Teaching Skills Archives - Page 19 of 39

Evangelization and Catechesis: Enough About Content, Let’s Talk Tactics!

Over the past couple of years, in an apparent effort to ensure orthodoxy of content, some Catholic dioceses in the United States have invested countless man hours and who knows how much money implementing lengthy and tedious processes to mandate a limited number of catechetical textbook series in their dioceses. This, despite the fact that dozens of textbook series have gone through rigorous scrutiny and have already been determined to be in conformity with the […]

Final Assessment Results

Joe Paprocki

So last evening, I conducted a Jeopardy-like review with my 6th graders and then followed it up with a final assessment. Here’s a summary: As part of our opening prayer, we included prayers for all those affected by the bombings in Boston. It is lamentable that, in the course of several months, we catechists have had to talk to our young people about the Newtown tragedy and now this. Let’s pray for an end to […]

Faith that is CAUGHT, not TAUGHT – What Makes a Message “Contagious”

Joe Paprocki

In ministerial circles, it is not uncommon to hear the phrase “Faith is caught, not taught.”The point of the phrase is that faith is something that involves more than just transmitting information. With that in mind, it might be helpful to know just what makes a message go “viral” – what makes a message “contagious.” Seeking answers, I recently read a very good book: Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger (Simon & Schuster) […]

End of the Year Assessment

Joe Paprocki

This coming Monday, I will do a formal assessment to see to what extent my 6th graders have grasped the BIG ideas I attempted to teach them this year in religious education! First, we will do a Jeopardy-like review using a Powerpoint version of the game that I found online a couple of years ago. You can manipulate this according to your own needs, changing categories, questions, and answers and hyperlinking from the “game board” […]

More Positive Reviews for Beyond the Catechist’s Toolbox!

Joe Paprocki

I am grateful for 2 more very positive reviews of Beyond the Catechist’s Toolbox, from people I highly respect! First, here’s a review from Jonathan Sullivan, the Director of Catechetical Services for the Diocese of Springfield, IL. He is also the chair of the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership‘s Technology Committee and host of the Catechetical Leader podcast. Jonathan is one of the finest minds in the country with relation to the effective use of technology […]

Positive Review of Beyond the Catechist’s Toolbox! (Now Available in Spanish!)

Joe Paprocki

I’m always appreciative to learn of a good review of one of my books…here’s one from William O’Leary about my most recent book, Beyond the Catechist’s Toolbox. Thanks William! Book review of Beyond the Catechist’s Toolbox from Catechesis in the Third Millennium By the way, this book is now also available in Spanish!!! Más allá de la caja de herramientas del catequista Catequesis que no solo informa, sino que también transforma Joe Paprocki, […]

Tonight, I’m the “Tech Guy!” – Lenten Reconciliation Prayer Service

Joe Paprocki

Believe it or not, tonight I play the role of the “tech guy” for the Lenten Reconciliation prayer service taking place in church! I will be on hand for both the early and the late sessions, manning the laptop and LCD projector for the following video elements included in the prayer experience: showing images of people being served by Operation Rice Bowl as their stories are read aloud opening song (video): Hosea – Come Back […]

Happy New Year! My First Lesson of 2013

Joe Paprocki

As we begin 2013 and continue with our Year of Faith, I wish you abundant blessings! It’s time to get back to work as a catechist! New Year’s Day proved to be a good day for me to plan my lesson for this coming Monday evening. Here is the outline of our session for Monday, January 7, 2013: The Prophets of Israel Challenge the People Big Idea: Prophets “get in the face” of the People […]

Shootings at CT Elementary School: When Will it Stop?

Joe Paprocki

In the wake of the horrendous shootings at an elementary school in Newton, Connecticut, I can only say that it sickens me to have to run this post again. Just substitute “Newton, CT” for “Virginia Tech.”Please pray for the victims, the survivors, and their families. The shooting at Virginia Tech will be the “Columbine” for the children we are teaching. Witnessing television reports about such violent events can result in fear and confusion. The sudden […]

Pre-Order My New Book! Beyond the Catechist’s Toolbox

Joe Paprocki

You can pre-order my new book, available in February, 2013! Beyond the Catechist’s Toolbox: Catechesis That Not Only Informs but Also Transforms ISBN 978-0-8294-3829-1 5 x 7 Paperback 64 Pages $7.95 Joe Paprocki, best-selling author of The Catechist’s Toolbox series, has written the first, step-by-step book that demonstrates how to teach a 75-minute catechetical session with practical techniques that expand upon the textbook to create a more prayerful climate in the classroom. Beyond […]