In a couple of weeks, I will be spending my Sunday mornings teaching a religion class for fourth and fifth graders. In the past few years I have taught two classes for third graders and a Confirmation class for seventh and eighth graders. I had always attended Catholic schools, so when I first stepped into my first CCD class, many of my preconceptions were thrown out the window. Here are some of the important lessons I have learned about teaching religious education classes.

Expect Your Students to Have Varying Degrees of Knowledge

Students in religious education classes can significantly vary about their knowledge of their faith. On one hand, you can have children who attend Mass every Sunday and read the Bible at home; on the other, students might not even know the last time they stepped inside the church. It can be very challenging trying to teach these different groups of students; try to make sure that all the students understand what is going on and keep the class moving. Try not to spend an inordinate amount of time on a topic if most of the class seems to understand.

Be Understanding

Never, ever blame the students for not going to Mass—they are children and there are limitations to what they can accomplish. Always respect the parents' decisions even when you are pulling your hair out because Johnny has missed three weeks of Sunday School in a row. Complaining to the parents will just alienate them further, annd that does not benefit the children at all. Always keep in mind the only soul you know fully is your own, and therefore you are the worst person you know. However, you can still tell the parents things like "I hope to see you in Mass" or "I have a fun activity planned for Sunday. Try to be on time." Just don't be pushy.

Be Patient

Keep in mind you have these children for little over a hour once a week. They won't become Dominic Savios overnight. You might see very little improvement of understanding of their faith, but never fear. You are laying a base for them for the rest of their lives. What you may say in class might have no impression then, but maybe years from now, they will remember and act on it. Also remember you are only with them for so long. For many, this will be the only hour in the week that they talk and learn about Jesus and the Church. You have to cram what Catholic school students spend five classes into one. That is insanely hard, so if you manage to get one point accross, that is a major accomplishment.

Do Fun Activities

Don't spend each and every class just reading from the textbook. Try to find arts and crafts, convert important topics into songs, go on "field trips" to Eucharistic Adoration. There are so many different things you can do besides reading directly from the textbook. Have fun with it, and the students will have fun too!

Build Relationships with Your Students

Even though you will likely only meet once a week, it is still incredibly important to know who your students are. Children are not going to be interested in paying attention to you if they feel that you do not care about them. Learn their names! When they get to class, ask them questions about their week so they feel comfortable with you and with the classroom.

I hope that these tips will help your classrooms run smoothly. Most importantly, when you feel that all is hopeless, never forget to turn to Jesus, Mary and the saints to ask for their help with your class. Prayer will always be more helpful than any classroom advice.