Today was the first "solid" class I've had with my second 6th grade period in quite some time.
And I think I know why.
While the content/style of the lessons was the same - we're doing Family Life right now - the delivery was different. I think they could tell I was passionate about the subject: aging & dying. And, being a class that has faced a lot of death, from classmates to teachers to elderly relatives, they were genuinely interested in the topic and had many good questions, connections, and reflections.
It was incredible.
Oh, and we started watching "Tuesdays With Morrie" today too - which just makes everything better. We're not yet 10 minutes into the film, but the 6th graders are already eager to see what happens to Morrie next.
A good class indeed.
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Here's an article worth reading from America Magazine: Truth & Truthiness: What Catholic Catechists Can Learn from Colbert - the point being that effective catechesis requires a few elements that Mr. Colbert does well, namely "delight, instruct, and persuade". It's definitely worth the read when you have a chance - aside from the many great points it makes, it serves as a reminder that catechists are ministers to those we teach and that we need to reach the hearts of our students before we can reach their minds. Plus, if that wasn't enough, it's written by an ACE grad.
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