A full and varied schedule highlights Pope Francis’s first apostolic visit to the United States. If you are reading this prior to his September 2015 visit, plan to follow along with the pope on his journey through appropriate mention and study in your theology classes. If the trip has already occurred, some of these suggestions can also work well in review or in conjunction with another trip the…
The Religion Teacher Blog
10 First-Week Mistakes You Must Avoid This Year
It is time to return to the classroom! Are you ready? I always find that it is a little bit difficult to get back into the swing of things. It’s hard to jump right back in and pick up the momentum where you left off the year before. I know that I’ve personally made many…
Six Activities to Help Teach about the Parables
“The disciples approached him and said, ‘Why do you speak to [the crowds] in parables?’ He said to them in reply, ‘Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.’” Matthew 13:10-11 New! The Religion Teacher’s Parable Worksheet Pack includes thirty-four…
Save Your Voice and Your Sanity: 3 Ways to Effectively Get Students’ Attention
The class mumbles with whispering for a few moments. It grows to a murmur and before you know it, they are nearly shouting to the people next to them. How do you get their attention? How do you snap them out of discussion mode and back to listening mode without raising your voice? I’ve used…
Ascension of the Lord Worksheets
Help students explore the meaning of the Ascension of the Lord with a couple of worksheets from The Religion Teacher membership website and The Religion Teacher’s Rosary Activity Pack. A good catechetical worksheet not only helps students recall information, it helps them reflect on how God is working in their lives today. When I create…
A Surefire Way to Effectively Communicate with Parents
In order to really make an impact on the faith lives of our students, we have to be intentional about building bridges between us as religious educator and our students’ parents. We cannot sit back and wait for the parents to encounter Christ on their own. We have to develop relationships with them that are…
The Religion Teacher Turns Six (and a Birthday Giveaway)
March 12th marked the sixth birthday of The Religion Teacher. It is hard to believe it has been that long and it’s incredible to think about how far we’ve come. I remember sitting in the living room of a rented home in South Bend, Indiana six years ago ready to hit the publish button on…
Transfiguration Activities & Worksheets
Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Mark 9:2-3 At a turning point in the Gospels, Jesus was transfigured along with Moses and Elijah. The disciples…
Beatitudes Activities: 11 Teaching Ideas for Religious Educators
One of the most commonly requested topics from teachers, catechists, and fans of The Religion Teacher has been the Beatitudes. I cannot believe this is the first time I’ve ever written or created something about this important set of teachings of Christ. I took a little time and did some brainstorming on all of the…
The Religion Teacher: Membership Benefits
Since The Religion Teacher membership website opened in 2014, dozens of new resources and teaching ideas have been posted for the hundreds of premium members who have registered so far. More resources are added to the membership website every week. Here are a few reasons why I think you will love the member resources and what…
