Teachers of Faith
Guiding our Students Towards the Path of Christ
Knowing Jesus
Many teachers begin the New Year discussing New Year’s Resolutions with their students. For many students in the primary grade this concept can be over their heads. In their minds they are already perfect and don’t need to make any resolutions for change.
Perhaps, as Catholic educators, we can transform their idea of resolutions into not just ways we can change ourselves, but rather ways we can be more like Jesus. Asking your class what is means to be like Jesus will likely result in a few blank stares and some simple answers such as, “be nice”, “care about others”. How do we ask the question, “What would Jesus do?” to children without discussing the life of Jesus? We must begin knowing Jesus by reading about His life, teachings and claims in the Bible. This alone helps us to learn about Jesus. To truly KNOW Jesus requires a personal, spiritual relationship with Him through prayer. As teachers, we must model this relationship and develop it in ourselves as well.
Teachers are only human, and as such we are faced with obstacles in our relationships. A relationship with Jesus can have its own challenges and obstacles. Sometimes it stems from our feelings of loneliness, feelings of doubt or guilt, and lack of confidence in our ability to reach out to Jesus through prayer. Remember, praying doesn’t need to be another “thing to do” on your to-do list. Prayer is precious time spent, no matter how small the prayer, affirming Him as Lord of your life!
Prayers can be done throughout the day and not always done in privacy. They can be made with your class, with co-workers, or your family at home. Prayers don't need to be a chance to make a "request" for something as we already know that God doesn't always give us what we "want" in life. The difficult idea is that God gives us what we "need", which may sometimes include trials and tribulations. These trials serve as a way to draw us closer to faith and to Jesus, for without Jesus it is sometimes impossible to get through them.
The following are important stories about Jesus including Parables & Miracles. I begin many lessons with the scripture, which are included. Songs are also a good way to tie in your lessons. How your class responds to the stories depends on the grade you teach. Drama, art, song, prayer, and class discussions are ideal responses for all grades. My goal is take the brain work out of where to find these stories, in essence where to begin. I will leave it up to you, the educator, to make creative decisions about how you will extend your students' learning about our greatest teacher, Jesus Christ.
On my reflection blog I have included some ideas to help the discussion going in the classroom. Sometimes it takes a discussion with others you work with to understand what you are teaching. Learning about your faith sometimes only takes a little research and guidance from others. The greatest resource for Catholic Educators is the Holy Bible itself. Let your classroom be your guide for what you are looking for in the Bible. Everything you need to guide your students about how to live their life is in the Bible. Weekly at Mass, I feel like I learn something I've never learned before. Consider Mass as a spiritual learning tool for Catholic Educators. Follow the insight shared by priest in his homily and extend them with in your classroom. You don't need to have years of formal Religious education to become familiar with your faith.
My greatest learning curve in faith occurred upon discussing my faith with a fellow Christian. Her love and passion for the word of God opened my eyes to a world that I was so blinded to. She was so knowledgeable and willing to share her wisdom as her way of helping me along my own path. Don’t be afraid to ask someone who may have a little more knowledge about your faith. You’ll be surprised what you can learn! There are mountains of books and articles online to help you refresh your knowledge of your faith. My hopes are that you can turn to my website for ideas and refreshers for your everyday teachings of faith. May the Lord inspire you to help your students towards the path of Christ.
http://kids.christiansunite.com/biblestories_jesus.shtml
