Monday Musings

November 01, 2004

1.  No Child Left Behind - A town hall meeting will be held at ODU relating to "No Child Left Behind".  Distinguished author and educator Dr. Nel Noddings will conduct the meeting.  Those who attend will learn about NCLB and law's implications for schools, teachers, parents, and children.   Discussion will focus on the laws' impact on   
Sponsored by the National Academy of Education, the National Society for the Study of Education, and Kappa Delta Pi, the meeting will be held in Erskine Hall's Little Theater from 7-8:30pm on Wednesday, November 17, 2004

2.  What's New in Young Adult Literature? - This seminar is designed for the teachers of grades 6-12 and librarians.  The presenter will be Deborah Hipes, nationally recognized young adult literature expert.  She will discuss the best new young adult books, motivational ideas for adolescent readers to read more books and offer outstanding suggestions for integrating new books into the curriculum.  The seminar will be held in Columbus on December 9, 2004 at the Holiday Inn West.  If you have further questions call 1-800-735-3503 or visit www.ber.org .   

3.  TIME IS SHORT!
Only two weeks until the Faith Formation Congress.  If you haven't sent in your registration please do so.  We wouldn't want anyone to miss out on what looks to be one of the best congresses we've ever had.  The scope and breadth of the speakers is outstanding.  Also, just a reminder, the bringing food into the Fawcett Center is not allowed.  So, if you haven't asked for a boxed lunch, please make plans to eat in the area so you can get back for the exhibitors and afternoon sessions.  If you decided that you would like a boxed lunch and have already registered, please send in your request with a check for $15.00 (made out to the Department of Religious Education).  These must be received by Monday, November 8, 2004, as the food count needs to be submitted Tuesday morning.  Any question, please contact Sue Reihing at 614-221-4633 or sreihing@cdeducation.org .  We look forward to seeing you, your catechist and other parish members on November 13!

4.  Weekly Religion Ideas:  Standard I E:6, 8 and 9
For Teachers - These objectives have to do with the Sermon on the Mount and the teachings of Jesus, the centrality of the Kingdom of God in Jesus' message and identifying the three Synoptic Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke.  These would be introduced in Grade 4 and reviewed up and through high school.  Matthew 5-7 is the Sermon on the Mount.  Have students read these chapters and try to list some of Jesus' teachings.  The New Jerome Biblical Commentary offers some background for understanding this discourse of Jesus, pp.639-647.  Print out the Teachings of Jesus page.  Regarding the Kingdom of God, this phrase has many meanings, but basically it is God's Rule and God's will being accomplished by God's people.  It was a central message of Jesus' along with repentance of sin.  Look over the Kingdom of God parables in Matthew 12 and Luke 12.  Jesus is both the messenger and representation of the Kingdom of God.  This Kingdom is mysterious, yet visible where the hungry are fed, the thirsty are given something to drink, the stranger welcomed, the naked clothed, those in prison visited etc...The power of the Spirit is given to believers so they can bear witness to the coming of God's Reign by their lives.  Also when we think of eternal life with God, certainly that will be the coming of God's Kingdom.  Wherever there is love and care shown for the neighbor, repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation, persons liberated from sin and evil, persons receiving what they have a right to receive e.g., food, shelter, a living wage, owning property etc...all these are signs of the Kingdom or Reign of God in our midst.  Jesus was certainly a sign of that reign.  Hopefully, we are too.

For Classroom
Go over the list of Jesus' teachings with the students and discuss them.  Have students read the Kingdom parables in Matthew 13 and Luke 13.  Let them draw the symbols of these parables, the weeds among the wheat, the leaven in the bread, the catch of fish, the treasure buried in the field, the merchant in search of fine pearls etc...
Ask the following questions:   
 ?  What do they think the Kingdom of God means?
 ?  Is it different from the kingdom of the world they also see?
 ?  How can they witness to the Kingdom of God in their life now at their grade level?
Regarding the Synoptic Gospels ask the why were they written and who were they written for: such as different groups of people at different times portraying different images of Jesus.  Challenge them to search for the similarities and differences of the various Gospels.  Take through e.g., the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes to see how this story is told differently in each Gospel, yet all having common elements.

Resources:  Biblical commentaries:  The New Jerome Biblical Commentary and The Collegeville Commentary are good.  Bible Dictionaries are useful.  Overview books on the New Testament like: Reading the New Testament by Pheme Perkins, or Introduction to the New Testament by Raymond F. Collins would be helpful.  Videos on the Synoptic Gospels.  All of these resources would be for Junior/Senior High to Adult.

5.  LPDC - The Diocesan LPDC will next meet on December 9, 2004 at St. Anthony School, Columbus.  All Diocesan teachers are reminded that every teacher must have an LPDC approved plan.  State Department directives state that a license cannot be renewed if a teacher has not developed an IPDP which has been approved by the local (Diocesan) LPDC.  Teachers who received a new license over the past summer and autumn months must submit a new IPDP to the LPDC.  All teachers hired to work in a Diocesan school for the 2004-05 school year must submit a plan to the LPDC.  Send plans to Ed Zettler, Diocesan Department of Education, 197 E. Gay Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215.

 

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