After what seemed like an endless string of interruptions (days off, practices for Seder Meal, Lenten and Holy Week prayer services, etc.) in our regular teaching schedule, I finally get to teach a lesson this coming Monday! With only 3 classes left for teaching, I am going to do one more session on the Bible this Monday before sending their Bibles home with them. Here’s my plan:
Technology in Catechesis
Prayer and Storytelling with a Digital Twist
In my book, Preparing Hearts and Minds: 9 Simple Ways for Catechists to Cultivate a Living Faith, I emphasize the need for meaningful experiences of prayer and effective storytelling as crucial elements for a more evangelizing catechesis. As a Church, we have been praying and storytelling for more than 2,000 years, so these are nothing new. What is new, however, is the digital world of which we are all now citizens! The digital world has opened up […]
Intermediate Grades
“My Dad’s Gonna Get Suspicious”
At last evening’s session, we focused on the gift of God’s creation and spent a lot of time learning about and reflecting on the goodness of God’s creation. As class was winding down, I encouraged the young people to look up at the night sky when they left to see the stars and the moon and to look around at all the people made in God’s image and to be grateful and joyful. One of […]
Intermediate Grades
The Serpent and Temptation – “He Kept Coming at Her”
Perhaps the most interesting part of our session last evening, as we explored the consequences of not trusting in God (via the story of Adam and Eve) was when one young lady pointed out that the serpent “never gave up” but kept coming at Eve until she gave in. What a great insight! We picked up on that right away and talked about how that happens to kids with peer pressure: we might say no […]
“Using the footnotes, invite volunteers to explain what gopherwood is and what a cubit is.” I like that.
Christian, you’re a sucker for that biblical minutiae!
I’m also fired-up about the idea of having the kids get comfortable with looking at the footnotes. I suspect that most readers skip them, but they often provide such valuable commentary, cross references, etc. Good to start them early.
One girl figured out the footnote “technique” very quickly and excitedly described it to the rest of the class, showing them where to find out the definitions of cubit and gopherwood!
Hi Joe,
Wait…what? Practicing for a Seder Meal? I thought you weren’t doing that out of respect for our Jewish brothers and sisters. Did I miss a post?
God bless,
Connie
Hi Connie…it’s out of my control. The parish program does the Seder meal each year with the 6th graders and I just happen to teach 6th grade this year so my students were required to go to practice and then to perform the Seder Meal. Out of respect for my DRE, I kept mum on the subject although I have spoken out about it previously on my blog in general terms. I make a habit of not criticizing on my blog what my DRE does…that would be unfair to her and I admire greatly the work she does. I continue to hold to the notion that such a re-enactment is not the best way to learn about the Seder and that it is not respectful to our Jewish brothers and sisters. I was very uncomfortable watching the kids perform this with occasional giggles and smirks while going through the motions of a ritual that is sacred to the Jewish people. I would much rather have a guest speaker from the Jewish community come in and take us through the ritual.
Hi Joe,
Oh, I’m so sorry to shine more light on what was undoubtedly a difficult position for you to be in. But you are a great example of how to be respectful of Church authority even when one disagrees. Your handling of this situation is a true catechetical lesson–on how to humbly, respectfully disagree with others without publicly condemning or criticizing. Thank you and God bless you!
No problem…thanks for “keeping me honest!” Thanks also for your kind words.