Christ in the Classroom: Lesson Planning for the Heart and Mind

Written by Jared Dees

Narrated by William Sarris

Jared Dees, creator of the popular website The Religion Teacher, shows how applying the steps of lectio divina to teaching can reorient religious education toward encountering the person of Christ rather than merely sharing information about him.

In Christ in the Classroom, Catholic author and speaker Jared Dees applies the five steps of lectio divina-reading/learning, meditation, prayer, contemplation, and action-to the ministry of catechesis. He offers teachers and catechists a practical framework for preparing lessons that broaden the focus of teaching from mostly intellectual learning to also encountering Christ in prayer, reflection, and action. Using this method, students and catechists come to know intimately the person of Christ at the same time that they are learning the tenets and traditions of the Church.

Dees shares stories of success and failure from his own teaching experience and he offers dozens of field-tested strategies, tactics, and teaching methods to effectively integrate the steps of lectio divina into the classroom or other catechetical setting. Outfitted with these tools, both experienced and new religious educators will feel confident in their ability to teach effectively and lead their students to a life-changing encounter with Jesus.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ChristianAudio.com
• Release date: Mar 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781545914892

Jared Dees

Jared Dees is the creator of the popular website The Religion Teacher, which provides practical resources and effective teaching strategies to religious educators. He is respected graduate of the Alliance for Catholic Education program at the University of Notre Dame, where he earned master’s degrees in education and theology. Dees has served as a Catholic school religion teacher and now volunteer catechist for more than a decade. He is the content marketing manager at Ave Maria Press and the author of 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator; To Heal, Proclaim, and Teach; and Praying the Angelus. His articles have appeared in Momentum, CATECHIST, Catechetical Leader, and on numerous websites. Dees lives in South Bend, Indiana, with his wife and four children.

Reviews for Christ in the Classroom

[sullijo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jared Dees’ new book, "Christ in the Classroom: Lesson Planning for the Heart and Mind", beings with a simple premise: long lectures, busywork, and the “read and review” model of religious education are failing to pass on the faith in a meaningful way.Dees advocates a different approach, beginning with the actual goal of catechesis. While much of modern religious education seeks to transmit theological information, Dees (citing Matthew 28) puts the focus squarely on “making disciples,” a very different task.To facilitate this goal, Dees utilizes the steps of lectio divina — lectio, meditatio, oratio, and contemplatio — and adepts them to catechetical lesson planning. In preparing each lesson catechists are encouraged to lead students towards an encounter with Jesus through a multifaceted learning approach:1. Learn: What does this teaching mean?2. Meditate: What is Christ saying to me?3. Pray: What can I say to Christ in response?4. Contemplate: What conversion of mind, heart, and life is Christ asking of me?5. Act: How will I make my life a gift for others?The main body of the book is guidance for each of these steps, with specific strategies and lesson ideas outlined. For instance, the contemplatio step suggests using the Jesus Prayer, icons, and Eucharistic Adoration, and music to help students experience a conversion of heart connected to the subject of the lesson.Jared Dees continues to be one of the most innovative and practical catechetical leaders working today and, like his previous books, "Christ in the Classroom" is a treasury of advice for new and veteran religion teachers. I highly recommend it for catechists, religion teachers, and catechetical leaders.NB: I received a free review copy of this book from Ave Maria Press.