- Start of the Year

Editor's Note: Yikes! No Lesson Plan?

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:10:02 -0400

Yikes! No Lesson Plan
by Kass Dotterweich

It happens -- rarely. But when it does, we can feel anxiety, stress, guilt, and embarrassment. On top of all that, we might pile on a sense of being irresponsible.

That's the mental distress of the moment when we find ourselves entering the learning space without a lesson plan.

What to do? Ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Then, consider one of these ideas that some of you have shared with me over the years.

Continue reading "Editor's Note: Yikes! No Lesson Plan?"

Eucharist: Connection and Unity

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:03:07 -0400

by Jeanne Heiberg

Before Jesus was crucified, he prayed for us to be connected to God, to himself, and to all others: “…that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us…” (John 17:21). He gave us a way to help the connection happen. At the Last Supper, he took bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to his Apostles, and said, “This is my body, given for you. Do this in memory of me.” We follow what Jesus said and we do this at every Eucharist.

This prayer activity helps students to understand that their lifelong calling is to grow in their deepest being where they meet and connect with God.

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Tips for the New Year

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:05:55 -0400

Be Welcoming

From the very first class, be sure to stand at the door as students arrive. Greet each student, introduce yourself, and ask your students' names. Tell them where to put their coats and ask them to be seated. Distribute name tags when all students have arrived and are seated.

Tips for the New Year

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:47:11 -0400

The Most Important Thing You Teach

As a parish catechist, you represent the Church to the young people assigned to you. What you say and do, how you look, how you treat each child--all these things teach how you and, by extension, how the Church regards its young people. The most important thing is to make children feel good about coming to their parish, to make them realize that they will always be warmly welcomed, and that the Church community cherishes them and extends the love of Jesus to them.

Copyright 2011, Peter Li, Inc. This article may not be reprinted or reproduced in any form without permission, except for use with your classes or families.

Tips for the New Year

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:57:20 -0400

Getting Acquainted

Often the youngsters in your class come from different neighborhoods and schools and do not know each other. And you may not know many of your new students either. That's why you need to spend some of your first class learning names. Start with name tags. You can buy blank ones that can be pinned on at a school supply store. Or you can have children make their own. Click here for handmade name tag ideas. Collect the name tags at the end of class because you may want the children to wear them for the first few classes.

At the next class, gather the students in a circle and make a game of giving the correct tag to each child. Hold up a tag and caution the person to whom it belongs to say nothing, and have the class identify the owner. When all are wearing their tags, go around the circle and have each child share some personal information, for example, a favorite song, a favorite computer game, the name of a family pet, and so on.

Encourage children to use each other's names and to use yours as well. Tell them using a person's name is a sign of respect, and respect is important in every learning situation. Be sure to write on the chalkboard or a large sheet of paper how you prefer to be addressed, for example, Ms. Wilson, Mr. Bates, Sister Mary William, Brother Rob.

Copyright 2011, Peter Li, Inc. This article may not be reprinted or reproduced in any form without permission, except for use with your classes or families.

From the Editor: NSVC, The Place for You

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 07:36:00 -0400

NSVC: The Place for You

Think of a place where you like to go: where you feel respected, embraced, cared for, and safe; where you find strength to face painful and unpleasant circumstances; where you can share your struggles and celebrate your accomplishments.

The concept of "place" isn't limited to a physical location. For example, a gathering of my children -- anywhere -- is a "place" that brings me great joy. When I find myself surrounded by books -- or absorbed in a single book -- I am in a "place" of promise, adventure, and excitement.

This feeling of "place" is exactly what we strive to provide to catechists with the National Society for Volunteer Catechists, a service of CATECHIST magazine.
Continue reading "From the Editor: NSVC, The Place for You"

I-Am-With-You-Always Bracelets

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:01:12 -0400

by Margaret Stripe

Jesus said, “I am with you until the end of time.” For many young people, Jesus’ reassurance is not readily understood. Making I-am-with-you-always bracelets will help students understand the presence of Christ in their lives.

Where is God when we go through difficult times in our
lives? This is a hard question for adults to answer. It’s even
harder for young people, especially when they do not have
much life experience to help them understand what they are
experiencing — such as the death of a family member, being
left out by friends, or failing at something they’ve worked
hard to accomplish.

Continue reading "I-Am-With-You-Always Bracelets"

Best Practices for Teaching Religion: Pray at Every Opportunity

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 20:56:54 -0400

by Kate Ristow

There are a number of proven techniques that lead to successful classroom sessions. Making these practices part of your normal, weekly routine frees you to focus on helping your students grow in faith. In this series of articles, Kate Ristow will present eight basic best practices for teaching religion. Today's best practice: Pray at Every Opportunity.
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Best Practices for Teaching Religion: Generate Discussions with Open-Ended Questions

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 08:58:57 -0400

by Kate Ristow

There are a number of proven techniques that, when used consistently, lead to successful classroom sessions. Making these practices part of your normal, weekly routine frees you to focus on helping your students grow in faith. In this series of articles, Kate Ristow will present eight basic best practices for teaching religion. Today's best practice: Generate Discussion with Open-Ended Questions.
Continue reading "Best Practices for Teaching Religion: Generate Discussions with Open-Ended Questions"

Best Practices for Teaching Religion: Get Students Working Together

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 09:02:00 -0400

by Kate Ristow

There are a number of proven techniques that, when used consistently, lead to successful classroom sessions. Making these practices part of your normal, weekly routine frees you to focus on helping your students grow in faith. In this series of articles, Kate Ristow will present eight basic best practices for teaching religion. Today's best practice: Get Students Working Together.
Continue reading "Best Practices for Teaching Religion: Get Students Working Together"

Best Practices for Teaching Religion: Use a Seating Chart and Rotate Seating Frequently

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 07:54:00 -0400

by Kate Ristow

There are a number of proven techniques
that, when used consistently, lead to
successful classroom sessions. Making these
practices part of your normal, weekly routine
frees you to focus on helping your students
grow in faith. In this series of articles, Kate
Ristow will present eight basic best practices
for teaching religion. Today's best practice: Use a Seating Chart and Rotate
Seating Frequently.
Continue reading "Best Practices for Teaching Religion: Use a Seating Chart and Rotate Seating Frequently"

Best Practices for Teaching Religion: Do Your Homework

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:14:21 -0400

by Kate Ristow

There are a number of proven techniques
that, when used consistently, lead to
successful classroom sessions. Making these
practices part of your normal, weekly routine
frees you to focus on helping your students
grow in faith. In this series of articles, Kate
Ristow will present eight basic best practices
for teaching religion. Today's best practice:
Do Your Homework.
Continue reading "Best Practices for Teaching Religion: Do Your Homework"

Feeding My Soul with Respect

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 08:19:04 -0400

A Catechist's Prayer
for the Start of the Learning Year
by Sister Alice Ann Pfeifer, CSA

Father in heaven, there is so much I want to
share with my students in the course of a
learning year. I want them to know what the
Church teaches. I want them to recognize the
ways you are present in their lives. I want
them to learn all the attitudes and actions that will lead them to
everlasting happiness.

Yet, I make a mistake if I am the kind of teacher who does all of the talking
all of the time. There are times when I need to sit back and listen to my
students—to ask meaningful questions and to wait patiently for their responses,
whether these come in speaking, writing, or some other form of self-expression.

To honor what my students say is to honor who they are, and isn’t that what
your Son Jesus always did when he taught his disciples? He listened respectfully
to a variety of answers, for instance, when he asked them, “Who do others say
that I am?”

O Holy Spirit, teach me the art of respectful listening that I may teach as Jesus did. Amen.

Be an Evangelizing Catechist!

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:30:32 -0400

by Tom Quinlan

As a catechist, you are important to the life of the Church and the fulfillment of its mission to evangelize. In the name of Jesus, you catechize in order to “put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ."* Here are ways to be an effective, evangelizing catechist.
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How to Create a Successful Parent Open House

nospam@example.com (CATECHIST magazine) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:39:07 -0400

by Victoria Giulianelli

Our parish's Faith Formation Open House for grades K- 5 was a big success. We chose as our theme: “We are on a mission to change one heart at a time.” This theme clearly states the focus of our ministry: The heart of the child is at the center of the catechetical process. This article explains how we applied the theme to create a memorable experience for the children and their parents and catechists.

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