For catechists, this is a great time to reflect on the past year and look ahead to next year. I did a little reflecting and came up with some observations about the year and goals for next year. This was my first year teaching 8th grade CCD at our current parish. It was an adjustment…
The Religion Teacher Blog
Virtual Tour of the Sistine Chapel on Vatican Website – Activities
The Vatican has added another interactive feature to their website. Have you ever been to the Sistine Chapel? Have your students been? With so many things to see in Rome, I was never able to block out the time to wait in line to see it. A “virtual” tour may not be as good as…
End of the School Year Ideas and Activities
The end of the year is quickly approaching for most schools and religious education programs. For teachers this can be just as stressful that the rest of the year. Many students—especially seniors and 8th graders—“check-out” early in the second semester with a bad case of “senioritis.” Other students wait joyfully in anticipation of the close…
Do Catholics Worship Mary?
No, Catholics do not worship or adore Mary. Catholics hold Mary in a special place of honor and venerate her with special devotions such as the Rosary. The first point of confusion related to this issue is terminology. So let’s clarify a few words: worship, adoration, veneration, and devotion. If you look them up, they…
A Reflection on Developing Virtues in Teens
One thing that separates religious education from other disciplines is that religion teachers and catechists go beyond teaching about the faith to teach students how to have faith. This is especially the case with the Christian moral life. With Christ as our model, teachers show students how to be moral persons. They do this by…
How to Get Students to Participate in Class Discussions
You’ve just taught one of the most profound theological lessons of the year. You think your lecture was fantastic, amazing, even inspiring. You finish, turn to the class and ask them a question to discuss this amazing lesson. What do you hear? Nothing. Blank stares, no eye contact, and the sound of crickets in the…
Happy Anniversary to The Religion Teacher blog
Well, it has been one year since I launched The Religion Teacher. It has been a great experience and I am thankful for the opportunity to share my thoughts and ideas with you. Since the first post in March 2009, I have shifted my focus away from news and web reviews to pedagogy and practical…
Religious Education and Catechesis Blogs
As I promised on the Catechetical Leader Podcast (episode #2), here is the list of catechetical blogs that I have found and followed over the past year. If I missed one that you have created or that you follow, please submit it as a comment or email me. I know the list is overwhelming so…
NCCL’s Catechetical Leader Podcast Episode 2
I recently had an interview about catechesis and blogging on the Catechetical Leader Podcast with Jonathan Sullivan and William O’Leary. Jonathan, the host of the Catechetical Leader Podcast, is the Director of Catechetical Ministries at the Diocese of Springfield and a member of the technology committee for the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He blogs…
LA Religious Education Congress 2010 Just Two Weeks Away
The popular Los Angeles Religious Education Congress is less than 14 days away. This is one of the largest Catholic conferences in the United States and certainly one of the largest gatherings of religious educators worldwide. Although the event is hosted by the diocese of Los Angeles, it is certainly an international event. Over the…
