Teaching Religion to Children: Creative Strategies and Best Practices

Fee: $60
Explore teaching as a vocation, the various types of learners, different approaches to presenting content, and ways to create sacred space and pray with students in the classroom.

ENROLL NOW

Sharing the treasure of Christian faith with the next generation can be a real challenge. It’s not enough for children to learn doctrine, but they need to find meaning in the faith for their lives.

Focused on the elementary and junior high catechist and religious educator, this course explores the fundamental questions facing educators: Who are my students? What should I teach? and How do I teach it effectively? Participants will learn about the developmental needs of their students and their diverse learning styles as well as different strategies and resources to provide a quality faith-based education. This course is not dependent on any catechetical textbook series.

Topics

• Week 1: Introduction
• Week 2: Who are my Students?
• Week 3: What Should I Teach?
• Week 4: How Do I Teach It? Part I: Strategies
• Week 5: How Do I Teach It? Part II: Holistic Student Formation

Additional Materials Needed

Joe Paprocki. The Catechist’s Toolbox: How to Thrive as a Religious Education Teacher. Loyola Press, 2007. (Loyola Press) (Amazon)

Content Scholars

• Joe Paprocki, D.Min., (text) is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press. He has over 35 years of experience in ministry and has taught at the high school, college, and general-adult levels. He is the author of numerous books and he presents to audiences across North America.
• Thomas H. Groome, Ph.D. (videos) is professor of theology and religious education, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, and former director of Boston College’s Church in the 21st Century Center.
• Melinda Brown Donovan, M.A. (video, article) served as associate director for continuing education, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, through May, 2019.
• Anne Krane, M.Ed., M.Div. (video) is a Pre-K teacher and Ministry Coordinator at St. Columbkille Partnership School. She is also the host and creator of the Breakfast with God program.
• Fr. Quang Tran, S.J. (video) is a Jesuit priest of the Central Southern Province. He is originally from New Orleans, LA. and is currently a doctoral student in counseling psychology at Boston College. He is a co-host of the Breakfast with God program.