Ensenar como lo hizo Jesus: Técnicas creativas para la Catequesis de Niños

* This is a Spanish Language program.

While having a desire to catechize children is a necessary element for the generous, committed adult or teenager, it is not enough. Besides goodwill, the generous catechist must prepare herself or himself well, not only in the basic teachings of the faith but also in acquiring good classroom teaching skills such as storytelling, use of audio visual aids, class management, designing creative lesson plans, and how one helps create an interesting and energizing learning environment. Such an environment, one in which the student not only learns the fundamentals of Christian doctrine but also experiences the power of prayer and sacred ritual, can only be created through careful preparation combined with the actual living out of the Christian life.

This media course both introduces the beginning catechist as well as enhances the more experienced teacher to such topics as the spirituality of imparting the faith, stressing that we can only teach from our experience of God. Through a simple examination of conscience, it provides concrete questions for the disciple desirous of helping to bring others, especially children, to Christ. Similar to teaching people the art of cooking versus simply how to follow a recipe, this course prompts the catechist to not only discern an initial invitation to partake in the ministry of the Word but also to continue to grow in the ability to engage in a fruitful dialogue with young Christians of today. This dialogical attitude entails learning something about why children are like they are at each developmental stage, and how questions, both by the students and by the teachers, are very helpful in getting to know their world.

In light with the Church’s renewed appreciation for inculturation, that is, proclaiming the gospel in a way that a particular people from a certain culture can understand it, it furthermore engages relevant elements of the Hispanic culture as related to catechesis such as the importance of bilingualism and popular piety. Some concrete suggestions of how to teach through the arts, especially through its visual, dramatic, and musical forms, rounds out the presentations as these often demonstrate the reality of the Incarnation. By presenting the relevance of spirituality and psychology for the development of good pedagogy, therefore, it not only provides some practical recipes for the beginning catechist but also some tasty variations for the more seasoned teacher.

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