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amyable
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For the last several years, we've used textbooks/workbooks for teaching religion. We've used a few different kinds - Seton, Faith and Life, etc.
Part of me wants to completely ditch the workbooks. But I have NO idea *what* to teach them if I don't do that! Yes, we can celebrate the Liturgical Year and memorize the Catechism, but isn't there more to Catholicism than that? I don't know, we never had to memorize the Catechism growing up, and my oldest will be unable for the most part (LDs). Somehow just memorizing things doesn't ring true to me either, but maybe I'm wrong. And then there's prayers...so many! And the Bible! Help!
Do the main religion curriculum providers keep to some sort of agreed upon "We teach A, B, C in first grade and D, E, F in second grade"? For those of you that combine kids and/or don't use a "textbook", how do you know what to cover?
Sorry for this basic of basic questions. I just know this is so important, and more than in other subjects, I don't want to MISS anything.
ETA: Just FYI my kids are going into 6th (but with dyslexia/LDs), 4th, and 1st with some tag alongs.  And while my dh allows me to teach anything for religion, and loves that I do, he doesn't lead us to LIVE this stuff as a family, nor did I grow up like that (i.e. family rosary or celebrating the liturgical year, etc)
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JennGM
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Amy, I have a few ideas, but I'm wondering are you looking for *general* ideas, like what to cover for grades? I have a few resources that give an overview for what was expected for grades 1-8. This blog post has the links to the 1st grade plans. Is that what you mean? It's an older book, but the plan doesn't vary much as to what is covered per year.
Or are you looking for resources, broken down by using what when? Reading material, etc?
Give me a lead and I'll jump in what I'm thinking...after the lunch crazies.
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JennGM
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Oh, and since you're combining grades sometimes, I'd simply say it's spiral learning, the material repeats, just goes deeper. So you could cover similar topics for different ages.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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amyable
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Jenn, that first grade plan overview that you uploaded in that blog post is almost exactly what I'm looking for.
So you are saying that if I saw the 5th grade version, it would look almost just like the first grade version? 
In my perfect world I would have a small book that says for example. "Teach the 10 commandments every year. In 1st grade like *this*, in 4th like *this*, in 7th like *this*. Have them memorize the sacraments and these 5 prayers in 2nd grade. Read the major bible stories every year until 4th grade. Jesus' parables should be taught every other year from 3rd grade on and a great way for younger kids is *this* and for older kids is *this*"
YKWIM?
And I would also want all the local CCD classes and major religion textbook providers to follow the same guidelines, so I know that if all of a sudden I start using Book "A" in 6th grade with a child, she won't be totally lost because she was using "mommy curriculum or "Book B" up until then.
Am I just making all of this up, or could this actually exist?  Forgive me for being daft, I'm majorly PMSing with an out of town dh. 
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JennGM
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I think I know what you mean, Amy, and I'm sending big  to you. I don't have my scanner hooked up to my new computer, and I have a queue of a few things to scan, but I can scan the other grades, if this was helpful to you. That's why I liked this resource, to see the overview of all the elementary grades and what's the simple plan to cover those years and what is highlighted. Besides repeating the pattern of the catechism, the mass, Liturgical year, prayers, here's the varying elements in the years:
Second Grade concentrates on 1st Communion Prep
Third Grade concentrates on learning prayers, and then word study of the prayers; Bible Lessons showing the covenant between God and man.
Fourth grade focuses on Christ's life
Fifth grade has a detailed study of the Mass
Sixth Grade has Bible History, Old Testament
Seventh Grade has Bible History, New Testament
Eighth Grade has Church History
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amyable
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Thanks Jenn, even just that short list is quite helpful!
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Barbara C.
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It seems like you're basically looking for a standardized scope and sequence. I don't know if one particularly exists.
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| I just know this is so important, and more than in other subjects, I don't want to MISS anything. |
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The fact of the matter is you can't teach them EVERYTHING. Our faith is too rich, too layered, too big. A lifetime of study would probably not be enough to cover all of the joys, sorrows, mysteries, histories, symbols, and meanings of Catholicism.
I think all of us have to be careful of thinking of or treating Religious Education as another subject, even if the most important one. It should really be a way of life.
So don't worry if you miss a prayer here or a parable there. Memorization has its purpose, but it is not the purpose. Memorize the catechism and live the liturgical year with them. And teach them by example: receiving the sacraments often, incorporating daily Bible study/prayer in your own life, continuing to learn new things about the faith yourself. Before confirmation give them the basics of church history and make sure they are capable of defending the most basic attacks they might hear against their faith.
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amyable
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Thank you Barbara and Jenn. I wound up going here after a google search for Catholic scope and sequence (you'd think I would have thought of that on my own...thanks Barbara! ). I printed out the "detailed scope and sequence for all grades for both Faith and Life and Image of God. PHEW! My printer is  with exhaustion . It must have been 200 pages all together! (Luckily my dh won an old laser printer that work was giving away  ). I only jammed it twice.
It's a lot, but I think it's a guide I needed to be able to teach how/when I want, but still know that I'm covering many of the important things. Now if I could only index those 200 pages with all the wonderful blog posts, etc, I'd be ALL SET.
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Barbara C.
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Glad I could help!!
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Barbara
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Erin
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Jenn
I'd forgotten about that post, thanks for reminding me. Be sure to let me know when you have the scanner up and working
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Thank you Jen & Barbara also.
I'm loitering taking note/s here as well.
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donnalynn
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donnalynn wrote:
I had purchased "Remain in Me - Faith Formation Curriculum" from CHC years ago - but I can't find it on their website now.
I think this is a handy resource to have especially for guidelines on how deeply to go into different topics for different ages. There is a section on Doctrinal Formation that gives lists of topics based on age - many of the topics are the same but there are different key points which increase in complexity as the child grows older.
There are other great resources in this book too - a Virtue chart, liturgical year ideas, lists of further resources, and a nice chart of the school year broken down by months to include a theme, prayers to learn, objectives ofr the month, and Marian feasts.
When I did search for the book the only hit I got was
here. |
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Ooooh, Donna! That looks fabulous!
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amyable wrote:
Thank you Barbara and Jenn. I wound up going here after a google search for Catholic scope and sequence (you'd think I would have thought of that on my own...thanks Barbara! ). I printed out the "detailed scope and sequence for all grades for both Faith and Life and Image of God. PHEW! My printer is with exhaustion . It must have been 200 pages all together! (Luckily my dh won an old laser printer that work was giving away ). I only jammed it twice.
It's a lot, but I think it's a guide I needed to be able to teach how/when I want, but still know that I'm covering many of the important things. Now if I could only index those 200 pages with all the wonderful blog posts, etc, I'd be ALL SET. |
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I always forget to use the term "scope and sequence". That's a great website, Amy. I might have to get my printer rolling, too.
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SuzanneG
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CHC used to sell Remain In Me.
Amy~I don't think this is exactly what you're looking for, but thought I'd mention it, in case you have this book, or know someone who does, cuz I think it's helpful and it's age-related.
In Mary Ann Budnik's book Raise Happy Children....Raise Them Saints!, on pages 247-254 she has a "rough breakdown by age of what to teach your child." It goes from Infant to High School Years. The older ages are less detailed than the youngers....and it's not specific, per se. But, it's been really helpful for us.
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DianaC
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JennGM wrote:
Third Grade concentrates on learning prayers, and then word study of the prayers; Bible Lessons showing the covenant between God and man.
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Jenn,
Could you point us to resources for the word studies of the prayers?
Thank-you!
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KauaiCatholic
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Barbara C. wrote:
| The fact of the matter is you can't teach them EVERYTHING. Our faith is too rich, too layered, too big. A lifetime of study would probably not be enough to cover all of the joys, sorrows, mysteries, histories, symbols, and meanings of Catholicism. |
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WOW. I really needed to hear that. thank you!
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JennGM
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DianaC wrote:
JennGM wrote:
Third Grade concentrates on learning prayers, and then word study of the prayers; Bible Lessons showing the covenant between God and man.
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Jenn,
Could you point us to resources for the word studies of the prayers?
Thank-you! |
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Hmmm, the book I originally cited above has sections on word study. I'd have to think of other sources. The Our Father has been done many times. I'll put it below as an example. I don't think it's anything unique or earth shattering that isn't found elsewhere.
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The Our Father
See Catechism No. 2, questions 490-499.
1. Review the story of Jesus teaching the Our Father from the Gospels.
2. Word study
art -- an old way of saying are
come -- may it be everywhere
daily -- what we need for each day
deliver -- keep
evil -- what is bad or what would hurt us
hallowed -- loved and honored
kingdom -- another name for the Church
temptation -- what might lead us to sin
Thy -- an old way of saying your
tespass -- to be bad or mean
trespasses -- sins
will -- command, wish
3. Simple Explanations for each petition
(a) Our Father who art in heaven. We speak to God as Our Father because we belong to Him. He made us, He watches over us, He wants us, when we die, to live with Him in heaven. Heaven is really our true home.
(b) Hallowed be Thy name we want You to be loved and honored by all men.
(c) Thy kingdom come We want You to be Our King and King of everyone in the world. The Catholic Church is God's kingdom on earth. We are praying that all men may get to know the Catholic Church, to enter it, and to live as good Catholics.
(d) They will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We want You to be obedyed by all the people in the word just as the angels and saints obey You in heaven.
(e) Give Us this day our daily bread Please give us everything we need today. (Have pupils suggest what they need for body and soul.)
(f) And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Please forgive me my sins as I forgive those who have been mean to me.
(g) And lead us not into temptation. Please help me not to sin.
(h) But Deliver us from evil. Please keep me from all harm, especially those things that would hurt my soul. |
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Then there are a few exercises to reinforce, nothing fancy. I typed them, but my 18 month old just erased them.
I'll mention a gorgeous book by Esther and Eloise Wilkin, The Lord's Prayer, a Catholic Child's book which has the best illustrations of each petition and great explanations. It's very rare (on Amazon for over $165  ) but if you can find a copy, it's a jewel.
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gwendyt
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Our diocese has a wonderful website that goes over thoroughly scope and sequence for all grades - plus a wonderful section on artwork and salvation history. Check it out - I think it's really helpful!
http://www.dioceseoflacrosse.com/ministry_resources/cateches is/
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Wendy
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: What to learn/when?
