Volunteering to teach religious education classes to children

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I just volunteered today. We’re supposed to start up Aug 19 through the first weekend in May. I may be teaching the kindergarten group. I’ve never taught religious education! I was only confirmed this past Pentecost! I’m supposed to receive some training materials next week and a catalog of classes into which I can enroll.

Does anyone have any advice on catechizing little children? I think my class should be fewer than 8 or 10 at the most. I’m looking forward to it. 😃
 
BeeSweet said:
I just volunteered today. We’re supposed to start up Aug 19 through the first weekend in May. I may be teaching the kindergarten group. I’ve never taught religious education! I was only confirmed this past Pentecost! I’m supposed to receive some training materials next week and a catalog of classes into which I can enroll.

Does anyone have any advice on catechizing little children? I think my class should be fewer than 8 or 10 at the most. I’m looking forward to it. 😃
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Trying to work off your Purgatory early???😃
 
God bless you for answering this call. you will probably learn more about your faith through teaching than you did in your Confirmation class, even with kindergartners.

tips: the textbook is a guideline not a bible, there is no law that says you have to complete every lesson and every activity. Get to know your catechist manual, because it will have a section on your age group, discipline, and lots of tips on enrichment activities, music, art, movement etc.

Find a friend to work with you as an aide, if your DRE has not appointed someone. You have to have at least 2 people in the classroom, for bathroom breaks if nothing else. Breaking little children into small groups for crafts, projects, learning prayers and other activities works great.

when a kindergartner says he needs the bathroom he needs it-now.
 
Puzzleannie offers such pertinent advice. I’d like to add that as important as the “content” might be (the curriculum you’re asked to teach), it’s so very important that it’s all about Jesus – helping the students encounter Him – and that Jesus is about relationship and love.

Talking about God, or His love, can be fun. But the little ones won’t want to learn anything if they don’t genuinely experience Christ’s love.

I think this was my major lesson when I started out as a catechist – and sometimes I find myself re-learning this. I’d focus on the activity, stressing out because there was never enough time to “do” it all.

Try to “be” a Christ, and like Blessed Mother Theresa, “see” the eyes of Christ in each person. It will not be easy – but it will be worth the effort. Enjoy this new adventure!!! And by the way, thank you for saying “yes” to this ministry.

P.S. Pflaum Publishing sometimes offers some useful age-appropriate help on its website:

pflaum.com/teachingres.htm
 
quiet52, I especially appreciate the link, I’d really like to have a look at some resources before I get my teaching materials, so I already have the gears in my mind turning.

I used to work in a daycare center in my late teens and early twenties (that’s a long time ago now). So I understand the whole bathroom break business, and that sometimes saying they need to go to the bathroom means they have already… :rolleyes:

I feel privileged to be able to do this! One person I told actually asked me if I was being paid, and when I said I was volunteering, he said I had a good heart, as if I’m putting myself out. I’m seriously honored that I would be allowed to do this! It’s going to be fun! I can’t wait to see pictures of Jesus with purple hair and stuff like that and say, “Oh honey, isn’t that just beautiful!” 😃
 
LOL BeeSweet … I think your students are going to love you to pieces. 👍

I hope your parish has a commissioning for the catechists. Catechist Sunday is Sept. 16th. We catechists need the prayers of our fellow parishioners.
 
get to know the website of the publisher of your parish textbooks, they have great help for catechists.
 
Beesweet-

I’m also going to be starting my first year of religious education. Another women and I are going to be teaching 5th grade. I’m somewhat nervous…we have orientation coming up. I hope we both have a great year!!

Good luck!!
 
What grade are you teaching? With my fourth graders, I found that they got more out of the class when I stopped doing “activities” and just read to them and talked. We only had an hour, I felt like we were trying to jam too much in in the interest of keeping them entertained, when what they really wanted was someone who would answer their hard questions. They got much more out of discussing the faith in real-life terms than they would have out of coloring sheets or origami. So we just didn’t do any extra stuff.

But I know younger kids like all the art and music and drama too much to skip it.
 
I’m teaching the kindergarten class. I believe I have seven students total. Classes start this Sunday!
 
I’m signed up to teach 3rd grade. I’ve taught 7th grade before, but it’s been 8 years since I did. I am very excited. This is a great age.

My 12 year old daughter is going to help me. She has a real gift for teaching.
 
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