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MacBeth
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Recycling. Yes. Recycling. These are the topics I must cover at the first session of the 4th grade CCD class I volunteered to teach.
>sigh< 
For the most part, the book (Loyola Press) is not horrible. It actually mentions sin  , has some good artwork, saint stories, scripture and all kind of info about Mass. But it also has the usual photos of smiling happy people being nice to each other--not tht that's bad, but it takes up most of the book, leaving the catechetical info to the sidebars.
I'm looking forward to sprinkling the class with lessons from Cay's book, good music, and some Suzuki method memorization games.
Any other ideas?
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MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
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JennGM
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Suzuki method memorization games? What are they memorizing?
Sounds like you have it covered. I'd work in the recycling with St. Teresa's Carmelites. Those cloistered nuns know how to save and reuse something over and over again.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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MacBeth
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JennGM wrote:
Suzuki method memorization games? What are they memorizing?
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Prayers. I was informed that 75% of the kids do not attend Mass. Most of them do not know the basic prayers. Some speak only Polish, so they need to learn the English versions (the Polish kids do go to Mass).
Thanks for the recycling suggestion . I was so stunned to see this as the first lesson that I panicked for a moment. Now that I have taken a good look a the whole lesson, I see that I can work it in way more subtly than the text does. 
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MacBeth in NY
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Rachel May
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I recently found recycling listed as an act of kindness in a book about virtues. It seemed odd to me, but it made Thomas more excited about his chore. 
God bless you for being willing to teach CCD.
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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momwise
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I can see where you're coming from MacBeth. I had my oldest come home from CCD (before homeschooling) and tell me they had discussed women's rights for the whole class period.
I'm with Jenn and Rachel. Recycling can definitely be worked into a lesson on waste, re-use, the Church's teaching on poverty, etc.
Many of the craftsmen at Serrv use recycled goods to create art and sell to raise their standard of living. There are pieces made of sea glass, weeds (there is a weed in Bangladesh that is made into beautiful paper), recycled tin and aluminum and more.
Maybe a project that could be made from recycled items and sold to give money to the poor? It sounds like a lot for a first class but maybe it could just be a starting point. Reallearning...don'tcha know?
Hmmmm....75% don't attend Mass? So everything should be tied into the Eucharist somehow. You've got a challenge! Let us know how it goes. Maybe we can collaborate through the year
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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guitarnan
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MacBeth,
This is a standard CCD problem...Mass attendance. When I was a DRE almost 20 years ago, I struggled with this, and later experience teaching grades 3 and 4 didn't change my opinion that the kids are hungry for the Faith, but the parents are often lazy about giving their children what they need. My friend who teaches CCD in northern VA says half her students don't go to Mass and half her students (not the same ones) don't speak English at home. I'll ask her for ideas, if you like.
One thing she's told me is that she spends most of her time on the basics (Mass, Sacraments, Prayers, Bible) rather than following the lesson plans to the letter. She says it's impossible to talk about the lessons if the students don't know about the Mass or the Ten Commandments...you get the idea.
You're not alone...this is a very important ministry, but quite challenging. Perhaps you could open each lesson with a brief Bible story or saint story that ties in with the lesson plan? Then you'd know you'd hit some of the basics each and every time.
When I taught this age group, we rewarded the kids with a trivia game (class split into two teams, each getting the chance to gain points for correct answers to questions from previous lessons, such as, "What is the Fourth Commandment?"). We only used 10 minutes of class for this, but they LOVED it and really studied The Basics at home to do well on the Quiz Game. If they didn't behave/participate/do the reading beforehand, we didn't play.
Part of the fun was seeing our dignified Catholic doctor, my lead teacher, really get into the game, with sound effects, encouragement ("Is that your final answer?"), and so on. The kids really got to know a different side of their doctor!
Prayers headed your way...
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Sarah
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We recycle.
However, it does seem odd that this would take up time in a religion book when there's so many other things in our faith to learn.
What your doing sounds good. Also, not sure if it was mentioned above, but I once heard that many kids do not know the 10 commandments. Even with the adult ones, they can be explained to young people without total detail.
I was from the era of smiley people covering the pages of religion books. We learned NO Faith basics. None.
My high school text for religion was something like "25 Things You Can Do To Save the World." And we learned to compost. And I still compost today, but it had no business in a class where no one knew their Faith. It seems like it would come AFTER those basics are covered, huh?
You can make a change, MacBeth. You're great to be teaching this!
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MacBeth wrote:
| Recycling. Yes. Recycling. These are the topics I must cover at the first session of the 4th grade CCD class I volunteered to teach. |
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Well, MacBeth, you've given me a good belly laugh today. (And that's not all that comfortable in this stage of pregnancy!)
I think the ideas for bringing out the spiritual aspect of recycling and taking care of the world God gave us are good. Those are the kind of things I tell my kids too. But why the heck the topic needs to be introduced in a 4th grade CCD text is beyond me.
Sixteen years ago when I was a new DRE and shared an apartment with a graduate school classmate who was also a new DRE, we used to commiserate about the pitiful textbook options out there for CCD programs. There were a few good orthodox ones, but even those can come across as very dry in a CCD setting. We talked about the idea of just writing a new series between the two of us. Well, we should have moved on that idea when we were young and single and had the time and motivation. That time is long past now. 
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MacBeth
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Hey folks! Thanks for the ideas and encouragement!
I met with my class--11 4th grade cuties--last night, and they are great! Sure, there's the one challenging kid, but I think he'll fall into place. The girls are sweet and lovely (and all Polish), while the boys are a mixed lot. They are all totally interested in learning. In fact, they began the class by asking questions about the book. First they wanted to know if we would be using the book this year, since last year they did not use the book, and it was a total waste to have it. I think they used "Faith First" last year, which I understand is not the best series out there  ...Then they asked why there is a "bird" on the cover, so we launched into a discussion about the Trinity. By the time we finished that, there was barely time to read about St. Theresa of Avila. The kids did not know what a nun is, so we talked about that. One boy asked if nuns have emotions . I gave them the recycling worksheet ("Name three ways...") for homework. Next week is Mass only, so we'll see how they did in two weeks.
Libby is my official helper; the kids were thrilled to find that she is also the cantor for the music portion of the program. They are all sure that 4th grade is going to be very cool and fun, and they even smiled the whole time. Hooray!
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MacBeth in NY
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jdostalik
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MacBeth,
How wonderfully it went for you! Makes me miss the years i taught CCD..
Congrats!! 
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Jennifer in TX
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momwise
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MacBeth wrote:
| I gave them the recycling worksheet ("Name three ways...") for homework |
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At first I read this as the "recycled worksheet." Wow, I thought, that MacBeth really thought of a creative way to throw in the recycling issue!
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"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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MacBeth
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momwise wrote:
MacBeth wrote:
| I gave them the recycling worksheet ("Name three ways...") for homework |
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At first I read this as the "recycled worksheet." Wow, I thought, that MacBeth really thought of a creative way to throw in the recycling issue! |
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Hey, don't think I didn't feel like tearing the pages out and telling the kids to recycle them!
Alice had the best line, though...she suggested a lesson on the new Trinity...reduce, reuse, recycle. 
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MacBeth in NY
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MacBeth
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Still, the class will be fine. I just read this blog entry, written by a seminarian who is team-teaching CCD with an atheist in LA. 
Yeah, things could be worse for me, I guess.
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MacBeth in NY
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teachingmom
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MacBeth wrote:
| Still, the class will be fine. I just read this blog entry, written by a seminarian who is team-teaching CCD with an atheist in LA. |
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Absolutely unbelievable!!! 
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marihalojen
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MacBeth wrote:
| The kids did not know what a nun is, so we talked about that. One boy asked if nuns have emotions . |
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So that's why nuns where veils, to hide their Vulcan ears!
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MacBeth
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Looks like that seminarian had to pull his page...here is the cashed link.
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MacBeth in NY
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Mary G
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MacBeth -- think of teaching CCD as time off purgatory ! And as you mentioned, it could be much worse! I'll remember to keep all CCD teachers in my prayers throughout the year.
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MacBeth
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Week 2 update (thanks to all who are reading and praying):
This week, rather than class, we had Mass. Here's the thing...the 4th grade (I'm up to 11 students) has the fewest kids, and all go to Mass every Sunday . Did I luck out? Sort of. 4th grade is the one year that folks believe they can skip and still stay in the program. 3 Graders are still basking in that 1st Holy Communion glow, and 5th graders want to get the Confirmation thing done, but 4th grade is kind of an in-between thing. I am thrilled, of course, as my kids happily answer Monsignor's questions, know the Mass, and sing!!!! Libby consulted with some music directors from other parishes and the message is, "get them while they are young!" What a great opportunity we have.
Since the last class was also the feast of St. Francis, I gave all of the kids pictures of St. Francis and the birds. They were so thrilled, and all vowed to tape them into their notebooks, and asked if we would get a saint for every class. You betcha.
So, while the DRE is suggesting "This Little Light of Mine" (and not even a scriptural version, but a dumbed-down version) for a children's liturgy  , Libby is secretly going to teach them a very cool call and response version of "Gaudete" for the third Sunday of Advent as a surprise processional. Do you think we can get away with it?
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MacBeth in NY
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Rachel May
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I'm praying you will! You and Libby are just what these kids need.
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Rachel
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ALmom
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We'll be praying.
Janet
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: St. Teresa Avila, Psalm 130, and...
