“With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.” Mark 4:33 How did Jesus teach his disciples? He told stories. His stories of common everyday things were used as lessons for great mysteries. These stories, which we call parables, were used as anchors for his disciples to understand…
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Holy Week Prayer Services
There are a number of great Holy Week prayer services for kids that religion teachers and catechists can use in class the week before Easter. We should all use this time, known as the Triduum, as a special week of preparation for the joys of Easter with particular focus on preparing our hearts with the…
Day 21: Draft or Edit Student Learning Objectives
“Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13–14 As I mention in 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator, I love Steven Covey’s phrase “begin with the end in mind” from his book…
Day 2: Recognize Your Relationship with Christ
“Who do you say that I am?” (Mk 8:29) Today we continue to take actions to become a better disciple. The word “disciple” obviously suggests that we have a teacher: Jesus Christ. Today we will think back on our personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ so that we can come to a deeper understanding…
Prayer Service for Vocations
Mid-January of every year in the United States is declared National Vocations Awareness Week by the USCCB to coincide with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Why is this week so important? From the USCCB website: “National Vocation Awareness Week gives dioceses and parishes across the country a chance to promote vocations through prayer…
45 Ways to Celebrate the Year of Faith as a Family
Although we’ve begun a new calendar year, the Year of Faith is still in full swing! Have you given your parents some ideas on how to celebrate the Year of Faith at home with your students? Jennifer from Risen Christ School in Minneapolis shared with me a Year of Faith brochure she created to give…
@Pontifex Lesson Plan on the Pope
In 2012 Pope Benedict XVI officially joined Twitter as @pontifex in 2012. Teachers and catechists constantly ask me how to make lessons interesting to the students, well here is a great opportunity to be relevant with lesson plan on the Pope! The Pope joining Twitter is an excellent opportunity to make real world connections to…
Our Lady of Guadalupe Prayer Service
In many areas of the United States, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe may be one of the most important feast days in the Catholic school/parish religious education year. As the number of Hispanic Catholics rise in the United States, so does the devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Consider using this prayer service,…
The Religion Teacher’s Jesse Tree Kit
The Religion Teacher’s Jesse Tree Kit is a special set of resources that can be used by catechists, teachers, and parents to prepare their children for the coming of Christ throughout the month of December. This Jesse Tree kit includes twenty-four Jesse Tree ornaments and symbols. All twenty-four ornaments in The Religion Teacher’s Jesse Tree Kit come…
The Advent Activity Pack from The Religion Teacher
Activities, lesson plans, worksheets, videos, prayers, and teaching ideas to help you teach children and teens about Advent. The Religion Teacher’s Advent Activity Pack provides teachers, catechists, DREs, and homeschooling parents with creative ideas to teach children about the liturgical season of Advent. Advent offers our children a great opportunity to encounter Christ as they…
