Good Discussion Questions for Catechist Grade Level Breakout Sessions

As I mentioned in a previous post, I enjoyed a day in the Diocese of Peoria, in particular, participating in a grade-level breakout session for 5th and 6th grade catechists. Some of these grade level sessions can grow tedious if not facilitated well. I like the fact that for these breakouts, the diocese provided questions to guide the discussions. Here they are:

1. Bringing Prayer into the classroom.
   • Are there any regular prayers you use and why? Opening? Closing? Intercessory?
   • Are there any special prayers or devotions you use during the liturgical year?
   • Are there any ideas for prayer you’ve thought about and would like to use in the future?
2. Bringing Saints into the classroom.
   • How are saints brought into your class?
   • Any special feast days you highlight? Why?
   • Are there any ideas for bringing saints into your classroom you’ve thought about and would like to use in the future?
3. Use of Music in the classroom.
   • Is music used in your class? When and how?
   • What resources do you use?
   • In what ways might music be used in your class in the future?
4. Use of Art in the classroom.
   • In what ways do you use art in the classroom and how does it illustrate the point or knowledge you are trying to get across? Favorite craft, etc?
   • Do you bring your own religious art into the classroom? Favorite statues, paintings, icons, etc?
   • Are there any ideas for using art in the classroom you’ve thought about and would like to use in the future?
5. Handling Discipline in the classroom.
   • How do you handle discipline in the classroom?
   • Do you use any type of system to maintain order?
   • Are there any ideas for handling the classroom which you’ve thought about and would like to use in the future?
6. Promoting Parental involvement.
   • In what way(s) are parents currently encouraged to participate in the formation of their children in your current class or program?
   • Are there any ideas for encouraging parental involvement you’ve thought about and would like to see implemented in the future?
7. Favorite Lesson to teach – Why and How?
   • Think for a moment about that topic, lesson, which you really look forward to teaching every year. What is it?
   • Why do you so enjoy teaching this topic?
   • How exactly do you present the material and how to the children react?
8. The Strengths and Weaknesses of the text you use in the classroom.
   • What are the strengths and weaknesses of the textbook and materials provided to you?
   • How do you overcome the weaknesses? What supplemental materials do you use?
   • In what ways do you use Scripture and the Catechism to supplement the provided texts?
9. Games and Activities
   • What game or activity do you use in the classroom which the students seem to really enjoy and really is effective as a teaching tool?
   • What games and activities have you tried which really flopped or didn’t work as expected? Any ideas why it flopped?
   • What games and activities have you thought about trying in the future?

Finally, I like this little disclaimer that they added to the handout!

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