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:
Scripture
Labor and Rest in the Bible Activities
What does the Bible say about work and rest? Explore Scripture passages related to labor and God’s command and promises of rest. The downloadable activities invite young people to look up Scripture verses and then express what they learn in creative ways. This activity is inspired by the 2023 Catechetical Sunday theme of “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened.” (Matthew 11:28) In our driven and often anxious world, let’s remember to […]
Approaches/Techniques
October 29th Session Summary – Part 1: Questions, Questions, Questions!
Since I have lots to share about my session last evening, I decided to break it up into smaller, bite-size pieces for you this week. Here’s the first installment. Last evening’s session was characterized by questions, questions, questions! It seems that you can’t talk about creation, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac without a million questions! That’s good, of course, however, as I’ve mentioned before on this blog, catechists have […]
Intermediate Grades
One Last Session!
It’s hard to believe, but this Tuesday is the last session I have with my 6th graders! Where did the year go? It has been a wonderful year and I am so grateful to these 9th sixth graders for being such a great class of kids and to my wife Joanne for being the best aide ever! Our official last class is next week when we take the kids to church for Mass so this […]
“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.