Engaging Faith

Your theology classroom is likely a place for great discussion opportunities in both large and small groups. Consider these six basic principles to guide any discussion. 1. Quality vs. Quantity Don’t try to finish all the items of a particular agenda or every question if some items are taking more time than anticipated. Carry the less urgent items to another discussion, or drop them altogether. 2. Make the Questions Available to Everyone Have the questions or discussion items posted or on a handout where everyone can take a look at them before having to speak. 3. Have Clear Rules So that Everyone has a Chance to Speak Establish a set of rules that everyone understands. For example, no one speaks a second time until everyone has a chance to speak, raise your hand if you want to speak, be courteous, etc. 4. Offer a Chance for a “Pre Response” Allow everyone to jot down their response before being called on to speak. 5. Rotate Leadership If a group has a moderator or leader, switch the roles so that everyone get a chance to be a leader. 6. Affirmations Consider beginning any group discussion with having everyone go around the group or with a partner by offering a heartfelt compliment or affirmation to the person.

As the start of a school year draws near, you might appreciate this helpful acronym master catechist Frank Mercadante developed to help him remember what it means to E-D-U-C-A-T-E his students. E mphasize Interaction D iversity of Learning Approaches U tilize Life Experience C ontent Moderation A pplicable to Real Life T hree-fold Response E nvironment of Concern Here are some additional notes on each point. Emphasize interaction with the students by breaking up your lesson presentations with discussions and other group-centered involvement (e.g. panels, forums, one-to-one conversation). Allow plenty of room for questioning. Use a diversity of learning approaches by connecting with the four basic catechetical models suggested by the National Directory of Catechesis: Community: For a sense of belonging among your students, not just in your classroom but within the larger student body and the Church herself. Worship: Provide many opportunities for participation in liturgy and for personal prayer. Have you created a prayer corner in your classroom? Service: Build in applications to every lesson. How will the students take what they have learned into their families and larger communities. Consider assigning in-class and outside of class service projects along with each unit of study. Message: Don’t feel the need to water down the academic piece. Students are used to challenging courses in other subject areas. Your class can keep those standards. Keep content moderation in mind. Your students don’t have to learn everything there is to know about God, Jesus, the Church, Scripture, and morality during one semester. In God’s Providence, they will have other chances in the future to go deeper on the same material. Use both contemporary and historical examples of Catholic witnesses to make the lessons applicable to real life. Share everything from the examples of the lives of the saints to the lives of their peers. Remember the three-fold response: catechesis involves educating whole person: head (knowing), heart (believing), and hands (doing). Cultivate an environment of concern. This step can trump them all; if you like your students and they like you, it makes all the difference. You draw on their energy and they draw on yours. They feel that they are loved and cared for. It’s how Jesus was an effective teacher. Best wishes on the start of the new semester!

Engaging Faith

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Principles for Classroom Discussion

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