When I was a high school theology teacher, there were two incredibly intelligent students that, I have to admit, were a challenge to teach. Ben and Jerry (not their real names) were smarter than me and they liked to show it. Any chance they got, they would question what I was teaching with counter-arguments and…
Search Results for: Lent
Liturgical Year Lesson Plan and Flashcard Activity
How do you introduce young people to the liturgical year? Most catechists and religion teachers spend in-depth class meetings focusing on each individual seasons, especially during Advent and Lent. Sometimes, though, it is important to zoom out and help young people see the whole picture. The liturgical years isn’t about colors and rituals. The seasons…
The Most Important Piece of Advice that New Religion Teachers and Catechists Don’t Want to Hear
I am blessed to live and work near the University of Notre Dame. Summers are always a great time here. I’m a graduate of the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) program and my wife still works for one of the ACE programs so I get to hang around people who are passionate about Catholic education…
The Religion Teacher Products
In addition to the many free resources available here at The Religion Teacher, the following collections of downloadable classroom resources are available for purchase here at this website: The Religion Teacher’s Advent Activity Pack (member access) The Religion Teacher’s Jesse Tree Kit The Religion Teacher’s Lenten Activity Pack (member access) The Religion Teacher’s New Roman Missal Activity…
Day 15: Update Your Classroom Procedures
“For lack of guidance a people falls.” (Prv 12:14) Years ago, when I was a student in the Alliance for Catholic Education program, the very first thing we learned about being a teacher was how to create and teach with classroom procedures rather than classroom rules. We watched an incredible video of Harry Wong and…
Day 11: Write a Note of Praise to a Student Who Struggles
If at times you show preference to any young person, it should be the poor, those who have no one else to show them preference, those who have the least knowledge, those who lack skills and talent, and those who are not Catholic or Christian. If you show them greater care and concern, it must be because their…
Papal Conclave Lesson Plan
This is an updated lesson plan from The Religion Teacher’s Pope Activity Pack, which includes lesson plans, activity ideas, worksheets, prayers, and videos to help you teach about and pray for the pope. Get additional lesson plans and worksheets about the pope here. Papal Conclave Lesson Objectives Papal Conclave Lesson Activities & Assessment Hook: Jobs…
Do an 80/20 Analysis to Review Lesson Plan
You’re overwhelmed. Nothing seems to be working in your classroom. Stress levels rise with each new day. Why won’t these kids listen? Why am I constantly getting blank stares? Why won’t they just sit still and pay attention? I’ll never get all of this information covered today let alone this entire year! Maybe your life…
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…
@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…
