Catechism Folders

I am so excited to share that I have gone back to teaching catechism this year!  I started teaching about six years ago when Mateo was in second grade and did it for just a couple of years.  There were many reasons that kept me from fully committing myself to it at the time and had to stop.  Recently, I started to hear the call and felt the tug on my heart again.  I was considering going back to it and then, over the Summer, I bumped into Lillian, the Religious Ed director and took it as a sign!  I contacted her to ask if she was in need of teachers and she said yes.  So here I am.

I am no less busier than I was back then but I am trusting in the Lord.

This year, I am teaching 5th and 6th graders in their second year (Sacramental), which means that I will be preparing them for Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.  We had our first class last Saturday.  There was no lesson planned for that day as the time was taken up by administrative tasks.  We did fit in a little game of "Know My Name".  I had the kids stand in a circle and one of them started by making up a nickname; an adjective that describes them that starts with the first letter of their first name (example: Silly Sara).  The next kid had to repeat the names before him/her and tell us his/her nickname and name.  I think they really enjoyed it and it really helped me to remember their names.

We still do not have our assignments for this week yet so I have not yet planned my lesson but for an activity, I am going to have the kids decorate their Catechism folder.  I bought simple two-pocket folders.  On the outside of the folder, they will paste an envelope which will hold their reward card.  The reward card is an incentive for participation and completion of assignments.  When a child has received 10 stickers, they will get to pick an item from the treasure box.  When the whole class has received 10 stickers, I will give them a pizza party.

Here is what the folders will look like once they are decorated.

What you will need:
*Pocket Folders
*Envelopes
*Cards (with a hole punched at the top center)
*Saint or Prayer cards
*Yarn
*Stickers
*Washi Tape

Cut the flap off the envelope

Decorate the outside of the envelope with a Saint or Prayer card

Punch a hole at the top center of the card and write the student's name on one side, thread a yarn through the hole to make it easier to pull out of the envelope

 

 Glue the envelope to the outside of the folder and insert the card

 

 During class, have the students take the card out so that you can easily add reward stickers and little messages during class.  At the end of class, the students can insert the card inside the envelope and take it home to share with mom and dad.

I hope they like their folders as much as I do!