Tips and Helps for Catechists and Classroom Aides
The items shared on this page are meant to help you in your ministry. We will add to this list as we find items which may be pertinent and useful. Please don’t hesitate to ask for help in approaching specific issues or concerns.
“Whoever teaches must become "all things to all men" (I Cor 9:22), to win everyone to Christ. . . Above all, teachers must not imagine that a single kind of soul has been entrusted to them, and that consequently it is lawful to teach and form equally all the faithful in true piety with one and the same method! Let them realize that some are in Christ as newborn babes, others as adolescents, and still others as adults in full command of their powers.... Those who are called to the ministry of preaching must suit their words to the maturity and understanding of their hearers, as they hand on the teaching of the mysteries of faith and the rules of moral conduct. Catechism of the Catholic Church, §24
The whole concern of doctrine and its teaching must be directed to the love that never ends. Whether something is proposed for belief, for hope or for action, the love of our Lord must always be made accessible, so that anyone can see that all the works of perfect Christian virtue spring from love and have no other objective than to arrive at love. Catechism of the Catholic Church, §25
The Top 10 Things Every Catechist Needs to Know ~ http://www.catechist.com/the-top-10-things-that-every-catechist-needs-to-know/. *Great Resource in general: www.catechist.com.
St. John Bosco and the Secret of Education (from Crisis Magazine) ~ http://www.crisismagazine.com/2014/st-john-bosco-and-the-secret-of-education. St. John Bosco’s system is called the Preventive System and is really beautiful. It is taught to catechetical students at Franciscan University.
Help My Students Are Bored in Class ~ https://www.thereligionteacher.com/bored-students/. *Helpful resource in general: www.religionteacher.com.
How to Get Kids to Obey ~ http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/marriage-and-family/parenting/how-to-get-kids-to-obey.html. *Watch the video at the bottom of the page.
Responding to Disruptive Students ~ https://www.edutopia.org/article/responding-disruptive-students. *This site ~ edutopia.org ~ has a number of interesting things that might apply to the Religious Education classroom. I follow them on Facebook.
Effective Discipline: 20 Tools for Christian Parents ~ http://www.cornerstonesforparents.com/effective-discipline-tools-christian-parents. *This particular article is written for parents, but gives some good reminders in dealing with children.
Study: Those Raised by Religious Hypocrites Turn to Atheism Later in Life ~ https://relevantmagazine.com/life5/study-those-raised-by-religious-hypocrites-turn-to-atheism-later-in-life/. The title is a little harsh, but the impact the witness of parents makes on their children is very real.