junior high Archives - Catechist's Journey

New Songs for Name That Sin, Virtue, or Gift

Not too long ago, I shared a post here on Catechist’s Journey inviting folks to help me update the songs for an activity I call “Name That Sin, Virtue, or Gift”—an activity I created years ago when working with teens preparing for Confirmation. I received a number of helpful suggestions and then did some research of my own to find more contemporary songs and complete the chart. Let me share the following disclaimer: the inclusion […]

Looking for Song Suggestions: Name that Sin/Virtue/Gift

Joe Paprocki

Many years ago, when I was teaching a Confirmation class, I came up with an activity to teach about the Seven Deadly Sins, the Seven Virtues, and the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit using music. In essence, I identified “contemporary” songs that speak to each of these items—yes, 21 songs. The gist of the activity is for catechists to play segments of these songs and invite the young people to match them to the […]

Junior High and Something Different in Faith Formation

Joe Paprocki

For as long as I’ve been in catechetical ministry (over 40 years!), I’ve heard catechetical ministers pleading for something different when it comes to doing faith formation with junior high kids—and rightly so! Young people in junior high (seventh and eighth grades) are at a critical stage in their faith development, as their “image of God received in childhood is refashioned.” (Directory for Catechesis, 247) The worst thing we can do is to continue to treat […]

Entering Through Their Door & Knowing the Age Group You Teach: Junior High

Joe Paprocki

Welcome to another installment of Entering Through Their Door & Knowing the Age Group You Teach, a series in which we look at the developmental stages of our learners. St. Ignatius of Loyola said that, when teaching or speaking to a group, it is always best to “enter through their door, but be sure to leave through your door.” His advice means that we need to take learners where they are and move them to the […]

Wassily Kandinsky - "All Saints Day I" - public domain via www.wikiart.org

Friends, Not Statues: Three Ways to Teach About the Saints

Bob Burnham

There are many ways we can teach about the saints. We can ask young people to write a report about their favorite saints. We can have the class choose a patron saint. We can include facts about saints in our weekly lessons. But when I think about the way I talk about my friends, I don’t talk about them as if they were a collection of facts from a Wikipedia page. I don’t say what […]

Catechists In Action – Meet Dan Ward!

Joe Paprocki

It’s time to get back to our Catechists in Action series where we get to be a fly on the wall, observing everyday catechists performing their ministry. I’d like you to meet Dan Ward, a 7th grade catechist at Most Holy Redeemer parish in Evergreen Park, IL. Dan is a high school teacher and coach in the Chicago Public School system. I’ve been talking recently about the image of the catechist as coach and Dan personifies […]

Recording of Getting Started – Jr Hi & High School, NOW AVAILABLE!

Joe Paprocki

Here is the recording of the Getting Started as a Catechist Webinar for those teaching Junior High and High School! Have a great weekend! P.S. when you click on the video, click again where it says “Watch on Youtube” (lower right corner) to find all the segments of the Webinar

Thanks for Participating in the Getting Started Webinar!

Joe Paprocki

A great big THANK YOU to all the folks who participated in tonight’s Webinar, Getting Started as a Catechist – Junior High and High School Youth!!! As always, it was wonderful to be able to spend time with you looking more closely at how we can grow in our effectiveness as catechists. Good luck to all you junior high and high school catechists! Next up is my Webinar for catechists of adults on Tuesday, September […]

Free Webinar! Getting Started as a Catechist of Junior High & High School Youth

Joe Paprocki

This Tuesday, August 30, 2011, I will be hosting a Getting Started as a Catechist Webinar for those who teach Junior High or High School youth. There’s still time to register for this free opportunity! To register, click here. In anticipation of this Wednesday’s Webinar for Catechists of Junior High and High School youth, here is a Note-Taking Handout you can download and use during the webinar. If you’re unable to participate at the scheduled time, […]

Teaching Jr High & High School Youth – What’s Your Advice?

Joe Paprocki

Here’s what Bernie has to say about teaching junior high and high school youth: I am starting my sixth year of teaching 7th graders and last year I was surprised to realize how much my students enjoyed a bit of quiet time to encounter God. With their heavy schedules of school, sports, choir, and other extra curriculars, some of these children are constantly on the run. Towards the end of class, I tried to incorporate […]