A Question for the Mothers and Teachers

[Rosamund]

I just started a few weeks ago teaching the first graders on Sunday morning. They are so cute and funny and smart and I love them! But I'm woefully ignorant about kids -- I was the youngest in my family, and I don't have any children yet (sigh). So I'd like some advice:

 

What sort of religious concepts are they capable of understanding at this age? I'm limited by the book I have to use, but can anyone tell me what precepts of the faith the children should have learned by the end of the year?

 

How can I help them to remember what they've learned?

 

How can I wisely mix fun with learning?

 

How can I help them stay on the subject?

 

How can I encourage the ones who often give wrong answers?

 

How can I curb the giggling about poop?

 

How do I help the quiet ones get more involved?

 

I'd appreciate any tips or good stories.

[Philomena]

 

I just started a few weeks ago teaching the first graders on Sunday morning. They are so cute and funny and smart and I love them! But I'm woefully ignorant about kids -- I was the youngest in my family, and I don't have any children yet (sigh). So I'd like some advice:

 

Well, I teach at the college level, but sometimes it doesn't seem all that different, so I think I may be able to offer some advice.

 

 

  

How can I help them to remember what they've learned?

 

Mnemonic devices are fun and helpful, but repetition is the heart and soul of pedagogy! Bring it up again and again and again.

 

 How can I wisely mix fun with learning?

 

Tell stories that illustrate your points. Make jokes and sing songs that are sort of on-topic. Have them play games that use the concepts they are learning.

 

  How can I help them stay on the subject?

 

Minds will wander. Just gently bring them back. 

 

How can I encourage the ones who often give wrong answers?

 

Try not to correct them any more than absolutely necessary. For instance, you can give them a chance to correct themselves. Say, "Is the answer 4 or 5? Yes, that's right! It's 5!" Or you can say things like, "Hmm... that's not quite right. 5 is the answer. But you were close!" 

 

How can I curb the giggling about poop?

 

I don't even try. Hey, I enjoy a good poop giggle myself.

 

How do I help the quiet ones get more involved

 

You can usually get some of them to speak by making direct eye-contact and smiling encouragingly. Others need to be called on. But if calling on them puts them on the spot and scares them, then the best approach is to go talk to them individually while the class is doing group-work. I teach foreign languages, and a lot of students are just terrified to speak in class. So, to give everyone equal practice time, while the class is working on an assignment, I go around and chat for a few seconds with the quiet ones. Some of them gain confidence this way and eventually start to speak up on their own. With others, I have to do this for the whole semester. But, whatever works! 

[Philomena]

How do I help the quiet ones get more involved

 

Another good idea, instead of always calling on students indivually, is to have them work with a partner or in a small group for a few minutes. Then have them report back together. This way, they aren't really alone speaking in front of the class. Plus they've had time to think and discuss and formulate what they think is a good answer. You can also go around the class while they are working and give them feedback, i.e. let them know that what have come up with is a good answer, and you want the rest of the class to hear it.

[littleflower]

I am teaching three of my seven children at home and I STILL can't figure out how to make things "stick".  Sometimes I feel like I am trying to fill a collander with water.  Then, one day, you realize they remember and understand something you were trying to "beat" into them!

 

As for the poop thing...  don't even try!  There is something funny about that when you are a little kid (or 36 year old man...ask my husband!)

[Sophia]

I'd never have first graders work in groups- that might work with older ones, but the little ones can't stay focused long enough.  (Although IMO I don't like group work anyway- I think it makes the quiet ones quieter, and the loud ones will always dominate the groups anyway.)

 

With first graders, if you can get them to understand half of what is in the St. Joseph's First Communion catechism (the one with the pictures and big type) then you have accomplished a lot.  They should memorize several prayers, which they don't have to understand just yet.  They should be able to tell you who made things, that Jesus is God and the second person of the Trinity, give a simple definition of the Trinity, know what the ten commandments are (but don't fuss if many forget) and know that sin is disobedience to God's laws, and that it makes Him sad and affects their souls.  They should know who Adam and Eve are, and should be familiar with some Bible stories.  They should know who the Holy Family is, the Christmas story, and that Jesus was born to die on the cross for our sins and rise from the dead on Easter morning.  If you can get more into their brains, count yourself lucky. 

 

Kids always like stories.  That is a great age to read stories about the saints or things Jesus did.  Keep them simple and short.  Reinforce the story visually with some coloring pages.  My children always remember the stories better than the answers to the catechism questions.  It is easier to remind them of the stories in the future when you want to illustrate a particular idea.  Most of the time at that age, they can memorize the answer to a question, but they don't understand it.  Don't expect them to be able to put things into their own words.  Some may be able to, but I don't think most will.

[Sophia]

As for the poop thing...  don't even try!  There is something funny about that when you are a little kid (or 36 year old man...ask my husband!)

 

That, and belching.  Drives me NUTS.

[Rosamund]

Sophia, you said kids in first grade should know that Jesus died on the cross for their sins. This is one of the things I worry about most. Obviously they must know this in order to prepare them to receive their First Communion next year, but how do you explain this to a young child? What depth of understanding can I expect?

 

I loathe these children's Bibles that are on the market now. When I was a (Protestant) kid, my mother read me stories out of the King James Bible and explained them to me. Does that method work well for a lot of kids, or is it better to use a Bible storybook geared toward their age group? If so, which one? Or should I just hone my skills as a raconteur and tell the stories myself, in my own words?

 

I don't mind the poop talk, myself -- poop is pretty funny. But if I let them, they'll go on talking about poop for the whole hour, and apart from the fact that they won't learn anything, they may just go home and tell their parents that Mrs. R lets them swap poop stories.

[introibo]

Remember that most of these kids probably have parents that don't practice the faith (unless you in a traditionial parish).  Make sure they know their basic prayers -the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.  Say them before every class.  Maybe pray a decade of the rosary with them once in awhile.  Even start the Ten Commandments. 

Teach them the basic creation story and about original sin.  And of course the story of Noah's ark...kids love that.

 

Christina

[Sophia]

Sophia, you said kids in first grade should know that Jesus died on the cross for their sins. This is one of the things I worry about most. Obviously they must know this in order to prepare them to receive their First Communion next year, but how do you explain this to a young child? What depth of understanding can I expect?

 

Well, now that I have re-read what I wrote above, and realizing that you only have them for one hour a week, and (as introibo said) they might not have much of a Catholic life at home (if you are teaching at a Novus Ordo Church,) my list would probably be a bit ambitious. 

 

You can't expect much depth of understanding. If you can get them to make that connection between the Baby of Christmas and the Man who died on the cross (ask them, "why was Jesus born?") then you have accomplished something.

[mojomama]

I liked to assign my little ones roles and have them act out the stories.