Teaching Catholic Kids

March 2008

Poems and Psalms...

I say “poetry” and the kids I know roll their eyes and mutter things under their breath. That’s a challenge I accept! I proceed to show them really cool poetry like “Today I Had a Rotten Day” by Kenn Nesbitt and “Song” by Ashley Bryan. Then we discuss the words of their favorite songs as poetry, and they begin to catch on. They might still roll their eyes, but they understand that poetry is a human form of expression, a shortened version of profound prose, a way to feel your words and wear them on the outside of you.

And then we dive into the Psalms....

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This month on TCK

Feature Article: From an article by Marcellino D'Ambrosio from OSV Newsweekly»

Activity One: Use the Psalms-a-Day activity to guide students to learn, think about, pray with, and illustrate Psalms 100, 104, 136, 139, 147. Click here to download the PDF»

Activity Two: Write a poem about a Gospel story»

Teacher Pattern: A sunflower of thanksgiving»

Soul Food for Teachers: From Pope Benedict's new book, "Questions and Answers"»

Cathechist Know-how: "Holy Week" by Mary Lou Rosien»

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You had just a few days to live. You were focused on the Father and on making sure Your disciples would be okay once Your suffering began. What was going to keep them from just going back to the life they had before you called them? They knew, however, that Almighty God had touched them through You. Maybe they didn’t really know You were God, but they knew God was present in You. They believed, and the grace You would give them, Your words to them in those final days, would strengthen them. May these days until Easter be special for me, too, Jesus. May I walk with You as I never have before, watching, waiting, praying, listening.

(Adapted from Kelley Renz’s God Listens to Our Children: Kids’ Prayers for Every Day of the Liturgical Year, 2006. Encourage your parents to order copies for their children.)

Correction notice for 'The Big Book of Family Celebrations'

Our Sunday Visitor regrets the presence of several mistakes in this book’s third chapter. The corrected version of this Family Gathering may be downloaded by clicking here»

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