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Catechist Tool

By Christian LeBlanc

 

I bought a digital recorder last year (not that specific one). It’s been much more useful than I had imagined; I should’ve bought one sooner. If you’re a catechist you want one too, even if you don’t know it yet.

In 2010 I was using an all-new, no-textbook-in-class curriculum which I had developed during the summer. I decided to record all the classes so I could compare each lesson plan to the reality in the classroom. Within a day or so after a given class, I’d listen to the recording, and mark on the lesson plan what needed review, what I’d missed, etc. (For example, in last Wednesday’s class, I forgot to introduce myself, and didn’t discuss the inspiration of the Bible, even though both were in the lesson plan. Next week I’ll take care of those items before beginning the new lesson.)

At year’s end I had an mp3 file of each class, and moved the whole year onto an external drive. Every class is about 50mb; less than a mb/minute.

But there are other benefits which I wasn’t aware of when I bought the thing:

1. If there’s any “my child says the teacher said thus & so” heartburn, I have a record of what I said, and what the kids said. Heh. By the way, the sensitivity of the microphone and the quality of the sound are shockingly good.

2. Before this year’s class I listened to last year’s class; a terrific head start.

3. The recorder can do basic editing of the files. It’s easy to split a 55 minute class into topical chunks, trim the getting settled/ roll-calling minutes from the beginning, and chatting from the end.

4. It names each new file with the date all by itself.

And the best thing about recording your classes:

5. To listen to yourself teach is a great way to refine your skills.

One problem I do have is that I forget to take the recorder with me after class. I tell the kids when class starts to remind me to pick it up and turn it off when class ends.

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Read all posts by Christian LeBlanc Filed Under: Catechist Training

About Christian LeBlanc

Christian LeBlanc is a revert whose pre-Vatican II childhood was spent in South Louisiana, where he marinated in a Catholic universe and acquired a Catholic imagination. During his middle school years in South Carolina, Christian was catechized under the benevolent dictatorship of Sister Mary Alphonsus, who frequently admonished him using the nickname "Little Pagan." After four years of teaching Adult Ed and RCIA, he returned to Sr. Alphonsus' old classroom to teach Catechism himself. This is his tenth year of teaching sixth grade. Married to Janet, the LeBlancs have five children and two grandsons. Christian and Janet belong to St. Mary's Parish in Greenville, South Carolina.

Check out Christian's book on Bible-based catechesis at:

https://www.createspace.com/3835986

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