I know I am dating myself here, but does anyone remember The Safety Dance? It was an 80s song that was awesome and had a catchy tune. Check it out on youtube.com. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7movKfyTBII
So, today, we're at Karate. While everybody is working on their karate techniques, my middle son is dancing. He seriously looks like he is doing the Safety Dance or some sort of new robotic move for 2012. He looks pretty good, the only problem is, we're in Karate class and he's not at home, in his room, practicing his dance moves in front of a mirror. Since we are new, the instructor is trying really hard not to laugh. I'm not so lucky. I have to cover my laughter because I haven't been formally trained in the martial arts of seriousness. Throughout the class, he is doing his robot moves and trying his best. He looks like he's having fun and getting a good work out too.
Finally, it's time for class to end. I'm thankful because at this time, my mouth has started twitching because of all the laughing. I'm also thankful that the instructor hasn't kicked me out the dojo yet. Anyway, the instructor asks the class to fold their belts. Everyone begins to fold their belts and my son rolls his. Yeah..he rolls his into a ball. Even though he's got a good view of the instructor..and his glasses work, he rolls the ball and looks at me with a big smile on his face. I start to cry. At this point, I'm laughing so hard that tears are coming out of my eyes. As I'm crying and laughing, I'm proud of my little boy. Not because he wasn't paying attention, but because he had the guts to think differently and roll his belt because it would take less space in his chest of drawers.
My RAK to you...Steven Ellair's Lecture from LA Congress - They don't all learn the same.
Until tomorrow, find joy in the uniqueness of your little one. God made him/her unique and special.
Christina :-)
Session #2 – Steven Ellair – You Mean They Don’t All Learn The Same Way?
Intro: Begins with Song: Deep and Wide – 1. Speed 2. Hand Motions 3. Both 4. Leave Out Key Words.
Learning Styles: Cycles around in Educational World.
Learning styles is essential to creating vibrant lessons. All about understanding the learner.
Exercise: Introduce yourself, to someone you don’t know. Tell them they look fabulous.
Answer the following questions and see if you get any of them right.
Where did they grow up?
In School what was their favorite subject?
What is their favorite kind of music?
Are they a morning or evening person?
Are they introvert or extroverted?
Start with that activity because we do this with the people we are working with. We make assumptions instead of trying to find out who they are. We are dealing with very unique individuals. We make assumptions based on behavior. Can’t do that in the classroom anymore. If we make presumptions about learning, we’re going to battle with what’s going on in the classroom.
So many different theories of how people learn.
Def. of Learning: Learning is three things: acquire knowledge, relate knowledge and choosing to do something with the knowledge. You haven’t really learned if you haven’t yet done.
How do you learn best? Book & Visual. How you learn best is about 95% style of teaching.
Exercise: Learning Styles Assessment:
1. I really like to listen to people talk.
2. I really like to watch TV.
3. I can sit in one place for a long time.
4. I really like people to talk to me.
5. The things I remember the best are those I see.
6. I can’t sit in one place for a long time.
7. I’d rather read than listen to a lecture.
8. I prefer to learn something new by having it told to me.
9. I find it hard to sit in one place a long time.
10. I find it easy to listen to people talk.
11. it’s easy for me to remember what I see.
12. I have to get up and move around when I study.
13. I enjoy learning by listening.
14. I like to learn by reading.
15. it’s easy for me to stay put when I study.
3 Major Learning Styles:
Auditory, Visual or Tactile/Kinesthetic. We have to challenge to other learning styles.
Visual learners:
Do they tell about colors, sizes, appearances?
Do they use their hands to draw pictures in the air as they talk?
Try to give you mental pictures?
Auditory learners:
Love to change their voice.
Do they use noises or voice inflections to help tell the story?
Tactile/Kinesthetic:
Do they relate the action in the story without much visual or auditory detail? Tell about feelings? Move around to act things. It is helping them to gather info.
Put visual learners in the front of the classroom. They need to see you. They watch people’s mouth. If put in back of the room, distracted by others.
Tactile/Kinesthetic Learners should be in the back of the room. Why? Because they are hyper. They need to move. You don’t want them to be distracting to the others in classroom. They don’t need to see or hear that well. They will be processing through movement.
Auditory learners do well in the middle of the classroom. Easier to hear well.
VAT learning styles = Classroom Management Issues go WAY DOWN.
People learn in these different ways.
Auditory learners don’t need to see you. Sometimes it’s distracting to the learner. May think there is a behavioral issue.
You can engage learning my using active learning.
Exercise: On a piece of paper.
Think of someone who means a lot to you:
Hubby.
Think of a special time or activity:
Wedding.
Come up with three words to describe the person:
Kind, Generous, Smart
What that person means to you (1 sentence):
I love my hubby.
If you ever said something that hurt that person, rip paper once.
If that person has ever said something hurtful to you, rip paper again.
If you have ever asked that person for forgiveness, rip paper again.
If that person has asked for forgiveness, rip paper again.
Now, tape pieces together. Lesson on Forgiveness. What do you notice about the ripped paper and where the tape is? (Great lesson about reconciliation.)
Exercise: 6 brave volunteers. Relay Race. Blow up balloon and let balloon go. Wherever it lands, that’s where you go. Pick up and blow it. Blow up balloon again and then let it go. First Balloon that touches screen is the winner.
How would you use that in your classroom. Teach about supporting each other. Cheering on everybody. The Holy Spirit. Can use it to teach the Holy Spirit. How we think there is one straight path. But if we’re open to the Holy Spirit, it may take us in different directions before getting to the destination.
Great exercises for all learning styles. Doesn’t mean that the entire class should be taught by using games. People remember 75% of what they teach other people. 95% of what they do. People remember by doing. Ex. Remember the activity of Holy Spirit when you see balloon. That’s just one example to make lessons come alive.
Be ready to add another dimension. What am I doing that is visual. What am I doing that is auditory and what am I doing that is movement.
Myer-Briggs Type Indicator:
ENERGY - Extrovert- Introvert (Either more introverted or extroverted) – Introverted, will go to their room. Extroverted, would be so excited they would want to go and have fun.
Introverts are great thinkers, but you have to get them involved.
Introverts will never ask to answer a question.
Where do you get your energy? Get energy from people when they are outside of themselves.
Most classrooms are set up for extroverts.
ACQUIRING INFO - Sensing – Intuition (Either Sensing or intuition) Through the 5 senses. It’s scientific. Intuitive people take info in a very different way.
MAKING DECISIONS - Thinking – Feeling
Where do you get your info?
This is an actual chemical reaction.
Impact that learning styles can have on the environment or teaching styles.
Another Theory:
Multiple Intelligence Theory (Gardner)
Linguistic (Language use or likes to use words. Very verbal person, can think on their feet.) English Teacher?
Logical-Mathematical (Acct.)
Musical (People are gifted in this way.)
Spatial
Bodily – Kinesthetic (Athletes)
Interpersonal (Psychology. People who relate to other people. People who like being with other people.)
Intrapersonal – Writers. Relate to Self. Love to Journal.
Naturalist – Someone who relates really well to nature.
We have to stay on top of these skills.
The #1 trait we value is the Logical-Mathematical.
Right Brain/Left Brian Theory
Random
Intuitive
Holistic
Synthesizing
Subjective
Look at wholes
--------------------------
Logical
Sequential
Rational
Analytical
Objective
Look at parts.
A lot of science is showing chemistry affects learning.
Learning Environment:
Need to be attentive.
Affect (Feeling..learners, learn when it’s positive. If Negative learning. No.
Acceptance & Affirmation – Celebrate Uniqueness.
Appropriate Boundaries (Sometimes you’re going to ask visual to be more auditory.
Attention to Learners – Teen attention span is 20 minutes.
Atmosphere
Attention Span
Active Learning.
We need to understand that we teach the way we want to learn. The ideal learning environment for students helps our own student understand, build and apply lesson. Engage in active learning
Monday, April 4, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Day 19 - Just Shut up and Listen
I can't tell you how many times I've been in a position where I have doubted my mothering skills, my ability to lead or my ability to teach. I was scared when I became a first time mom and petrified when I started the MOPS group at my local church. It was one thing to be a mom, but another to start a group and lead by faith. God had called me to be a leader of a mom's group, but how was I going to convince other busy moms of preschoolers to help build a program for other mothers of preschoolers at our local church? How was I going to find volunteers to help watch our kids and how was I going to organize a group that would support other moms during these difficult times of mothering?
There's a saying that Christians tell other Christians who doubt their calling...God wouldn't have called you to this ministry/task/roll/leadership responsibility, if he didn't think you could handle the task. I would say it to myself over and over again the next few years and a beautiful group was created at our church: MOPS (www.mops.org for more info on MOPS). As a result of God's plan, new leaders were created, moms came to MOPS for friendship and support, and volunteers came to watch our children so they could provide for this important ministry.
All of this happened because it was God's plan and because I was willing to be quiet and just listen to God.
My RAK to anyone who has ever doubted or been afraid to do what God has called them to do.
Father Tony's message at LA Congress, Just Shut-Up and Listen.
Enjoy!
Christina :-)
P.S. You gotta get through the first part of the lecture to get to the meat of the message :-). Sorry vegetarians...couldn't think of a better way to rephrase that considering my mind is on Spring Break too.
Session #7 - Just Shut Up and Listen – Father Tony
Day 27, 1995 – Enter Church and knelt down in altar as priest. 2000 – First LA Congress Opportunities happened to Tony, just because he’s willing to say YES to God.
God’s plans were different. God showed him a new world, where you can stand in an Arena, ready to celebrate God’s love. Tony is thankful for the opportunity to bring God’s word to everyone.
In June 19, 1954 – God blessed this world with ME. Some priests enjoy doing this so much, that every morning they get up and enjoy what they’re doing every morning. It’s the greatest gift that God has given him. Thankful for all the prayer and support from everyone.
Comedy: If you want collection to go up, preach about sin and turn off air conditioner. Babies need to bring the message of hope to people ;-).
Comedy: If we want the Church to grow, have to let it crawl…let it walk…let it run. If you want Church to grow, have to give more $. People say, let it crawl.
In the Beginning, God was feeling kind of lonely. Day 1 – Let there be light. The light was everywhere. God said, this sure is good. “BOOM”. Day 2 – God created the Sky and Vermement (that which is ???). God said, this sure is good. Sky doesn’t do anything. Etc. (Story of Creation – on youtube.com)
After a while it’s going to get boring for most of us – Similar to playing basketball with tree.
As much as he loved the things he created, he didn’t create anything that would love him back. Lord stepped down from space. Grabbed clay and breathed breath of life. Adam. Adam got tired ask God for someone. God grabbed rib, Eve created. Wo, Man. At end of 6th day, God declared that we were very good. Day 7 – God took the day off. (He knew he wasn’t going to rest again). You had dominion over the entire Earth. Only had 1 rule to live by. Decided not to abide by law. Kicked out of Garden.
Why did God made you?
God made me to know him, to love him and to serve him in this world and to be happy with him in the next.
Problem w/child: Just give one sermon w/your children and let it go. Don’t keep going on and on with the sermon, just one time and then let it go.
Sometimes in your life, God has said, just shut up and listen to what Jesus has to say. Christ message is powerful..don’t need to improve it, just have to use it.
Scripture: Abraham (ex. of being quiet and listening to God). Prophet Jermiah..God places his word on his lips. Jeremiah tries to find an excuse about why he should not be the leader. Say not, that you are too young. (Say not = Shut up) Because I’m going to tell you what to do. Lord infuses him with the Holy Spirit. Before this happened Jeremiah just needed to be quiet so he could listen to the Lord.
Blessed Mary. When Mary was visited by Gabriel. Mary – Huh. Gabriel – tells her what’s going to happen. Mary –how can that be, I do not know man? Holy Spirit will come upon you. Emanuel will save the world. Then let it be done to me according to your word.
With God all things are possible. If you shut your mouth than God will make it possible. Mary was willing to just be quite, the power was there.
God: This is my beloved son, with him, I am pleased.
God’s plan – Jesus’ crucifixion. Satan you got to go. The closer you get to God the greater prize he sees you. Once he gets you, he puts you aside and moves on to the next. You have to say, Satan Shut Up and listen to Jesus, He has something to say.
This is my beloved son, just listen to him. Jesus has something to say. How many times in our live has Christ tried to bring a message to us. We’re so busy w/our work that we don’t listen. You can get bogged down w/doing church work (worried about all the little details) that we miss the opportunity to listen.
“There’s nothing greater that God can do, but to put me on that altar. “
Challenge yourself not to get caught up with doing church that we miss the transfiguring moments. Sometimes, you just have to be still and let God nurture you. This is different from doing nothing. Wonderful to celebrate, but don’t get caught up in the moment when Jesus is nourishing us w/his body and blood.
Sometimes you miss what God is trying to say, that you just have to leave it alone.
When the weight on the world was on his shoulders, Jesus said, “My God, why have you forsaken me.” (Jesus was saying it for himself and human kind.) But your will, be done. At that moment, the world was saved.
How many times in our lives have we been spiritually dead. We’ve been alone in our room. Just need that moment when Christ says, I’m with you, no matter what. Don’t forsake me. I love you so much, I’m willing to die for you. Just want you to believe. The day is coming when I’m going to take care of you, all you have to do is listen. Hanging on this cross because all I have to say is I love you. I love you for who you are. No matter what the world says, I love you, just because you’re you. Just listen to me. Sit down and just listen to God. He is giving up a message of power and faith. If the wind and waves are listening to God, why aren’t we being quiet and listening? Imagine all the miracles that would happen in the world, if we would only stop and listen to God’s message.
Open your minds and hearts to what God is trying to say to you. Don’t allow world to sit still.
Pay attention to what Christ is trying to tell you.. just close your mouth and open your ears.
May you stand firm in faith, no matter what he has called you to do.
There's a saying that Christians tell other Christians who doubt their calling...God wouldn't have called you to this ministry/task/roll/leadership responsibility, if he didn't think you could handle the task. I would say it to myself over and over again the next few years and a beautiful group was created at our church: MOPS (www.mops.org for more info on MOPS). As a result of God's plan, new leaders were created, moms came to MOPS for friendship and support, and volunteers came to watch our children so they could provide for this important ministry.
All of this happened because it was God's plan and because I was willing to be quiet and just listen to God.
My RAK to anyone who has ever doubted or been afraid to do what God has called them to do.
Father Tony's message at LA Congress, Just Shut-Up and Listen.
Enjoy!
Christina :-)
P.S. You gotta get through the first part of the lecture to get to the meat of the message :-). Sorry vegetarians...couldn't think of a better way to rephrase that considering my mind is on Spring Break too.
Session #7 - Just Shut Up and Listen – Father Tony
Day 27, 1995 – Enter Church and knelt down in altar as priest. 2000 – First LA Congress Opportunities happened to Tony, just because he’s willing to say YES to God.
God’s plans were different. God showed him a new world, where you can stand in an Arena, ready to celebrate God’s love. Tony is thankful for the opportunity to bring God’s word to everyone.
In June 19, 1954 – God blessed this world with ME. Some priests enjoy doing this so much, that every morning they get up and enjoy what they’re doing every morning. It’s the greatest gift that God has given him. Thankful for all the prayer and support from everyone.
Comedy: If you want collection to go up, preach about sin and turn off air conditioner. Babies need to bring the message of hope to people ;-).
Comedy: If we want the Church to grow, have to let it crawl…let it walk…let it run. If you want Church to grow, have to give more $. People say, let it crawl.
In the Beginning, God was feeling kind of lonely. Day 1 – Let there be light. The light was everywhere. God said, this sure is good. “BOOM”. Day 2 – God created the Sky and Vermement (that which is ???). God said, this sure is good. Sky doesn’t do anything. Etc. (Story of Creation – on youtube.com)
After a while it’s going to get boring for most of us – Similar to playing basketball with tree.
As much as he loved the things he created, he didn’t create anything that would love him back. Lord stepped down from space. Grabbed clay and breathed breath of life. Adam. Adam got tired ask God for someone. God grabbed rib, Eve created. Wo, Man. At end of 6th day, God declared that we were very good. Day 7 – God took the day off. (He knew he wasn’t going to rest again). You had dominion over the entire Earth. Only had 1 rule to live by. Decided not to abide by law. Kicked out of Garden.
Why did God made you?
God made me to know him, to love him and to serve him in this world and to be happy with him in the next.
Problem w/child: Just give one sermon w/your children and let it go. Don’t keep going on and on with the sermon, just one time and then let it go.
Sometimes in your life, God has said, just shut up and listen to what Jesus has to say. Christ message is powerful..don’t need to improve it, just have to use it.
Scripture: Abraham (ex. of being quiet and listening to God). Prophet Jermiah..God places his word on his lips. Jeremiah tries to find an excuse about why he should not be the leader. Say not, that you are too young. (Say not = Shut up) Because I’m going to tell you what to do. Lord infuses him with the Holy Spirit. Before this happened Jeremiah just needed to be quiet so he could listen to the Lord.
Blessed Mary. When Mary was visited by Gabriel. Mary – Huh. Gabriel – tells her what’s going to happen. Mary –how can that be, I do not know man? Holy Spirit will come upon you. Emanuel will save the world. Then let it be done to me according to your word.
With God all things are possible. If you shut your mouth than God will make it possible. Mary was willing to just be quite, the power was there.
God: This is my beloved son, with him, I am pleased.
God’s plan – Jesus’ crucifixion. Satan you got to go. The closer you get to God the greater prize he sees you. Once he gets you, he puts you aside and moves on to the next. You have to say, Satan Shut Up and listen to Jesus, He has something to say.
This is my beloved son, just listen to him. Jesus has something to say. How many times in our live has Christ tried to bring a message to us. We’re so busy w/our work that we don’t listen. You can get bogged down w/doing church work (worried about all the little details) that we miss the opportunity to listen.
“There’s nothing greater that God can do, but to put me on that altar. “
Challenge yourself not to get caught up with doing church that we miss the transfiguring moments. Sometimes, you just have to be still and let God nurture you. This is different from doing nothing. Wonderful to celebrate, but don’t get caught up in the moment when Jesus is nourishing us w/his body and blood.
Sometimes you miss what God is trying to say, that you just have to leave it alone.
When the weight on the world was on his shoulders, Jesus said, “My God, why have you forsaken me.” (Jesus was saying it for himself and human kind.) But your will, be done. At that moment, the world was saved.
How many times in our lives have we been spiritually dead. We’ve been alone in our room. Just need that moment when Christ says, I’m with you, no matter what. Don’t forsake me. I love you so much, I’m willing to die for you. Just want you to believe. The day is coming when I’m going to take care of you, all you have to do is listen. Hanging on this cross because all I have to say is I love you. I love you for who you are. No matter what the world says, I love you, just because you’re you. Just listen to me. Sit down and just listen to God. He is giving up a message of power and faith. If the wind and waves are listening to God, why aren’t we being quiet and listening? Imagine all the miracles that would happen in the world, if we would only stop and listen to God’s message.
Open your minds and hearts to what God is trying to say to you. Don’t allow world to sit still.
Pay attention to what Christ is trying to tell you.. just close your mouth and open your ears.
May you stand firm in faith, no matter what he has called you to do.
Day 18 - The Teddy Bear Tea (STOP, LOOK & LISTEN)
Last week, our school had their first annual Teddy Bear Tea. My daughter was looking forward to attending her first Teddy Bear Tea and I was looking for a miracle. My daughter had been sick a few days just before the Tea and I was starting to get sick with a pretty nasty cough. I got up on the morning of the Tea and taught Religious Education class. It was during the class that I first began coughing. The day before, I had spent most of my time getting ready for the Tea. Getting my hair done, buying a dress, getting nails done..all that "important stuff". Instead of resting up, I ran myself ragged looking for everything I needed to attend the Teddy Bear Tea. I was go, go, go, instead of STOP and REST mode.
On the day of the Tea, I was tired and didn't feel so good. My daughter was starting to get better, but still kept coughing. I felt miserable and had secretly hoped for an unexpected snow storm in Southern California, so that the event would be cancelled and rescheduled for another day (yes, it is possible for us to get snow in Southern California. I think it happened before..in the early 1900s?). Anyway, we were getting down to the wire. I showered, I even blew dry my hair for the special occassion and had taken a delicious dose of cough medicine...after all, one of the mom's at our school had shared her special secret with me..if you want your kids in school, just give them medicine to mask the symptoms. So,take some cough medicine and just go to the Tea!
In 30 minutes, we had to leave for the Tea. I asked my daughter how badly she wanted to go the Teddy Bear Tea. She looked at me and then she looked at her dad and asked if we could have the Teddy Bear Tea at our house. My husband went to the store and bought all sorts of cheeses, crackers and deserts. He washed my daughter's Barbie tea set and set the table with our fancy napkins, glassware and cutlery.
A few minutes later, we sat down to a nice Tea...all five of us, wait, 9, if you count everybody's teddy. We ate, we talked about school, we played a dancing game on the wii, we played board games and foosball too. At the end of the day, the kids went to bed and hubby and I spent some time talking about the events of the day. We realized that all our daughter had wanted out of this day was to spend time with the family. She wanted us to play with her..and this was worth more than going to a Teddy Bear tea party with her friends.
We had been so busy running on empty and always on the GO as a family, that we didn't STOP, LOOK and LISTEN so that we could live life in the present.
My RAK to you.
Notes from the LA Congress that I attended a couple of weeks ago. Terry Hershey's: STOP, LOOK and LISTEN.
May you live your day always mindful and joyful of living it in the present.
Christina :-)
Session #4 – Terry Hershey – Stop, Look and Listen
Comedy introduction.
We take ourselves too seriously.
Life tells us to be faster, newer… yet we’re exhausted, tuckered, out of gas, drained, and running on empty. Life is difficult and we’re buying into it.
Ex. Dad how much $ to you make. Dad tells child, there are certain things you don’t talk about. And one of them is $. Dad apologizes to child. Daddy makes $50 hr. at work. Child..can I borrow $10. Dad says child is being rude again. Tell me why you need $10. Child gives $40 from piggy bank and w/borrowed $10, child wants to buy and hour of his time.
Life is predicated with us being important, busy or hurried.
Story: Westerners being kicked out of Republic of China. They can only take 200 pounds. What should we take. Books, equipment, pics, mementos, etc. Get to check out border where they are supposed to be deported. Guard asks, Did you weigh the children?
We lost sight of what was human, real and our heart. We get weighed down with stuff.
Wisdom from Elementary Crossing Guard: Stop, Look & Listen.
People Ask: What do you do? How much do you make?
Not what is your passion, what’s in your heart.
My life is all about where I need to be bigger, or what do I need to do to plump up my resume. All the stuff I need.
Not gossip. It’s called prayer concern.
Why are people addicted to those messages? Addicted to Gossip.
We see symptoms, but use Western technology to solve problems. We are stressed and frazzled, so we’ll go to a seminar on distressing. Or we’ll buy a book on living a balanced life. Or get an app on our iPhone. Balance is highly overrated. They are anal-retentive people.
Stop…Look…Listen.
Why Stop?
When God said to Moses. Take off your shoes. God said it because he wanted Moses to touch his feet on the dirt. We have a phrase. It’s called being grounded. Want to STOP.
Story: Japanese person pouring tea. American said, “ I could have texted you, this is a waste of time.” Japanese Zen master keeps pouring tea. It over flows. American says the cup is full. You can stop pouring now. Zen master says, “that cup is just like your life. You came to me for wisdom, but your cup is already full. So there is no space for wisdom.”
Spirituality is about subtracting, not addition.
Story: Location: A College. Subject: Someone needs directions. Everyone was helpful to tell where the building is located. 2 construction workers pass. And walk between 2 people (asking for help). For 2-3 sec., they replaced person who was lost with another person…or a different gender. Different clothes. Only 50% realized that it was a different person.
If life is about productivity..newer..better..than LIFE IS NEVER WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
STOP
Watch with no hands, just the word, NOW.
To do lists. Some people write things down, even if they already did it. Just to cross it off.
Deadline means time to get started. for some people
Js vs Ps. J= Just do it! P= Procrastinators
If God was a P, God played Day 1-6 and on Day 7, God pulled an all-nighter.
If God was a J, God would have a to-do list and check things off as he finished doing it.
Performing tests on people. Do some have compassion and others don’t?
Group Study:
People were asked to go to a presentation:
Group A: Were told it started 30 min. ago.
Group B: Were told it starts in 5 min.
Group C: Were told it’s going to start in 1 hr.
Group of people had to be at the presentation at a certain place and a certain time. On the way to the presentation, there was a guy who needed medical care.
Which Personality type is going to be compassionate b/c if they know, they can train it.
Compassion had nothing to do with personality.
The ones who stopped to give medical care to the guy were the ones who had an 1 hr. before presentation.
As long as we’re in a hurry, Ethics becomes a luxury.
Stopping gives us the permission to create space for _______________________________.
We want to STOP, but we want to be productive while we’re stopping. Productive stopping.
STOP. The culture says otherwise.
Talk fast b/c we’re in a hurry.
Hurry is linked to public opinion. No wonder we can’t stop. A lot of things make us angrier than we used to be. Then we end up getting angry at the person that we’re not even mad at.
Story: UPS. I don’t want to be Christian for the next 15 min. Went to front desk and gave them piece of my mind. (Delivered boxes to car, charged $300.) Wristband – Keep Jesus in your heart. Cussing UPS guy out until I realized what was on my wrist and I covered it up.
When we are in a hurry, we forget who we are. We are not in our own skin.
Story: Jesus said no one can serve 2 masters. No one can serve God and Man ($,things, etc.) Next verse, therefore, (what is it there for?) do not worry. When we worry, mind is somewhere else. As long as I worry, I am in the past or future. Not the present. You need to STOP.
If people were exposed to beauty, would they stop and celebrate it? Kid opens violin case (3 million dollar violin – plays Mozart, Joshua Belle (most known violinist), he is playing in high traffic area.
2,000 people pass, only 6 stop (4 were children) to watch him play. The night before, he was playing at a sold out concert.
When I stop and make space, I see.
Story: Bumper to Bumper traffic. Know you’re going to spend time stuck in traffic. If you let someone in, is it really going to change the amount of time you’re in traffic. By how long?
The Sacrament of the present moment.
STOP and LOOK.
List makers:
When you’re walking out there. Stop in the crowd and just say LOOK. Everybody LOOK.
When the host is elevated. Maybe that’s what we should all be saying. LOOK. Make that a part of our liturgy. Not only here for mass, but practicing the sacrament of the present moment.
If we keep saying LOOK. They may even clear the way for us in the future ;-).
Story: Born in Colon. Little self-esteem in a town called Colon. The assoc. of regular Baptist in colon. 4 H club – colon ever ready.
I don’t know what I am, except a CHILD of GOD!
As long as I’m in a hurry and I don’t stop. If I don’t stop, I can’t look. The I see only what I want to see.
Story: A difficult kid in school (1930s). There were no labels. Like ADHD, etc. Jillian is a difficult child. Calls parents to meeting. You think you’ve done something wrong. Feeling like you’re being measured (?). School counselor talks to parents. Jillian left alone. Play classical music. Jillian is dancing around the room, no longer sitting in her hands. Said to parents. Your daughter is not troubled, your daughter is a dancer. As long as I assume that my identity is on how much faster, what I need to do, etc. my life will be predicated on those labels.
You are the light of the world. God didn’t say you have to make the light. The light is already here. Let your light shine. (Doesn’t say. Let your light shine after therapy, or after light shining classes. In order to be a certified light shiner.)
Could have labeled Jillian.
Invited parents to STOP and LOOK. When that happens, you see someone bigger than the label that they’re given. You see someone better.
Jillian hated school. They are wired that way. After done with school, went to dance school, went to ballet school and then went to work for a dance company. Then hooked up with Andrew Lloyd Weber. Jillian L. choreographed Phantom of the Opera. At one time in her life, someone Stopped and Looked. They didn’t label her. Her life could have gone differently.
Anytime you label someone else, you dismiss them.
We see what we want to see.
STOP and LOOK.
God says. Inside of you is a dancer, inside of you is a light.
What are some of our favorite labels:
How many teachers give kids a chance when they put a label.
STOP. LOOK and LISTEN.
Drink it in and savor it.
Wallow in Grace.
Listen not only with your ear, but with your heart.
Story: Sister asks parents if she can speak alone with her baby brother.
I’m glad you’re here and I need your help. I know you just came from GOD and I was starting to forget what he looked like. Can you remind me?
God gives that child their own unique song. Mom given that task to learn that unique song of the baby in their belly. Mom’s supposed to teach the tribe and everyone sings the child’s song when he/she is born. When baby is teen, adult of done something wrong, they sing the child’s song.
The planet does not need more successful people, needs more story tellers, peace makers, healers, people who have moral courage to make planet more humane and just.
Do Less. Live More.
I’m pausing.
When you have one of those days. Just breathe and remember the wisdom of the school crossing guard. STOP LOOK AND LISTEN.
In the middle of the crazy. STOP. LOOK AND LISTEN. Jesus Is there.
Life is not about being tidy, but about being in the present.
Story: Friend is Pastor. Special needs home. Doesn’t know how long will have kids or what special needs are. Near Christmas, they did not have enough $ for food or presents for special need kids. At door, 3 men w/bandanas. They had groceries. 13 sacks of grocery. Out in curb, 1959 Cadillac. Wearing masks…getting away.
They wrote on the grocery bags: God’s desperados have been here. Some kids wanted to sleep with food. Don’t know who the 3 men where. I am one of those desperados. Because inside of you is a dancer and the light..when you STOP, LOOK and LISTEN, the light of Christ spills to everyone around you.
Do something for someone and don’t tell anyone about it. Because you know that labels don’t tell you who you are.
You can kill the desperado program by bringing a sign-up sheet.
Story: Frog and Toad – Toad looks sad..because he doesn’t get any mail. Frog decides to cheer Toad up by writing him a letter. Frog tells Snail to deliver the letter to Toad’s house. Frog keeps looking out of the window, each time he looks out, he notices that the snail was not there yet. Frog asks why do you keep looking out the window.
Frog tells Toad that he wrote him a letter. The contents of the letter: you are my friend. They were happy. 4 days later, the letter arrived.
Be a Frog and Toad to someone in my community..spill that light to a friend..see a dancer in them.
On the day of the Tea, I was tired and didn't feel so good. My daughter was starting to get better, but still kept coughing. I felt miserable and had secretly hoped for an unexpected snow storm in Southern California, so that the event would be cancelled and rescheduled for another day (yes, it is possible for us to get snow in Southern California. I think it happened before..in the early 1900s?). Anyway, we were getting down to the wire. I showered, I even blew dry my hair for the special occassion and had taken a delicious dose of cough medicine...after all, one of the mom's at our school had shared her special secret with me..if you want your kids in school, just give them medicine to mask the symptoms. So,take some cough medicine and just go to the Tea!
In 30 minutes, we had to leave for the Tea. I asked my daughter how badly she wanted to go the Teddy Bear Tea. She looked at me and then she looked at her dad and asked if we could have the Teddy Bear Tea at our house. My husband went to the store and bought all sorts of cheeses, crackers and deserts. He washed my daughter's Barbie tea set and set the table with our fancy napkins, glassware and cutlery.
A few minutes later, we sat down to a nice Tea...all five of us, wait, 9, if you count everybody's teddy. We ate, we talked about school, we played a dancing game on the wii, we played board games and foosball too. At the end of the day, the kids went to bed and hubby and I spent some time talking about the events of the day. We realized that all our daughter had wanted out of this day was to spend time with the family. She wanted us to play with her..and this was worth more than going to a Teddy Bear tea party with her friends.
We had been so busy running on empty and always on the GO as a family, that we didn't STOP, LOOK and LISTEN so that we could live life in the present.
My RAK to you.
Notes from the LA Congress that I attended a couple of weeks ago. Terry Hershey's: STOP, LOOK and LISTEN.
May you live your day always mindful and joyful of living it in the present.
Christina :-)
Session #4 – Terry Hershey – Stop, Look and Listen
Comedy introduction.
We take ourselves too seriously.
Life tells us to be faster, newer… yet we’re exhausted, tuckered, out of gas, drained, and running on empty. Life is difficult and we’re buying into it.
Ex. Dad how much $ to you make. Dad tells child, there are certain things you don’t talk about. And one of them is $. Dad apologizes to child. Daddy makes $50 hr. at work. Child..can I borrow $10. Dad says child is being rude again. Tell me why you need $10. Child gives $40 from piggy bank and w/borrowed $10, child wants to buy and hour of his time.
Life is predicated with us being important, busy or hurried.
Story: Westerners being kicked out of Republic of China. They can only take 200 pounds. What should we take. Books, equipment, pics, mementos, etc. Get to check out border where they are supposed to be deported. Guard asks, Did you weigh the children?
We lost sight of what was human, real and our heart. We get weighed down with stuff.
Wisdom from Elementary Crossing Guard: Stop, Look & Listen.
People Ask: What do you do? How much do you make?
Not what is your passion, what’s in your heart.
My life is all about where I need to be bigger, or what do I need to do to plump up my resume. All the stuff I need.
Not gossip. It’s called prayer concern.
Why are people addicted to those messages? Addicted to Gossip.
We see symptoms, but use Western technology to solve problems. We are stressed and frazzled, so we’ll go to a seminar on distressing. Or we’ll buy a book on living a balanced life. Or get an app on our iPhone. Balance is highly overrated. They are anal-retentive people.
Stop…Look…Listen.
Why Stop?
When God said to Moses. Take off your shoes. God said it because he wanted Moses to touch his feet on the dirt. We have a phrase. It’s called being grounded. Want to STOP.
Story: Japanese person pouring tea. American said, “ I could have texted you, this is a waste of time.” Japanese Zen master keeps pouring tea. It over flows. American says the cup is full. You can stop pouring now. Zen master says, “that cup is just like your life. You came to me for wisdom, but your cup is already full. So there is no space for wisdom.”
Spirituality is about subtracting, not addition.
Story: Location: A College. Subject: Someone needs directions. Everyone was helpful to tell where the building is located. 2 construction workers pass. And walk between 2 people (asking for help). For 2-3 sec., they replaced person who was lost with another person…or a different gender. Different clothes. Only 50% realized that it was a different person.
If life is about productivity..newer..better..than LIFE IS NEVER WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
STOP
Watch with no hands, just the word, NOW.
To do lists. Some people write things down, even if they already did it. Just to cross it off.
Deadline means time to get started. for some people
Js vs Ps. J= Just do it! P= Procrastinators
If God was a P, God played Day 1-6 and on Day 7, God pulled an all-nighter.
If God was a J, God would have a to-do list and check things off as he finished doing it.
Performing tests on people. Do some have compassion and others don’t?
Group Study:
People were asked to go to a presentation:
Group A: Were told it started 30 min. ago.
Group B: Were told it starts in 5 min.
Group C: Were told it’s going to start in 1 hr.
Group of people had to be at the presentation at a certain place and a certain time. On the way to the presentation, there was a guy who needed medical care.
Which Personality type is going to be compassionate b/c if they know, they can train it.
Compassion had nothing to do with personality.
The ones who stopped to give medical care to the guy were the ones who had an 1 hr. before presentation.
As long as we’re in a hurry, Ethics becomes a luxury.
Stopping gives us the permission to create space for _______________________________.
We want to STOP, but we want to be productive while we’re stopping. Productive stopping.
STOP. The culture says otherwise.
Talk fast b/c we’re in a hurry.
Hurry is linked to public opinion. No wonder we can’t stop. A lot of things make us angrier than we used to be. Then we end up getting angry at the person that we’re not even mad at.
Story: UPS. I don’t want to be Christian for the next 15 min. Went to front desk and gave them piece of my mind. (Delivered boxes to car, charged $300.) Wristband – Keep Jesus in your heart. Cussing UPS guy out until I realized what was on my wrist and I covered it up.
When we are in a hurry, we forget who we are. We are not in our own skin.
Story: Jesus said no one can serve 2 masters. No one can serve God and Man ($,things, etc.) Next verse, therefore, (what is it there for?) do not worry. When we worry, mind is somewhere else. As long as I worry, I am in the past or future. Not the present. You need to STOP.
If people were exposed to beauty, would they stop and celebrate it? Kid opens violin case (3 million dollar violin – plays Mozart, Joshua Belle (most known violinist), he is playing in high traffic area.
2,000 people pass, only 6 stop (4 were children) to watch him play. The night before, he was playing at a sold out concert.
When I stop and make space, I see.
Story: Bumper to Bumper traffic. Know you’re going to spend time stuck in traffic. If you let someone in, is it really going to change the amount of time you’re in traffic. By how long?
The Sacrament of the present moment.
STOP and LOOK.
List makers:
When you’re walking out there. Stop in the crowd and just say LOOK. Everybody LOOK.
When the host is elevated. Maybe that’s what we should all be saying. LOOK. Make that a part of our liturgy. Not only here for mass, but practicing the sacrament of the present moment.
If we keep saying LOOK. They may even clear the way for us in the future ;-).
Story: Born in Colon. Little self-esteem in a town called Colon. The assoc. of regular Baptist in colon. 4 H club – colon ever ready.
I don’t know what I am, except a CHILD of GOD!
As long as I’m in a hurry and I don’t stop. If I don’t stop, I can’t look. The I see only what I want to see.
Story: A difficult kid in school (1930s). There were no labels. Like ADHD, etc. Jillian is a difficult child. Calls parents to meeting. You think you’ve done something wrong. Feeling like you’re being measured (?). School counselor talks to parents. Jillian left alone. Play classical music. Jillian is dancing around the room, no longer sitting in her hands. Said to parents. Your daughter is not troubled, your daughter is a dancer. As long as I assume that my identity is on how much faster, what I need to do, etc. my life will be predicated on those labels.
You are the light of the world. God didn’t say you have to make the light. The light is already here. Let your light shine. (Doesn’t say. Let your light shine after therapy, or after light shining classes. In order to be a certified light shiner.)
Could have labeled Jillian.
Invited parents to STOP and LOOK. When that happens, you see someone bigger than the label that they’re given. You see someone better.
Jillian hated school. They are wired that way. After done with school, went to dance school, went to ballet school and then went to work for a dance company. Then hooked up with Andrew Lloyd Weber. Jillian L. choreographed Phantom of the Opera. At one time in her life, someone Stopped and Looked. They didn’t label her. Her life could have gone differently.
Anytime you label someone else, you dismiss them.
We see what we want to see.
STOP and LOOK.
God says. Inside of you is a dancer, inside of you is a light.
What are some of our favorite labels:
How many teachers give kids a chance when they put a label.
STOP. LOOK and LISTEN.
Drink it in and savor it.
Wallow in Grace.
Listen not only with your ear, but with your heart.
Story: Sister asks parents if she can speak alone with her baby brother.
I’m glad you’re here and I need your help. I know you just came from GOD and I was starting to forget what he looked like. Can you remind me?
God gives that child their own unique song. Mom given that task to learn that unique song of the baby in their belly. Mom’s supposed to teach the tribe and everyone sings the child’s song when he/she is born. When baby is teen, adult of done something wrong, they sing the child’s song.
The planet does not need more successful people, needs more story tellers, peace makers, healers, people who have moral courage to make planet more humane and just.
Do Less. Live More.
I’m pausing.
When you have one of those days. Just breathe and remember the wisdom of the school crossing guard. STOP LOOK AND LISTEN.
In the middle of the crazy. STOP. LOOK AND LISTEN. Jesus Is there.
Life is not about being tidy, but about being in the present.
Story: Friend is Pastor. Special needs home. Doesn’t know how long will have kids or what special needs are. Near Christmas, they did not have enough $ for food or presents for special need kids. At door, 3 men w/bandanas. They had groceries. 13 sacks of grocery. Out in curb, 1959 Cadillac. Wearing masks…getting away.
They wrote on the grocery bags: God’s desperados have been here. Some kids wanted to sleep with food. Don’t know who the 3 men where. I am one of those desperados. Because inside of you is a dancer and the light..when you STOP, LOOK and LISTEN, the light of Christ spills to everyone around you.
Do something for someone and don’t tell anyone about it. Because you know that labels don’t tell you who you are.
You can kill the desperado program by bringing a sign-up sheet.
Story: Frog and Toad – Toad looks sad..because he doesn’t get any mail. Frog decides to cheer Toad up by writing him a letter. Frog tells Snail to deliver the letter to Toad’s house. Frog keeps looking out of the window, each time he looks out, he notices that the snail was not there yet. Frog asks why do you keep looking out the window.
Frog tells Toad that he wrote him a letter. The contents of the letter: you are my friend. They were happy. 4 days later, the letter arrived.
Be a Frog and Toad to someone in my community..spill that light to a friend..see a dancer in them.
Day 17 - Just for Teachers
This RAK is just for teachers, especially Catechists. If you want to know how to reach your students with games, read my Session 3 notes from the LA Congress.
Enjoy,
Christina
P.S. Know a teacher, pass on this RAK! If you have any great games to share, just post them on this blog.
Session #3 – Game On! Creative Catechesis with Young People – Michael Theisen
What’s your motivation and why are you here today?
What are the most frequent complaints you hear from young people regarding faith formation?
It’s boring. Why do I have to go, if mom and dad don’t go to church. My sports team needs me. I don’t get it. It doesn’t relate to me. My parents make me come. Not just boring, but you are boring.
It’s never too late to learn something new.
Game: Faithful Feud (Similar to Family Feud)
Volunteers: 10 people on stage to be sign holders. 5 for 1 family, another 5 for 2nd family.
Family chooses 1 spoke person. (Who looks the smartest:-)
When you think you know the answer, have to make the sound and motion of a buzzer. It’s important to practice.
Question 1: What’s your favorite book of the Bible? (Most families answered _____________).
If John is the #1 answer, it would be up there. Whoever gets closest to the #1 answer, they get to play.
Question 2: What’s your favorite Feast or Holy Day.
(Ash Wednesday was #7) (Pentecost was #5) 1 family, plays.
Make this a learning opportunity: Ash Wednesday, what do we know about it…beginning of Lent, where do ashes come from..etc. What do we know of the Pentecost? 50 days after Easter. Why do we call it the b-day of the Church. Holy Spirit came down on the disciples. Disciples were liberated to share the good news. What feast where they gathered for? Easter, #1 answer. Christmas, #2 answer..celebrates the birth of Christ. Good Friday. The day Jesus died. He died for our sins. Die to be resurrected. Celebrate by Stations of the Cross. Palm Sunday… Assumption of the Lord (March 25th) …Holy Thursday (Tridiuum).
These are just ideas of how you can incorporate lesson plan w/games.
Next Game: Win it in a minute. Sign Holders must get in liturgical year order.
Use game shows to review lesson plans:
Faithful Feud
Graceball (Similar to Baseball)
Holy Word Squares
Jeopardy
Catholic Millionaire
The Wheel of Fortune – Depends on a Theme…(~ to hangman). Guess a letter. First person comes in and guesses. Then 2nd person coming in guesses 2nd word.
Are you Smarter than a _______ Grader?
Win It in a Minute! (Ideas: DO exactly what’s on the show for your religious education class. Get creative to cover the topic you’re covering in class.
DVD or Online games
(CatholicQuiz.com, CataQuizem?)
Want to engage people – it’s the reason why we have games. We want to make sure we go beyond the games. Where is game going to leave them? Understanding the topic/lesson plan.
Some Truth or Consequences of Playing Games:
Engagement is the Goal.
Go Beyond the Game.
Games are End to Means.
Empower Youth to Lead the way. Games are a means to an end. If parents play, it puts parents on the same level. They are working together not at odds with each other.
Why should we be playing games?
Catholic teenagers tended to be particularly inarticulate about their faith, their religious beliefs and practices, and is meaningful in their lives.
What’s My Core Mission?
Ex. Southwest. They are the low fare airline.
What is our End Game? What is our core? Discipleship.
All ministry w/adolescents must be directed toward presenting young people w/the Good News of Jesus Christ and inviting and challenging them to become his disciples.
As Catechist, we are called to build a kingdom w/god.
Disciple Builders Ask:
1. How will this lead youth to actively participate in their faith.
2. How can this empower our youth to be disciples? Empowerment
3. How is this leading youth to grow as disciples in the world today? Growth.
The Power of a Core Message:
How do we engage people with a message. How do we get them to remember the message. Remember the campaign about smoking, the images of those who were exposed.
How likely were people to smoke a cigarette during the year. It depends on the commercial. That’s why smoking campaign was so successful. Young kids, snowboarding, etc.
Make sure it gets to the heart.
Sour Grapes. Story: The fox wants to eat juicy grapes on the vine. The Fox jumps several times to try and eat the grapes. The fox finally gives us. Fox says, I’m sure it’s sour. Easy to despise the sour grapes rather than to admit the fox couldn’t reach the grapes. Easy to assume people already know the story.
Name that Tune - Don’t move lips or hum tune. We go into lesson knowing this is so simple because we have been there. Our assumptions set us on the wrong course. We’ve already studied it..they haven’t. When you teach each lesson, go in with the idea that no one has studied it yet.
How to sing your Catechetical ABCs.
A – Affective Knowledge = Heart
B – Behavioral Knowledge = Hands
C – Cognitive Knowledge = Head
Comprehensive Catechesis brings all three elements together: to know, love and serve Jesus.
Love others as yourself and create ownership.
Top Five effective approaches –
Ideas: Role Playing, Story Telling, Music, Strategies, Skits.
5. Service Learning – Going out and doing service and talking about it.
4. Drama/Acting
3. Extended Trips/Conferences
2. Retreats (Can be day retreat – field trip)
1. Summer Intensive (vacation bible school) – usually for kids, teens teach it and they are involved. You learn because you have to teach it to somebody. How do we get our kids to teach to others. This is what disciples do to others.
Teaching to the Core: - Handout
What is the Core message?
Keep asking yourself why? Why is this topic important for teens? Then come up with an answer. Why is it important to teenagers to know why Jesus instituted Sacraments. Not trying to create disciple in 60 seconds..but a journey on the way there.
Getting to the Core in Three Acts
Core Idea
Act One: Engage
Act Two: Examine
Act Three: Explore
Core Idea
Example: Getting to the Core in Three Acts
Zacchaeus, The Tax Collector. Luke 19:1-10 (Actors from the audience for parts, including a tree.) Play to the Audience. Zach was the shortest person in..(person acts it out).
Core Idea (Conversion)
Act One: Engage
Act Two: Examine
Take the story….Make sure it is proclaimed. The Town of Jericho, Taxes, Taxes, Taxes, Zacchaeus the Chief Outcast, Climbing over Dignity, A Dinner Conversion, Payback Time, Following Jesus. Ex. Zaccheus was rich, but was an outcast. Out of all the people, Jesus speaks to one..Zaccheus, can you imagine what was said or recorded to the story. Jesus says, I want to have dinner in your house. What go to the house and eat with the sinner? What happened as a result. During dinner, conversion occurred. Transformation occurred. He paid back over and above what he needed too. Sign of a converted heart and followed Jesus down road to Jerusalem.
Act Three: Explore
Want kids to apply the story to their life. Look at different level of status in their school. Ex. Geeks, Jocks, etc., they create the label. Who has the most and least power. Where are they in the social letter.
Creating your school’s Ladder of Status…..
..and Jesus turning it upside down.
Outcasts were the first one to hear the news.
Imagine Jesus came to your school and sought you out?
What would other students be whispering?
What would Jesus need to say to you to change your life? To have you follow him down the road? To have heart turned in such a way, that you would be willing to risk following him as his disciple.
Must apply it to their lives. We’ve been called to engage people for the sole purpose of disciples.
Core Idea
Warning: The risks facing contemporary teens bear solemn testimony to the church’s ineffectiveness at addressing adolescence. Youth look to church to show them something. Someone, capable of turning their lives inside out and their world upside down. Most of the teacher’s just order pizza and have our teen socialize.
Our job is to educate kids and to form disciples. We have to take them deeper.
Ice Breakers build community.
Each Classroom has questions that each child is struggling w/. Go to different classrooms and see what other children are struggling w/. What did you learn?
Many started changing the way they deal w/other students as far as space. (They had moved around desks.)
We have to be very careful not to explain everything.
Better to create more questions. Create a hunger in young people.
Prayer and Faith sharing is critical.
Bottom line..all of it (see handout) has to lead everyone to core message.
Which signs reflects your life right now. Build boards…etc. Praying Scripture.
Word (1)
Word (reflect on 1 phrase)
Prayer
What is God telling you to teach?
If a student can visualize it, they will learn the lesson.
Enjoy,
Christina
P.S. Know a teacher, pass on this RAK! If you have any great games to share, just post them on this blog.
Session #3 – Game On! Creative Catechesis with Young People – Michael Theisen
What’s your motivation and why are you here today?
What are the most frequent complaints you hear from young people regarding faith formation?
It’s boring. Why do I have to go, if mom and dad don’t go to church. My sports team needs me. I don’t get it. It doesn’t relate to me. My parents make me come. Not just boring, but you are boring.
It’s never too late to learn something new.
Game: Faithful Feud (Similar to Family Feud)
Volunteers: 10 people on stage to be sign holders. 5 for 1 family, another 5 for 2nd family.
Family chooses 1 spoke person. (Who looks the smartest:-)
When you think you know the answer, have to make the sound and motion of a buzzer. It’s important to practice.
Question 1: What’s your favorite book of the Bible? (Most families answered _____________).
If John is the #1 answer, it would be up there. Whoever gets closest to the #1 answer, they get to play.
Question 2: What’s your favorite Feast or Holy Day.
(Ash Wednesday was #7) (Pentecost was #5) 1 family, plays.
Make this a learning opportunity: Ash Wednesday, what do we know about it…beginning of Lent, where do ashes come from..etc. What do we know of the Pentecost? 50 days after Easter. Why do we call it the b-day of the Church. Holy Spirit came down on the disciples. Disciples were liberated to share the good news. What feast where they gathered for? Easter, #1 answer. Christmas, #2 answer..celebrates the birth of Christ. Good Friday. The day Jesus died. He died for our sins. Die to be resurrected. Celebrate by Stations of the Cross. Palm Sunday… Assumption of the Lord (March 25th) …Holy Thursday (Tridiuum).
These are just ideas of how you can incorporate lesson plan w/games.
Next Game: Win it in a minute. Sign Holders must get in liturgical year order.
Use game shows to review lesson plans:
Faithful Feud
Graceball (Similar to Baseball)
Holy Word Squares
Jeopardy
Catholic Millionaire
The Wheel of Fortune – Depends on a Theme…(~ to hangman). Guess a letter. First person comes in and guesses. Then 2nd person coming in guesses 2nd word.
Are you Smarter than a _______ Grader?
Win It in a Minute! (Ideas: DO exactly what’s on the show for your religious education class. Get creative to cover the topic you’re covering in class.
DVD or Online games
(CatholicQuiz.com, CataQuizem?)
Want to engage people – it’s the reason why we have games. We want to make sure we go beyond the games. Where is game going to leave them? Understanding the topic/lesson plan.
Some Truth or Consequences of Playing Games:
Engagement is the Goal.
Go Beyond the Game.
Games are End to Means.
Empower Youth to Lead the way. Games are a means to an end. If parents play, it puts parents on the same level. They are working together not at odds with each other.
Why should we be playing games?
Catholic teenagers tended to be particularly inarticulate about their faith, their religious beliefs and practices, and is meaningful in their lives.
What’s My Core Mission?
Ex. Southwest. They are the low fare airline.
What is our End Game? What is our core? Discipleship.
All ministry w/adolescents must be directed toward presenting young people w/the Good News of Jesus Christ and inviting and challenging them to become his disciples.
As Catechist, we are called to build a kingdom w/god.
Disciple Builders Ask:
1. How will this lead youth to actively participate in their faith.
2. How can this empower our youth to be disciples? Empowerment
3. How is this leading youth to grow as disciples in the world today? Growth.
The Power of a Core Message:
How do we engage people with a message. How do we get them to remember the message. Remember the campaign about smoking, the images of those who were exposed.
How likely were people to smoke a cigarette during the year. It depends on the commercial. That’s why smoking campaign was so successful. Young kids, snowboarding, etc.
Make sure it gets to the heart.
Sour Grapes. Story: The fox wants to eat juicy grapes on the vine. The Fox jumps several times to try and eat the grapes. The fox finally gives us. Fox says, I’m sure it’s sour. Easy to despise the sour grapes rather than to admit the fox couldn’t reach the grapes. Easy to assume people already know the story.
Name that Tune - Don’t move lips or hum tune. We go into lesson knowing this is so simple because we have been there. Our assumptions set us on the wrong course. We’ve already studied it..they haven’t. When you teach each lesson, go in with the idea that no one has studied it yet.
How to sing your Catechetical ABCs.
A – Affective Knowledge = Heart
B – Behavioral Knowledge = Hands
C – Cognitive Knowledge = Head
Comprehensive Catechesis brings all three elements together: to know, love and serve Jesus.
Love others as yourself and create ownership.
Top Five effective approaches –
Ideas: Role Playing, Story Telling, Music, Strategies, Skits.
5. Service Learning – Going out and doing service and talking about it.
4. Drama/Acting
3. Extended Trips/Conferences
2. Retreats (Can be day retreat – field trip)
1. Summer Intensive (vacation bible school) – usually for kids, teens teach it and they are involved. You learn because you have to teach it to somebody. How do we get our kids to teach to others. This is what disciples do to others.
Teaching to the Core: - Handout
What is the Core message?
Keep asking yourself why? Why is this topic important for teens? Then come up with an answer. Why is it important to teenagers to know why Jesus instituted Sacraments. Not trying to create disciple in 60 seconds..but a journey on the way there.
Getting to the Core in Three Acts
Core Idea
Act One: Engage
Act Two: Examine
Act Three: Explore
Core Idea
Example: Getting to the Core in Three Acts
Zacchaeus, The Tax Collector. Luke 19:1-10 (Actors from the audience for parts, including a tree.) Play to the Audience. Zach was the shortest person in..(person acts it out).
Core Idea (Conversion)
Act One: Engage
Act Two: Examine
Take the story….Make sure it is proclaimed. The Town of Jericho, Taxes, Taxes, Taxes, Zacchaeus the Chief Outcast, Climbing over Dignity, A Dinner Conversion, Payback Time, Following Jesus. Ex. Zaccheus was rich, but was an outcast. Out of all the people, Jesus speaks to one..Zaccheus, can you imagine what was said or recorded to the story. Jesus says, I want to have dinner in your house. What go to the house and eat with the sinner? What happened as a result. During dinner, conversion occurred. Transformation occurred. He paid back over and above what he needed too. Sign of a converted heart and followed Jesus down road to Jerusalem.
Act Three: Explore
Want kids to apply the story to their life. Look at different level of status in their school. Ex. Geeks, Jocks, etc., they create the label. Who has the most and least power. Where are they in the social letter.
Creating your school’s Ladder of Status…..
..and Jesus turning it upside down.
Outcasts were the first one to hear the news.
Imagine Jesus came to your school and sought you out?
What would other students be whispering?
What would Jesus need to say to you to change your life? To have you follow him down the road? To have heart turned in such a way, that you would be willing to risk following him as his disciple.
Must apply it to their lives. We’ve been called to engage people for the sole purpose of disciples.
Core Idea
Warning: The risks facing contemporary teens bear solemn testimony to the church’s ineffectiveness at addressing adolescence. Youth look to church to show them something. Someone, capable of turning their lives inside out and their world upside down. Most of the teacher’s just order pizza and have our teen socialize.
Our job is to educate kids and to form disciples. We have to take them deeper.
Ice Breakers build community.
Each Classroom has questions that each child is struggling w/. Go to different classrooms and see what other children are struggling w/. What did you learn?
Many started changing the way they deal w/other students as far as space. (They had moved around desks.)
We have to be very careful not to explain everything.
Better to create more questions. Create a hunger in young people.
Prayer and Faith sharing is critical.
Bottom line..all of it (see handout) has to lead everyone to core message.
Which signs reflects your life right now. Build boards…etc. Praying Scripture.
Word (1)
Word (reflect on 1 phrase)
Prayer
What is God telling you to teach?
If a student can visualize it, they will learn the lesson.
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