April  2010 Today's Catholic Teacher  Idea of the Month:

Putting One's Confirmation to Work
We have always stressed to our Confirmation candidates that they must not
only know and practice their faith but be open to service in it. We now have
added a new dimension for our candidates: They must be able to teach their
faith. Each candidate teaches a religion lesson to a class of younger
students, using lesson plan outlines to formulate objectives, incorporate
action, and explain and assess the lesson. Sharing their Catholic faith can
only deepen their own evangelization.

—Eleanor Menna, Holy Trinity School, Whitestone, NY.



March  2010 Today's Catholic Teacher  Idea of the Month:

Wanted: Disciples
As a follow-up to lessons on the sacraments of service and my third-graders'
role in their faith community, each child was assigned to create a disciple
"want ad." Ads included requirements for candidates: open hearts and minds,
ability to carry a daily cross and live the law of love, etc. Students and
their families made posters which were displayed in the hallway, and the ads
were published in our school newspaper.

—Julie Grall, St. James School, Mukwonago, WI.



February  2010 Today's Catholic Teacher  Idea of the Month:

Rockin' Prayer
I turned my eighth-graders’ enjoyment of listening to music into a prayer. During the school year, each student prepares a song prayer service for the class. Each prepares a paragraph telling the meaning/message of the song, finds three related Bible verses, and shares his or her favorite lyric. After the song is introduced to the class, it is played, often with the video, placing a favorite pastime into a prayerful setting.

—Amy Johns, St. Charles Borromeo School, Ft. Wayne, IN


January 2010 Today's Catholic Teacher  Idea of the Month:

Worth a Thousand Words
During the fall junior-high students studied digital photography and iPhoto
editing on Apple laptop computers. They took photos at home, around our
parish campus, and during a local field trip. Each student chose his or her
two best photos for printing on high-quality photographic paper, and the
photos were matted. We will display them during our Catholic Schools Week
Art Show and action them to the highest bidder. Proceeds will go to the
school's endowment fund.
 

December 2009 Today's Catholic Teacher  Idea of the Month:

The Infancy Narratives
In preparation for studying the infancy narratives of Jesus, students
research and write their own infancy narratives. Next they complete an
anticipation guide with questions about the birth of Jesus. After reading
the scriptural account, they each complete a Venn diagram. They then create
Christmas cards each depicting a scene from the Gospel account along with a
relevant scriptural quote. The cards are sent to soldiers and residents of
nursing homes and shelters.
 

November 2009 Today's Catholic Teacher  Idea of the Month:

Plates for a Purpose
Our eighth-grade class has embraced 31 local and national charities by
creating "Plates for a Purpose." Each student selects and researches a
charity, writes a persuasive article explaining why it deserves support, and
designs a plate depicting its theme. Plates, essays, and bid sheets are
placed in the school hall, where they draw visitors. The highest bidder by a
given date writes a check for that amount, which then goes to the charity.
 

October 2009 Today's Catholic Teacher  Idea of the Month:

Good News Notes
I try to mail "Good News Notes" to parents of up to three students each week. The notes can recognize improved effort, an act of kindness, or some other worthy event. I make a special effort to let parents of "problem" students know that they are also doing some things well. I mail these to arrive on Saturday when there are no other school distractions.

—Thomas Lapatosky, St. Patrick School, Providence, RI

September 2009 Today's Catholic Teacher  Idea of the Month:

The Teacher Feature
As marketing becomes increasingly important in sustaining a strong school enrollment, we embarked on a marketing feature that shows off our faculty in a weekly parish bulletin. Most of our marketing efforts have concentrated on students, but we have determined that it is equally important for parishioners to know our outstanding faculty. Each week a teacher is randomly selected to be featured in “The Teacher Feature.” The column includes the teacher’s educational background, current teaching assignment, reasons why the teacher chooses to teach in a Catholic school, and some personal notes. A photo of the teacher adds the finishing touch.

—Sr. William Adele, SSJ, St. Luke the Evangelist School, Glenside, PA
 

August 2009 Today's Catholic Teacher  Idea of the Month:

Teacher Treats
With the opening of a new school year, prepare a welcome-back treat for
your teachers. Fill cellophane bags for the teachers with such useful items
as pencils, pens, highlighters, bookmarks, paper clips, etc., and
distribute them at the first faculty meeting. Attach a photo of the school to
customize the bags, adding a message of welcome and support. Affirm the teachers and their service to Catholic education.

—Gail Harvey, assistant principal, St. Saviour School, Brooklyn, NY



July 2009 Today's Catholic Teacher  Idea of the Month:

Welcome to Our Family
Two large bulletin boards in our main lobby are decorated in a variety of
ways each year. In September, I put large letters across the top of each
saying "Welcome to Our Family," along with photos of all our staff on one of
the boards. At the Welcome Back Brunch on the Sunday before students start
coming for full days, I take photos of the families attending and display
them on the other bulletin board. The photos attract the attention of
visitors. We use the second bulletin board for changing displays of
activities and events during the year.

—Jim DelViscio, principal, Bishop Dunn Memorial School, Newburgh, NY

 

June 2009 Today's Catholic Teacher  Idea of the Month:

Retired Teachers: A Bountiful Harvest
Don't let retired teachers drift away from your school. They are rich in
talent and ideas. Each year, a retired colleague helps my fourth-grade
class create a state history and geography quilt. At the end of the year, the
class presents a state exhibition and features the quilt at a silent
auction on which parents and guests may bid. The proceeds go to the school's
financial fund. Students benefit from the teacher's expertise. Harvest
those great ideas!

—Linda Ferguson, St. Jude Thaddeus School, Havre, MT



May 2009 Today's Catholic Teacher  Idea of the Month 

Blessed Mother's Birthday
Third graders pick a day during May to celebrate the Blessed Mother's
birthday by displaying a statue of Mary with a birthday banner. We sing
"Happy Birthday" and do a "Mary" word search. Students receive pictures of
her bordered by alternating stars and hearts. They color the hearts as I
lead the Hail Mary and the stars as they respond in prayerful cadence. A
party with fruit ends the celebration.

—Charlotte Welker, St. Vincent de Paul School, Cape Girardeau, MO


April 2009 Today's Catholic Teacher  Idea of the Month:

Grace Place
It's a spot for teachers to retreat from the hectic pace of school
activities or to talk to God for a few minutes during a busy day. It's Grace
Place. When I am teaching religion classes, my office is free. In it, a
space was set aside with religious symbols, a rocking chair, a prayer
kneeler, and a petition box. A quilt was added to provide a comfy feeling.
Encouraged by our principal and blessed by our pastor, Grace Place is
used by many of our teachers.

—Nanc Weis, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque School, St. Louis. MO



March 2009 Today's Catholic Teacher  Idea of the Month:

Calendar Activities
Many parishes have a pile of Catholic calendars left in the rear of the
church by the end of February. They are put to good use when students use
them for religion activities. Here are a few: 1) Find all the Marian feasts.
2) When do we celebrate the feasts of the apostles? 3) Find all Holy Days of
Obligation. 4) Find five of your favorite saints and their days. 5) List
days when the priest wears red vestments, white vestments, etc. at Mass. Our
students in grades 5-8 love this activity.

—Sr. Patricia Throener, principal, St. Michael's School, Albion, NE


February 2009 Today's Catholic Teacher  Idea of the Month:

Writing Love Letters
Especially for the month of Valentine’s Day, a fun way I have for teaching young students how to write friendly letters is to tell them that they will be writing love letters. In groups they brainstorm lists of things that go together: pencil and paper, peanut butter and jelly, etc. Then they write to and from those pairs. For example:

Dear Paper,
I need you when I want to write my thoughts. Without you, I can’t put my words down.
Your friend,
Pencil

—Lisa M. Jones, St John Catholic School, North Charleston, South Carolina
 

January 2009 Today's Catholic Teacher  Idea of the Month:

Happy Birthday, School!
Everyone loves a birthday party! Celebrate your school's birthday: Choose a day during Catholic Schools Week (January 25-31, 2009) or designate the date of its founding or the feast day of the school's namesake. Invite students and parents to send "presents" that will be raffled off to raise funds. Students can design and display birthday cards. Close by treating students to an appropriate snack as they salute the birthday of their
school.

—Gail Harvey, St Saviour School, Brooklyn, NY


December 2008 Today's Catholic Teacher  Idea of the Month:

Advent Retreat Day
We set aside the last day before Christmas break as a student retreat day. Teachers collaborate with grade partners to plan age- and grade-appropriate activities for the retreat afternoon. In so doing, we focus students’ attention on the real reason for the season. A school-wide prayer service in the church creates a quiet, prayerful atmosphere on that last, otherwise hectic, day before the holidays begin.

—Sr. William Adele, principal, St. Luke School, Glenside, PA

November 2008 Today's Catholic Teacher  Idea of the Month:

A Special Pre-K Prayer
Before the day's beginning prayer, ask the children to hold God in their hands (put their hands together in prayer) while they think about him and pray. End with the Sign of the Cross and ask the children to "hold" God for a final time. Tell them to give God a kiss and blow him back up to heaven. To do so, they kiss their hands and blow, wiggling their fingers as they let God go.

—Erin Seymour, St. Martha School, Louisville, KY
 

October 2008 Today's Catholic Teacher  Idea of the Month:

Pumpkin Saints on Parade
Following a detailed study of saints, students can take advantage of pumpkin harvest time to transform pumpkins into likenesses of their favorite saints. Use paint, cloth, beads, yarn, and other favorite craft items. At our school on All Saints Day, the other k-8 students enjoyed table displays of our sixth graders’ pumpkin saints on parade.

—Ellen L. Boyd, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown, MD


September 2008 Today's Catholic Teacher  Idea of the Month:

Catch your students being Christ-like every day of the week. Ask students to focus on using their minds through which Christ thinks on Monday, their hands through which Christ serves on Tuesday, their voices through which Christ speaks on Wednesday, and their hearts through which Christ loves on Thursday. Recognize students with certificates on Friday.

—Nancy Cheesman, St. Lawrence School, Indianapolis, IN

Share your experience with other teachers. Send your Idea of the Month to mnoschang@peterli.com