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StacyLynn
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| Posted: Dec 11 2006 at 1:14pm | IP Logged
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I am a homeschool mom and am teaching religous ed in our parish. I feel like my assistant and I are not getting along very well. We are so different, she is a single working mom and I am this crazy fanatic homeschool mom who stays home all day. I am also very strict with my own children and this reflects on our classroom because I have high expectations with our students. She is not as structured with her child as I am with mine and I know that the tension is building up. I have called her before to talk about our class and she is just too busy, so I e-mailed her about ideas for the class and the lessons planned for the days....I always include a personal note that I am looking forward to seeing her and over the Thanksgiving break I made a comment about not seeing each other for quite a while and how nice it will be to teach together.
Well, last week she was unable to attend class and her daughter was there. I did not pick her to answer a question and she broke down in tears, (she had been picked to answer another question)well, the om who was helping me said maybe she(the little girl) was needing extra attention and I was not giving it to her. I think this has added a strain to her mom and my relationship, I need some advice and some prayers.
I worry that I may be impatient with this group. I had this great vision of how the class was going to go and had these activities and ideas.....well, this group is not ready for many of the activities I planned.
I hope this is making sense,
I have class tonight and think I am part of the problem and would welcome advice, words of wisdom, prayers....today I feel like quitting teaching this class but I know that is not the answer.
Blessings,
StacyLynn
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kingvozzo
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| Posted: Dec 11 2006 at 1:58pm | IP Logged
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No advice or wisdom, but lots of prayers coming your way!
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Noreen
Wife to Ed
Mom to 4 great kids and 10 sweet ones in Our Lady's arms
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: Dec 11 2006 at 2:14pm | IP Logged
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StacyLynn wrote:
I have class tonight and think I am part of the problem and would welcome advice, words of wisdom, prayers....today I feel like quitting teaching this class but I know that is not the answer.
Blessings,
StacyLynn
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Dear Stacy,
You are definitely not part of the problem. YOu never were, never are, and never will be.
You, my dear, are God's pawn. Let him move you where He wills. 
I happen to know through firsthand experience that a Catholic hser-teacher's expectations for a CCD program are in a big way very different from the "program" used in the diocese.
The two---no matter how well meaning on both sides---are (usually) not in-sync with one another.
I cannot instruct you about what to do but if God called you to teach this class, go forward. Give yourself the Christmas holidays to pray about what/where He is guiding you to do (to go).
Perhaps MacBeth can offer more concrete advice since she's teaching CCD this year. She's blogging it too. 
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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Marybeth
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| Posted: Dec 11 2006 at 3:46pm | IP Logged
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We teach 8th grade CCD at our parish. My only words of wisdom would be to pray to the children's guardian angels and ask them to intercede.
I'm sorry for how you feel. I have been there many times!
All last year I homeschooled a neighbor boy of my sister for his religious education. I thought the year was flat and not very well done. I tried very hard just each lesson left me feeling rushed and vague with all this great information I wanted to share.
Well, to my surprise this boy loved it. He raves to everyone about it and all the things we did and talked about...you could have knocked me over at the bagel store this summer when he told me he is praying everyday three Hail Marys like Don Bosco asked.
So,my point after all this rambling is...if your heart and intentions are to lead little ones to God...they will be no matter how we feel or think..actually He does it all in spite of us.
We will pray this evening while our son is at CCD class for your peace.
God bless,
Mb
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Marybeth (Mb)
http://held-together.blogspot.com
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StacyLynn
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| Posted: Dec 11 2006 at 4:40pm | IP Logged
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Thank you for your words and prayers. I am sincerely moved to tears. I needed your words and prayers today.
Thank you again.
God Bless,
StacyLynn
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jdostalik
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| Posted: Dec 11 2006 at 5:44pm | IP Logged
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StacyLynn,
Offering up prayers for you right now that you have a good class and that you hang in there...those kids need you!! 
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God Bless,
Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
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Philothea
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I teach 4th grade CCD. Remember that most of these kids get little or no faith formation at home and are being academically educated in inferior, crowded public schools. You cannot expect the same performance from them as you get from your children, who are educated one-on-one with Faith as the centerpiece of their learning.
I find that the best way to actually cover the material and make it meaningful for my kids is to keep it relatively unstructured and let the Holy Spirit lead us. We read the chapter aloud together every week and discuss the deeper themes (we use Faith and Life). If we have extra time, we'll do an activity sheet or a game or watch a video, but honestly, with only an hour to go over everything, we usually talk about the themes for the week right up until closing prayer.
My kids seem to love this unstructured format and get more out of it than they would if I was frantically trying to move us from task to task, no matter how rich the activities. Simply talking about God and faith is so novel to them that it really holds their interest, and they're able to ask really great, hard questions that we have fun answering together. Sometimes we get really off-topic, but those times have been some of the best learning I've seen them do, with the most impact on the way they think of the Faith.
Just my two cents. I know it's frustrating when you have to work with someone with such different vision. Please don't quit. I will pray for you.
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StacyLynn
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| Posted: Dec 12 2006 at 9:00am | IP Logged
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Well, last night went very well! Thank you for your prayers.
I had planned some fun activitites for Our Lady of Guadalupe, we had mexican wedding cookies, each student took home a rose and we drew from our Catholic how to draw book from CHC (if you do not have this it is wonderful)and read Tomie Depaola book about Our Lady of Guadalupe.
This was the first class that my assistant was interested in our topic, she said "you really like the saints don't you?"
I try to do activities like this whenever possible, and many of my ideas I get from you ladies-thanks!
Well, we talked after class and she made a comment about our class being "a handful" and restless. I let her know that I try to keep the class so structured because it is hard for them to give us their attention that late at night and after a day of school....well, we are understanding each other better now. She did share that she is struggling with her daughter and moving into a new home. It must be very difficult to be a single mother, please pray for her with me.
I really want to say thank you for your words and prayers, yesterday I wanted to quit and today I am excited about next weeks class.
God Bless,
StacyLynn
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StacyLynn
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| Posted: Dec 12 2006 at 9:09am | IP Logged
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Philothea--- I appreciate your advice, I have wondered if I am trying to do too much. We have class for and hour and a half and are using a text book called Christ Jesus, the Way.
I really enjoy introducing the children to the saints and the rosary, this may be where my assistant and I differ. I am not sure if it is because this is new to her too?
But, over the Christmas break I am planning on looking at my lesson plans again. It is time to get the students ready for their First Holy Communion. I wish we were using the Faith & Life series. It is one we use in our home, but not through the parish.
Thank you for praying and advice, I really appreciate it.
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: I am looking for advice
