Teachers & Catechists
DESCRIPTIONS of TOPICS for PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (useful for creating on-site advertisement).
** REFER TO WEBSITE "ADULT SPIRITUALITY" REGARDING TOPICS FOR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT (Retreat Experiences).
Topics can be adapted to:
BE AN AGENT OF FORMATIVE SUPPORT FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS
What are the formation needs of children in elementary and secondary school? How prepared are parents to lead children in the ways of responsibility, self-control, and accomplishment? How effectively do parents transmit the faith and Catholic spirituality to their children? How well does the Parish serve as an agent of formative support to parents? Catholic educational leaders are called to be change-agents or support-agents in the families that they serve.
This session will offer insight, hope, and ready-resources to help Administrators, Teachers and Catechists to be agents of formative support to the parent community. Participants will identify practices at home and school that foster positive "identity" and authentic self-esteem which readies children to be catechized. SECURITY, AUTONOMY/SELF-CONTROL, INITIATIVE/RESPONSIBILITY, INDUSTRY and GENUINE AFFECTION are the essential elements of positive self-esteem. Identity formation is foundational to a child's spirituality and character.
RESILIENT, SELF-RELIANT CHILDREN -- BORN OR FORMED?
RESILIENCE! INDICATOR AND BY-PRODUCT OF SELF-ESTEEM
RESILIENCE! INDICATOR AND BY-PRODUCT OF SELF-ESTEEM
Unify parents and teachers in forming resilient, self-reliant children. Explore practices that ignite hope, strengthen willpower, instill purpose, and develop competence. Consider models for staff in-service. Explore ways to mentor parents. “Take-away” research-based formative support in the form of reproducible parent newsletters for independent use, assembly use, or parent-pods.
Be the 'I' in Evangelize!
Evangelization, that is, leading students and parents to meet the person of Jesus Christ, is core to the identity of the Catholic School. It is a mission that transcends curriculum and schedules. Whether in the classroom, on a field trip, or in the health office, what we do and the way that we do it speaks more effectively than our words. The presenter will expand these ideas and issue the challenge to LIVE the ABC's of Catholic Identity so as to BE the "I" in Evangelize!
- A- Accentuate Gospel Values
- B- Build Bridges to Evangelization
- C- Create a Culture of Community
CULTIVATE A CLIMATE FOR DISCIPLESHIP
Discipline is cultivated through attitude, approach, policy, behavior, teaching and conversation that is respectful of students and leads them to become inner-directed, responsible, responsive, and cooperative. Discipline and discipleship are two sides of one coin!
This session will focus on the following topics:
Partner "WITH" Parents
Mutual respect and open communication between parents and teachers is vital for the positive, whole-person development of children. Respectful assertiveness is also characteristic of disciples of Jesus. WITH (wisdom, initiative, truth, hope) suggests a formula for a positive partnership. Teacher goals include:
Middle School Teaching – Not for the Faint of Heart! OR It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's a Middle School Teacher
Be affirmed and stretched by discussing the social, cognitive, moral, and spiritual and sexual profile of "tween-stagers," the characteristics of effective middle school teachers, and the challenges peculiar to this stage of life. Take heart! There is life after adolescence and joy in the journey.
The Secret to Classroom Management? T.E.A.C.H.
Effective teachers T.E.A.C.H. to establish and maintain a positive learning environment. They TEACH more than proctor, ENGAGE students, APPLY developmental psychology, CREATE a sense of community and HARVEST hope within students, particularly those most at risk. Educators will benefit greatly from the spiritual, theoretical, practical, & motivational support available in this presentation. Extended support is available in the NCEA book, Student Self-Discipline in the Classroom and Beyond.
Catechesis for Christian Character
Character, the distinguishing feature of personality and behavior that persists, regardless of outside pressure or personal temptation, is both taught and caught! Character development begins at home and progresses by developing habits of mind, heart and action that lead to moral maturity.
Core issues included in this presentation are:
- • Knowing the good (Reasoning Skills . . . Habits of Mind)
- • Desiring the good (Emotional Skills . . . Habits of Heart)
- • Doing the good (Decision-making Skills . . . Habits of Action)
- • Objective Criteria of Christian Character
- • Overview of Moral Maturity through Ages & Stages
Structure for Success —Tips that replace SURVIVE with THRIVE
Make the most effective use of time within a class session (or the weekly Religious Education Program) by structuring for success. Session participants will consider "housekeeping" tips, grouping activities, classroom routines, student behavior, teaching procedures, and ways to organize the classroom environment for success.
Misbehavior? Name It, Claim It, Tame It, Or Prevent It from the "Get-Go."
Connect the Dots beween NEED, BEHAVIOR and SELF-ESTEEM
Self-discipline (self-regulation, impulse control) requires students to name, claim and tame feelings and emotions that lead to attitude and behavior. K-8 teachers and administrators will learn how to “read” the signs of student need, to give appropriate, effective response in the moment, and to use pro-active practices for the future. (NCEA Publication: Student Self-Discipline in the Classroom and Beyond).
Thrive VS Survive– A Gospel Imperative
"THRIVE rather than merely survive!" is the goal of effective teachers. T-H-R-I-V-E requires that we TEACH more than proctor; HONE teaching skills; RESPOND rather than react; INTEGRATE Gospel values; Model VIRTUE; and EVANGELIZE by being intentional, invitational, and inspirational. This presentation will provide practical support for this process.
The Sacramentality of Catholic Educators
A truly Catholic educator is like a sacrament: a visible sign, called by Christ, to be a catalyst of grace — the presence of God to others. Enter into a period of reflection on the Presence, Power and Providence of God in your life. Christ calls you to be a STEWARD of Souls, that is, a Servant, Transformational Leader, Evangelizer, Welcomer, Affirmer, Referee, and Defender of the Gospel.
Catholic Schools - Our Mission to Form Saints
It is the vocation of the Catholic School Teacher to form saints. This awesome responsibility requires the teacher to live well the baptismal call to be PRIEST, PROPHET, and KING – in the classroom, on the playground, and during informal encounters. This presentation will "unpack" these terms and suggest concrete applications that integrate the Gospel throughout the school day.
Promoting Christian Character via a Liturgical Classroom Environment
Fall initiates a new year in the lives of students and simultaneously marks the closing of the liturgical year. To a catechist/teacher, the intersection of the two life-seasons presents an opportunity for Christian character development. This session will offer strategies for applying the Sunday Gospel to daily life and for establishing a liturgical culture within the classroom.
Teacher as Compass: "True North" for Teens (Audience: High School Teachers)
An effective teacher serves as mentor, mirror, and model. During a time of searching and role confusion, teen-students need a teacher who will be "true north" for them. This presentation reviews the core elements of stage development and the characteristics of effective high school teachers:
- • Developmental Tasks of Adolescence
- • Pre-teen Foundation for Identity Formation
- • Characteristics of High School Teens
- • A "textbook profile" of Teen Adolescent Development (Emotional, Cognitive, Moral, Spiritual, Relational)
- • Characteristics of Effective Teachers
- Confidentiality/reverence/human dignity
- Speaking truth in love: "THINK"
- Grading and Grouping Practices
- Consequences versus the Rewards-or-Punishment Approach
- Basic Human Needs: How to understand, regognize, and respond
- Principles of Catholic Social Justice within the school environment
- Spirituality of Communion
RENEW FOR MISSION . . . FAN INTO FLAME THE GIFT RECEIVED
“ . . . I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God that you received through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6). Like Timothy, we faith-formators initially responded with fervor to the vocation of evangelization. We eagerly embraced the call to witness as priests, prophets, and kings. We made conscious efforts to function as the hands, feet, voice and compassion of Jesus. Today St. Paul encourages us to RENEW – to stir into flame our early enthusiasm. This session (1) will offer creative practices that can serve as kindling wood for the fire and (2) suggest inspired mentors to accompany us on our journey.
"BEING" A FAITH-FORMATOR VERSUS "WORKING AS" A FAITH-FORMATOR
Attention faith-formators (Catholic School Teachers and Catechists)! Enrich your personal commitment to Jesus and affirm your catechist-vocation. Consider the threefold aspects of your call: (1) witnessing (2) mentoring and (3) teaching. This presentation will consider Pope Francis as a pre-eminent catechist and it will offer practical, easy-to-imitate ideas. (Twenty-third Publications: Engaging the Parking Lot Parent)
AGENTS OF ACCOMPANIMENT
Parents and students who journey through life challenges need teachers, catechists, and administrators to respond to their vocation of accompaniment in three ways: (1) to companion parents and students with compassion; (2) to witness, mentor and teach in the manner of Pope Francis; and (3) to communicate hope. This presentation will consider Pope Francis as a pre-eminent agent-of-accompaniment and it will offer practical, easy-to-imitate ideas. (Twenty-third Publications: Engaging the Parking Lot Parent)
BE A MISSIONARY OF MERCY -- IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD
Attention faith-formators (Catholic School Teachers and Catechists)! Enrich your personal commitment to Jesus and affirm your catechist-vocation. Consider the threefold aspects of your call: (1) witnessing (2) mentoring and (3) teaching. This presentation will consider Pope Francis as a pre-eminent catechist and it will offer practical, easy-to-imitate ideas. (Twenty-third Publications: Engaging the Parking Lot Parent)
CULTIVATE A MICAH MINDSET: DO JUSTICE!
"JUSTICE comes before CHARITY," said Blessed Pope John XXIII. PEACE follows. Psalm 15 will provide the framework for discussing justice-practices within the school community. Topics include:
we are one family -- bully-proofing the school community--
Bullying is a non-issue when we recognize that we are all members of one family. Bullying, putdowns, hurtful teasing, and emotional isolation are non-issues when parents foster a healthy sense of autonomy that results in self-control, self-regulation, and positive self-esteem. Bullying is a non-issue when children know and practice the dynamic of forgiveness. This presentation offers formative support in five areas:
• personal dynamics of a bully, a victim, a bystander and a disciple
• proactive parent practices that bully-proof the family
• strategies for teaching forgiveness
• advice for victims of bullying
• electronic resources on topics like bully-proofing, social competency, friendship, how to handle teasing, put downs, cliques, peer pressure, building moral intelligence, esteem-building, . . .
in loco jesu
It is commonly known that teachers stand “in loco parentis” … “in the place of the parent.” In Catholic schools and in Religious Education classes it is accurate to say that the instructor is also “in loco Jesu” . . . in the place of Jesus! This session will focus on teacher practices that craft Christian Community. (NCEA Book: Embrace the Mission – Be the “I” in Evangelize!)
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