What Makes A Good Catechist?

When you volunteer to be a catechist you must take it seriously, it is not a job to be taken lightly. By becoming a catechist you have made a commitment to teach students the best you can and that doesn't mean being a slacker and only doing a mediocre job. When you volunteer to be a catechist at your parish it says you will be responsible for that class for the year. That means you need to have lesson plans and activities ready each time your class meets. That also means a catechist will be on time and will know the material. All too frequently some take a nonchalant attitude about being a catechist. Remember you volunteered to be a catechist and they are counting on you to be there and do your job well.



What makes a good catechist?


• When a catechist needs to be absent you follow the procedure for being absent that is written in the catechist handbook that you signed to verify that you understood what your responsibilities are and the rules that you must follow. Contact the appropriate personnel when you find out when you will be absent ASAP. When you are absent and you do not notify others this causes disruption and poor learning with the students. When you notify the DRE and co-teacher prior to being absent it allows them to make other arrangements. Nothing is worse than not having a teacher show up and a lesson has not been planned. Other volunteers who are supposed to be doing something else and not your job will have to scramble and try to come up with a lesson and teach your class. Utter chaos will result and your students will suffer the consequences from your inconsiderate actions. The catechist should also have all necessary items and suggestions (lesson plan, Substitute Teacher Packet, tips, etc.) ready for the substitute so they can do their job efficiently and effectively.


• Always arrive at least 30 minutes before your class starts. To enhance your students learning prepare your classroom. A well organized catechist and classroom is a must. Without it, your students will not learn to their fullest potential.


• Use a wide variety of engaging activities that enable all your students to be actively involved in the class. Do imaginative and creative activities that add excitement to your lessons. Make sure the activity fits your students and emphasize the lesson and the objectives of what you want your students to learn.


• Use the textbook as a resource, not as the sole source of learning. No curriculum is perfect and teachers need to supplement with activities to help teach their students. Using various resources provides your students with a variety of activities that helps enhance the lesson and allows them to understand more and have a lot of fun in the process.


• Engage in efforts to deepen your knowledge of the faith and grow spiritually. No catechist can know everything and by going to workshops, retreats, classes, studying Catholic literature, etc. can help broaden your understanding and learn new ways of teaching.


• Be prepared and know the material. Know your subject. Read, study, and learn. A good lesson depends on how well the catechist understands the material.


• Have prepared and well planned lesson plans. Before you do anything you must plan and prepare. Having a well planned and prepared CCD class is essential. Without this your students cannot learn to their fullest potential. A well planned and prepared lesson plan will also help to avoid possible behavior problems that could arise in your class as well. A thorough and thought out lesson plan should include various elements to promote good learning.


• Consistently model the behavior you expect of your students. If you want your students to be good Catholics, you must act accordingly. By modeling and living the Catholic way of life it will reinforce proper behavior for your students.


• Teach what you are supposed to teach. The subjects should include the Church’s liturgical and sacramental life and moral teachings. You should also cover the topics that are in your curriculum so your lessons will flow accordingly with next year’s class activities.


• Have Class Rules and keep disruptive behavior down to a minimum. Go over your Class Rules thoroughly with your students so they will understand them. Having a well behaved classroom is critical for proper learning. For the students to learn to their fullest potential they need an environment that is quiet, without distractions, and organized. To achieve this is to keep disruptive behavior down to a minimum.


• Be fair. Never show favoritism. Treat each student the same.


• Work well with others. That includes the priest, DRE, teachers, helpers, parents, students, etc.


• Obtain information from parents and have training for all personnel if you are having a special needs child in your classroom. When a special needs child is assigned to your classroom, be sure to gather information from the parents about their child before they come to class to help with the transition of their child into the classroom. Seeking the advice and assistance of the child's family is the most important factor in learning how to teach a child with special needs. A training session of all personnel that comes in contact with the child should be conducted before the student starts CCD to focus on identifying supports the student needs and how to implement them.


• Assess students regularly. Test according to their abilities and how they work best. Use various ways to assess what they have learned.


• Get parents involved in CCD. Without parent involvement in CCD their child will not learn to their fullest potential.


• Assign homework that reviews previously learned material and is relevant to the objectives of the lesson. Homework should not be busy work, it should reinforce the lesson. Have classroom assignment sheets to help keep students organized and parents up to date.


• Explain what you want your students to learn in ways that they understand the material. Take into account the unique needs of your students or how they learn best to make your lesson as effective as possible.


• Use technology in your classroom that enhances the lesson and learning of your students. What is effective and needed for your classroom depends upon your students and what is available for the catechist to use. Whatever equipment you are using it must achieve your learning objectives for your lesson. Always have the equipment ready before class and know how to use it.


• Catechists keep all information confidential. Anything you know and hear that is personal about anyone, including the students is kept confidential.


• Catechists follow and sign the guidelines and rules set forth by the diocese and/or DRE. If there are not any, the DRE should write up some guidelines for the catechists to sign to verify that they understood what their responsibilities are and the rules that they must follow. Be sure include in it an absenteeism policy and what they are supposed to do when they are absent.

It is a good idea to have a Catechist Handbook to acquaint volunteer catechists with the policies and procedures in the Religious Formation Program. The Catechist Handbook will clearly define what the responsibilities are for the catechist and the procedures that they are to follow.



What kind of catechist are you?

Parent Volunteers in Your Classrooms

Research has demonstrated that parent involvement in the educational process impacts positively on the attitude and conduct of children in school. One significant vehicle for parent involvement is a structured volunteer program.

Volunteers in your CCD classroom can be a blessing IF done correctly and IF it is planned ahead. Nothing is worse than having a volunteer not know what to do or be in the way.


So what should be done to have a good volunteer program in your classroom?



Parent Volunteer Tips:


• Have a Volunteer Sign Up Sheet. Have one available on the first day of class, or better yet for CCD Open House.

office.microsoft.com- Volunteer Sign Up Sheet Template

vertex42.com- Use this volunteer sign up form to collect contact information from people interested in helping. You'll probably want to customize it a bit, but starting with the template should save you quite a bit of time. (Scroll down to this.)

templates.services.openoffice.org- This Volunteer Sign Up sheet help you collect contact information from people interested in helping in your organization or service activity. This template is pretty easy to customize and lets the person indicate what job or activity they are interested in, as well as what day or time they will be available.

familyfun.go.com- Classroom Volunteer Sign Up Sheet (PDF)

docstoc.com- Volunteer Sign Sheet Template

Use the information that you gathered (what the parents would like to do, when it is convenient for them to help, etc.) to make up a schedule that works with these times. Create a list of what you want the parent to do in the classroom. Be thorough and exact so they know what to do and when to do it.


• Have a Parent Volunteer Night. Have a short orientation meeting for parents who want to help in the classroom. At this meeting remind parents to please remember that your priority is to use parents to enhance the program for the students and to assist the teacher with daily tasks so that you can focus on the instruction of the students. This means that helpers may be asked to do something that will seem very repetitious to them. For example, parents may be doing the same activity for the whole time they are in the classroom with different groups of students; or they may have the same routine for volunteering each time they come. Also, at the meeting give the parents various handouts that will be helpful to a volunteer, discuss proper praise, how to read with children, some simple tutoring techniques, basic do's and don'ts, class rules and discipline, etc.


• Volunteers must be accountable and dependable. Emphasize to your volunteers that if they plan to be absent to contact you well in advance so you can find a replacement for that day or time. Frequent absenteeism can be frustrating and cannot be tolerated. Classroom schedules must run smoothly to promote good learning for the students. Volunteers who are absent repeatedly cause unwanted disorder in the classroom making it hard for the teacher to conduct class properly. Let the volunteers know that you need someone to be there when they are scheduled and ready to help.


• Volunteers need to be trained. Show them exactly how you want them to do something. You should also teach them how to run the copier machine, where to find various activities and supplies, etc. Be very clear and specific in your expectations.


• Volunteers must keep all information confidential. Emphasize to the volunteers if they overhear anything personal about a student, keep it to yourself. What you hear in the classroom should stay there. After all, you wouldn't want your child gossiped about, would you?


• Volunteers need to be flexible. Be prepared to do what the teacher needs when you arrive. Sometimes something urgent comes up and must be addressed right then. You might have been told you would help with reading, but cutting paper stars is more of an immediate necessity at the moment. Keep a perspective: Your role is to help free up the teacher's time so she can teach.


• Volunteers must be positive and in a good mood. Negativity reflects poorly in a classroom and disrupts the flow of good learning.


• Volunteers need to be patient. Volunteers need to be patient when working with students because when they are having difficulty with a subject, they do not need additional pressure.


• Volunteers need to be consistent. Be consistent with the teacher’s rules for the classroom schedules and behavior.


• Volunteers praise and encourage others. Volunteers do not: berate or belittle, criticize students or teachers, lose control and say something that is inappropriate or might be regretted, acts in a cold or indifferent manner, get physical with others, compare students within the classroom, etc.


• Volunteers use their voice correctly. Use a tone of voice that will encourage students and make them feel confident.


• Volunteers are role models. Let students observe you as a model for appropriate behavior (sharing, showing respect, talking quietly, taking turns, etc.).


• Volunteers encourage students to learn. Let students participate in activities as frequently as possible. Ask students questions that may lead them to the correct answer instead of telling them directly. Let students explore and discover by themselves. Encourage students to feel, smell, taste, and listen, as well as look at objects. Let students try new methods of doing things even though you already know an easier way. Let students sort and combine according to their own ideas.


• Volunteers follow and sign the guidelines and rules set forth by the diocese and/or DRE. If there are not any, the DRE should write up some guidelines for the volunteers to sign to verify that they understood what their responsibilities are and the rules that they must follow. Be sure to have in it an absenteeism policy and what they are supposed to do when they are absent. Include that frequent absenteeism cannot be tolerated and volunteers can be dismissed if this becomes a problem.

CCD Volunteer Form

Before a person can volunteer to help in the religious education at your parish, they must fill out and sign a Volunteer Form. By having prospective volunteers fill out this form it will let them know what help is needed and what the responsibilities are for that particular job. It can also inform them what is required to be able volunteer at the parish.


Example:

strobert.com- St. Robert Bellarmine Religious Education Volunteer Form (scroll down to this)



*Some parishes require each family to participate in one of the activities listed below.



Suggestions of what can be included in your volunteer form:


It has been a long tradition at __________ that our parish family has offered their time and talents. It is through caring, sharing, and praying, that our community has grown in love and support of one another. The CCD Program could not exist if it were not for the efforts of our volunteers. In response to this need, we ask you to volunteer.


PLEASE NOTE: ALL volunteers must have the following two requirements done prior to the start of CCD: (Please check box next to statement if already completed.)

􀂈 Background check & fingerprinting
􀂈 Training Seminar- guidelines, policies, curriculum, lesson plans, discipline/classroom management, preparation, report cards/progress reports, etc. (for catechists, co-catechists, substitute catechist, aide, and special needs teacher, aide or companion)



Extra Information:

􀂈 Catechist Certification (attach copy of certification)
􀂈 Previous teaching experience (attach information of previous teaching experience)



Please check what you are interested in.

􀂈 Catechist- You agree to teach once a week from (date) to (date). You will plan & teach weekly classes, attend catechist in-services and meetings as assigned by the DRE. You will be trained and provided with opportunities for personal Spiritual growth. There will be 2 teachers in a classroom unless you prefer to teach alone.

Do you want your child placed in your class?

Grade Preference- (also include day and time)

Who you like to teach with-


􀂈 Co-Catechist- You agree to teach once a week from (date) to (date). You will assist the lead teacher in weekly planning & teaching, fill the lead role as necessary, attend catechist in services and meetings as assigned by the DRE.


􀂈 Substitute Catechist- Fill in for Teachers or Aides when needed. Scheduled to be in office at least once per month.


􀂈 Aide- Assist the catechist in the classroom as needed; possibly fill in as lead teacher if able.


􀂈 Grade Level Coordinator- As members of the Religious Education Advisory Board, these coordinators represent their grade level and conduct sessions at staff meetings.


􀂈 Special Needs Teacher, Aide or Companion- (Circle one.) To teach or help with students with special needs.


􀂈 Activity Coordinator- Plan & attend large group activities 3-4 times per year. (Specify activities.)


􀂈 Librarian- The librarian will check-in and checkout books from the library (days and time library opened). The librarian will also shelve books and keep track of our resources. Scheduled at least once per month.


􀂈 Web Site Programmer- Periodically the CCD section of the parish web site needs to be updated. Basic knowledge of HTML programming and a willingness to collaborate with the Web Team are necessary.


􀂈 Hall Monitor- Help provide security in the building while classes are in session. Scheduled at least once per month.


􀂈 Child Care- Help watch the teacher’s children during class in the Child Care Room (days and times Child Care Room is open). Scheduled at least once per month.


􀂈 Clerical Help- Provide clerical help in the Religious Ed office while your child is in class. Scheduled at least once per month.


􀂈 Refreshment Committee- Provide refreshments for various meetings or celebrations of the Religious Education Program.


􀂈 Parking Lot Director- Help direct cars during CCD pick-up and drop off. Scheduled at least once per month.


Please Note: If you are volunteering during CCD classes your children can receive babysitting by the Religious Ed Child Care.

Contact Information- Name, address, phone (home, cell, work, etc.), e-mail, etc.

Signature- to verify you understand the above and that the information you provided is correct.



*What else could be in the CCD Volunteer Form? Please leave a comment and add to the list.

Recruiting Volunteers To Be Catechists

Generating excitement and volunteers for CCD is rather daunting. Finding people that want to be a catechist is sometimes like finding a needle in a haystack. Each year it becomes harder and harder to find CCD teachers because parishioners do not want to be challenged with such an undertaking. Most feel that they are not qualified to teach and do not have the skills for classroom management. Others believe that they do not have the time nor patience to be a catechist.


So how can you find catechists?


• Have posters and announcements in the church bulletin. For example: Help our children be all they can be. Become a CCD teacher and use your talents God has given you to help teach our faith.

• At the end of Mass during announcements let the congregation know that your church is looking for a few good men and woman to be a volunteer and teach CCD. Ask them if they are looking for ways to make meaningful contributions to your church, to maintain their skills (or learn new skills!) and to interact with others.

• Let the prospective volunteers know that assistance and training will be provided before CCD starts so the catechist will be prepared and be an effective teacher. (By providing assistance and training to all perspective volunteers alleviates any worries that they might have by letting them know that they are not alone and that they will have help.)

• Spread the word that catechists are needed and that it is a rewarding experience.

• Flat out ask people to be a catechist. They are more likely to consider being a catechist if someone asks them face to face and will usually not to turn you down.

• One of the best sources of future volunteers is current volunteers. It is likely that if someone is passionate enough to volunteer their time, they are likely to have at least some friends who share those same passions and interests. Also, a person who is already a catechist should not only have a good understanding of the church’s needs, but also what types of personalities would do well there. In other words, a current volunteer can be the perfect volunteer recruiter… but only if they like the church enough and feel appreciated enough to recommend the job to others. Keep volunteers happy, and be sure to let them know about any available volunteer positions.

• Have a catechist recruitment luncheon. An organized get-together will provide a good way to exchange information about being a catechist and how much their help is appreciated and needed.


Can you think of ways of recruiting volunteers to be catechists?