Take a peek into Helen Secreti’s Faith Formation classroom in this article where she shares tips, strategies, and routines for a prayerful and successful class.

Starting Fresh

The beginning of a new teaching year with your religion class is a promising time. There are new students to meet and an opportunity to share with them your faith in Jesus Christ. You will be preparing material you hope will interest the children, and will motivate them to apply what they are learning into a daily spiritual practice. As a catechist, you hope to see your students share in the same wonder you experience with your Catholic faith.

As preparations are underway there is also the concern of the class behavior and of one or more students causing some disruption to the lesson you have planned and are eager to present. If too many disruptions occur it can dampen the enthusiasm of any catechist.

There are different factors that contribute to the smooth flow of a class session, but one that stands out in my experience is the rapport you build with your class from day one. This is an area of class management that we will address in this article. My hope is that you can take away a point or two and add them to your own.

Command of the Classroom/Learning Space

As a catechist you will experience the parents bringing their children to you. There are different reasons why the children are brought to you and take a seat in your classroom. You may have some idea or no idea of how comfortable or familiar each student is with the subject of religion. The children will come to the first class with a sense of curiosity about you and the classroom environment. With this premise, your command of the room or learning space is significant to a smooth start of a promising new year learning more about God.

In the following points we will look at three elements to help build the environment you desire for learning to take place. These elements are: preparation, greeting, and your presence in the room.

Preparation

Arrive Early and Be Prepared

You want to arrive to class before any of the students and are prepared with a lesson plan and needed materials. If you come in unprepared and find yourself flipping through the pages or searching for an item in your bag, your focus on the students is not there and unfortunately that provides a window of opportunity for a student(s) to immediately take advantage of you being distracted. Most importantly it is a gift to yourself to come prepared to class as it aids in starting with a sense of peace of mind and resolve.

Prayer

Another vital tool is prayer. Before the students arrive, take in a few slow breaths, reflect a moment, and pray.

Greeting

Have Confidence in Your Mission

You want to convey to your students that you have confidence in your mission! Greeting your students at the beginning of every class with eye contact and stating their name, gives a sense that each student is recognized and welcomed. It is also important that your voice be clear and of good volume. Doing these things may sound like a “no brainer” but it takes some determined effort every week. You never know, but this method may cause a student to think twice before disrespecting you.

Be Cheerful and Positive

Never underestimate your cheerful or positive demeanor. You never know who you will impress. When I was in my second grade Saturday catechism class, I had a nun in full habit as my teacher. I don’t remember a word she said but I remember her smile and the kind way about her. I knew she wanted to be there with us. I remember thinking as a young girl that I wanted to love Jesus like she did.

Presence

How to Have Command of the Room

Circulating around your room throughout the session is important. This can convey to your students that you have command of the room and that you not only embrace them but are also comfortable being with them. It also sets a boundary that you are their leader and teacher. With this technique you offer a strong and welcoming sense of you being present with them for the learning session.

As a catechist you are in a vulnerable position just by the fact that you are one (wonderful, if you have an assistant) and they are a few or many. Your eye contact, a good projection of your voice, and circulating around the room can work in your favor toward good discipline and rapport.

Discipline Concerns

The positive techniques you use to build a positive and strong rapport with your students also extends into the area of class discipline. As a catechist you may have to face disorderly conduct of a student(s). This classroom dilemma is a complex area that lends itself to much discussion and concern, especially in the present time we are living in. Drawing from my own experiences as a catechist and an administrator, I would like to share some insights.

Handling Behavior Issues

A student who acts out is trying to get attention and you want to try your best not to hand over command of the room to the child misbehaving. As soon as the child acts out try to redirect the student to the lesson by asking a question related to the topic. This is most effective if you stand up or start circulating. You might also try asking the child to read something from the book.

Stay Calm

Try not to fuel the student’s need for attention. You want to avoid yelling, addressing the child from across the room, announcing the poor behavior to the rest of the class, and of course, sending the child out into the hallway, unless you, an aide, or supervisor are available to address the student out of the limelight of the class. You want to help your students own their behavior.

Encourage Behavioral Reflection

Keep in mind that whatever you tell students about their behavior will most likely be repeated at home or to other close contacts. When addressing a student about his or her behavior the question/answer format is best. You want to encourage the student to reflect on his/her behavior.

Sample questions:

–Why do you think you did that (certain behavior)?

–Was this action kind or respectful?

–Would you like me to call your parent about this behavior?

–Is there something I can do to help you stay focused?

–Do you think your behavior hurt someone?

–Would you like to apologize and start again in a kind manner?

Be Firm and Compassionate

As upsetting as misbehavior can be try to remember it is not a personal attack against you but rather against authority. There is a history behind this behavior. We are to lead with a firm and compassionate manner.

Say a Prayer

Always let the students know you pray for them and that Jesus is always with them and guiding them to live a good Christian life that leads them to their salvation; their eternal home in heaven.

Finding Peace in the Lord

Remind the children that we were made to be good by God and that doing the right thing leads to positive results and peace in the heart. Our Lord speaks to us in our hearts. Our Lord loves our efforts and sees all the good we try to do. When I discuss this with my students, I like to compare a large bank account with a large good deed account. The latter has everlasting value.

If a situation in the classroom becomes difficult it is always best to discuss with your program director. You want to do it early enough in the year as to set a plan and a chance for improvement.

Fruitful Routines/Activities

Below I have listed different activities that can help provide a good framework for a good rapport in the classroom throughout the year. I have gained some positive results and also a sense of routine and calm using some of these simple methods. Implementing some of these ideas will also be dependent on what type of learning space you have, the class size, and the students before you. My hope is that one or two work for you!

Classroom Prep

 The following messages can be written on a poster and brought into class each week or written on a white, black, or Smart board if available. These can serve many purposes.

–a welcome sign

–classroom rules

–a Scripture quote for the week  (reference it at some point in your lesson)

–a learning objective

–vocabulary words

Name Cards

Name cards on each desk or place are very useful for learning names (also helps a substitute teacher) and serves as a reminder that each child has a place in the classroom (as we do in heaven too!) You many need to change seats often or not. This is also an opportunity to stress the importance of their baptismal names.

Prayer Cards

Place prayer cards of basic prayers on each desk. These cards aid the children to follow along because they can see the words not yet in memory. Perhaps, you can have them laminated.

 Beginning Routines

Routine is important for class management and lends to a more organized flow to the learning session.

–Start with prayer. Children can share their prayer intentions verbally or written and put them in a prayer basket. Also, students can take turns leading the prayer time.

–You may be able to have a small class plant and each students gets a turn to water it. This is a first lesson on caring for God’s creation.

–A student(s) can be assigned to collect or give out papers/items. This promotes team effort.

–Before jumping into a lesson or just as you end, share one good news story that happened during the week. This helps instill hope for the children.

Ending Routines

–Close the class with a Bible story and/or a hymn. Imagine if they learn even one hymn!

–Have a learning activity sheet or small craft/art project related to the lesson. This also serves as another method in teaching the lesson.

–Send the children out on a mission as disciples of Jesus Christ! While discussing the lesson the class can come up with a small task that they can do during the week to live the Gospel message they learned in class. They can share verbally the next session on what they did or you can encourage them to draw a picture and bring it in. You can share something you did if responses are weak.

–The students can straighten the room up a minute before the bell rings, or assign a student to do this (especially if the room will be used again shortly after).

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In Scripture we reflect…

“Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9

This article originally appeared on Amazing Catechists on July 20, 2024.