussion would just be “more mature” if you now what I mean. Ideally to get the most out of it I think 9th or even 10th grade would be best.**have you done any of the Come and See for children with your family?

No I have not heard of that. Do you recommend it? My kids go to Catholic school and I am very pleased with their religious instruction. My whole purpose in doing this is to see if we can possibly homeschool CCD during the high school years. I think we will be able to but I am going to continue with other material these next two years since it went well. I am always looking for good material.

 

[1ke]

got DVDs and leaders’ guide, they are out of student books, but am considering using the 8 basis lessons as one block for 1st yr HS-Confirmation

has anyone used the program, do you want to review the content, how well it worked with your teens, strategies, tips, strengths and weaknesses of the program

I used it with my 7th & 8th graders last year. My DH is going to use it with Confirmation (10th grade) this year. It’s AWESOME.

But, I think the student workbooks are a big waste of money. The timelines are really good. The teacher’s guide is good-- it has a lot of extra stuff in the back, such as an explanation of the 10 plagues of Egypt and what they symbolize.

Our CCD class is only 1 hour, so basically one week we’d watch a lesson, the next week we’d discuss and I’d do activities to expand on that lesson, review, read some out of the bible, etc. I used some of the extension materials in the teacher’s guide.

We used the timeline extensively and I also used some Holy Land atlases to show where these events were taking place.

Mark Hart has a real natural way with teens. He’s pretty funny and entertaining. He touches obliquely on several topics of chastity/sexuality, but nothing explicit. I don’t think I’d take it below 7th grade.

 

[1ke]

A question - why can’t they do GBA with the adults? Is it a big time committment? Do you think a teenager would be able to handle it?

ZZZZZZZZ

Jeff Cavins is good. But, it’s kinda boring. He stands at a podium and lectures.

Mark Hart does too-- but he’s directing *everything *to the teens. He uses teen examples, he’s very lively and energetic, he’s funny.

 

[1ke]

I wish there was a GBA somewhere near us. When I look at the map the closest place is like 2 hours away. It’s too expensive to buy - in the hundreds of dollars. I think I spent $120 or so on the Teen Timeline and that included the leader’s guide and two student workbooks. I wonder if I could borrow it from a parish?? Is that legit? I do loan out my Teen Timeline DVD’s.

Our diocese has a lending library that parishes can access. Check with your office of Catechesis.

 

[puzzleannie]

thanks all of you so much for the (name removed by moderator)ut, I tend to agree in general about student workbooks for most such programs. I intend to get a couple, so the teachers and presenters can use the elements that appeal to them, but find as a rule the video/dvd/adio plus leaders’ guide are all I need. the strength of the whole series by Jeff Cavins is the timeline (love the bracelets, have used these in every bible class since first started teaching this system since taking his summer courses at Steubenville).

HA, I meant the DVD presentations of GBA are geared toward adults not kids, and the style of presentations used does not appeal to our kids. we tested it on Jrs. and Srs. and they just don’t stay interested, but adults love it.

I understand Come and See are the bible studies put out for middle graders by the same outfit (Ascension). have a couple of the books, but have not found a catechist who wants to use them yet.

Ike how does it feel to have a hurricane named after you, thanks your experience has me sold, I think, since the catechists concur, we will go for it this year, for at least 9th grade

 

[1ke]

thanks all of you so much for the (name removed by moderator)ut, I tend to agree in general about student workbooks for most such programs. I intend to get a couple, so the teachers and presenters can use the elements that appeal to them,

Everything that is in the student book is in the teacher’s book. Get one and compare, I think you’ll see that all you need is the teacher’s book.

Ike how does it feel to have a hurricane named after you, thanks your experience has me sold, I think, since the catechists concur, we will go for it this year, for at least 9th grade

Well, I know a lot of people think my screen name is ike but it’s actually the #1 and ke… 1ke. Long story on how that came to be my screen name.

 

[HouseArrest]

Thanks for the info on GBA and the Come and See programs. It’s a great help in my decision about which direction to go. We don’t have a lot of resources here - there are virtually no homeschoolers and there’s no place to look over materials in a Catholic bookstore or anything so I have to find out from you all and then order it! I couldn’t even get our DRE to order FREE Faith and Life books to look over. (Of course they are now no longer free!)

I guess I though GBA would be a more complete version of the Teen Timeline. I do agree that Mark Hart is definitely part of the pull of the Teen Timeline program. I think I might go with the second one they have out - Thy Kingdom Come.

 

[puzzleannie]

do call your diocesan office of catechetics and see if they have a media library, you may very well be able to borrow not only the videos but the guides. I will make these available to other parishes in our deanery, who generously share their resources with us. a neighboring parish hosted workshop on TOB for teens given by those who wrote the course, and reps from many parishes attended, making the cost affordable, which one parish could not do alone. for that topic, talking to those who took the workshop, in person presentations rather than the DVDs seem a better option.

 

[HouseArrest]

do call your diocesan office of catechetics and see if they have a media library, you may very well be able to borrow not only the videos but the guides. I will make these available to other parishes in our deanery, who generously share their resources with us. a neighboring parish hosted workshop on TOB for teens given by those who wrote the course, and reps from many parishes attended, making the cost affordable, which one parish could not do alone. for that topic, talking to those who took the workshop, in person presentations rather than the DVDs seem a better option.

Thanks I will try that. We do have an online list of materials available through the diocese main office but I am sure single parishes will have more in their own buildings. I can check the few around me to see what they have.