FREE Holy Trinity Worksheet!

Next week's lesson will consist of teaching the Holy Trinity so I have a new worksheet to share with you friends. You can get it HERE! I suggest printing it on cardstock or oaktag so it is a little bit sturdier for little hands. Good Luck!  Here is a preview:

First day of CCD!

The first day of CCD this year went rather smoothly. After watching a brief video downstairs, I escorted students upstairs to our classroom. Here waiting for them at their desks were their folders for the year along with nametags. The nametags and assigned seats help students feel more at home on the first day in their new surroundings. You may want to move students around once you get to know them more but I highly recommend assigned seats on the first day! After taking attendance, we did a short "Getting to Know You" activity. Each student was given a worksheet with a list of different attributes on it, such as "wears glasses" or "has a pet", I asked students to raise their hand if this attribute applies to them, and if there was someone, they were allowed to check off the box on their sheets. This allows you to create a conversation and get to know student. You can even delve deeper and ask them what kind of pet they have, or what their pet's name is. Next we moved over to our story corner. Picture below,

The rainbow hanging above was made by tying plastic tablecloths to a hanger. Super easy and it really impresses the kids and makes our classroom feel even more magical. It's also a great aid in teaching about Noah's Ark! After reading a quick story, we moved back to the desks. I found a great coloring page on a site called LDS Lesson Ideas, you can get it Here. Students drew a self portrait on these sheets and then we hung them on a wire along the window with clothespins. The students really enjoyed displaying their work and were obviously very proud when they got to hang it up. Here is a photo of our lovely window display:

All in all, today was a great day to be a catechist! I look forward to teaching these children about their faith and am expecting a very fun and exciting year! 

God Bless!

Free Advent Challenge

A new Advent Challenge Printable is available FREE on TPT! You can get it HERE! This homework assignment is a great way to get students to realize the real reason for the season! It helps plant the seed of service in the and will help spread more of God's love out into the world. How could you go wrong?

Free Welcome to Class Lesson!

This is one of my very favorite worksheets that I've ever made! It allows students to be creative and share with the class, along with opening up the conversation about God and his gifts to us, such as our talents. Get it for free HERE!

CCD Folder Labels Available for Download!

New CCD folder labels available for download HERE! They are a great resource, and easy to personalize. I'm going to add some cute stickers to mine and let students decorate their own! With the new school year starting oh-so-soon, I wish you all the best of luck! I've also just started a Facebook page so fellow catechists can be notified when I've posted. Please go check it out and give it a like!

FREE Cain and Abel Worksheet!

A FREE Cain and Abel worksheet is now available on my TPT page which can be found right Here! Please go download and use with your CCD classes! This lesson is so much fun to teach!

FREE Adam and Eve Worksheet!

One of my Adam and Eve quiz type worksheet is now available Here on Teachers Pay Teachers! Go check it out and download!

Days Of Creation FREE Printable!

One of my first lessons will be about the days of creation according to the book of Genesis. My FREE printable of this is available. Click here for FREE Printable PDF  I will be having mine blown up at Staples and will be hanging in my classroom. I hope you enjoy yours as well!
Here's a sneak peek!

Welcome to Class Lesson

One of my "Welcome to Class" lessons is now also available on Teachers Pay Teachers!
Please go download! I promise that you and your students will love it!
Welcome To Class Lesson Worksheet

Classroom Newsletter available FREE!

Hello! I've recently made a newsletter as a classroom tool to help keep parents involved in their child's learning in my CCD class. The handout had a rainbow polka dot background. I just can't get enough of the polka dots! There is space at the top for the teacher to customize and their own name, along with spaces on the page for "Notes", "What We Are Learning", and "Upcoming Events". It is available for free download on Teacherspayteachers.com! Go check it out!
FREE Classroom Newsletter!

Classroom Construction

Hello Catechists! I haven't had much time to spend in my classroom lately, but I'd like to share some of the progress that I've made.

A look at my messy desk, the cubby space in the corner that will get a sprucing up when I get my class roster, and a round table that takes up too much space. I'm hoping to find a new home for that table so my students and I will have more room to move around. So hard to learn and grown in a cluttered, cramped space!

The beginnings of my bulletin board. More will be added once I know the number and names of my students.

A frontview of my desk and blackboard, featuring photos of Jesus and Mary, along with the Pope, to aid in teaching.

The story corner is a real asset to this room. I definitely am adding some decorations to the back wall. I'm hoping to add a clothes line across the window and use that as an area to display student artwork.

And here is a panorama of the front of my room. It all needs a good cleaning, some organizing, and some decorating to bring some much needed life back, but I think we are in good shape and I already feel at home in here. More decorating ideas, lessons, and beginning of the year fun to follow! God bless!

Bulletin Boards

  Hello fellow educators! I was at my local dollar store and hit the Catechist's jackpot. So many cute catholic classroom decorations! I was so excited that I definitely bought way more than I should have, so I might be changing bulletin boards every month, but I'm sure my students wont mind :)
Here are a few of my finds:

This chalkboard themed set will look great in my classroom! Borders say: "Let Your Light Shine" and smaller signs say: "Jesus Loves Me, This I Know", "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands", and "This Little Light Of Mine, I'm Gonna Let It Shine." (found at Dollar Tree)

 This cute elementary set features lambs, bibles, as well as suns. Borders say: "The Lord Is My Shepherd." This set would be good for sparking a conversation about how the Lord guides and protects us like a shepherd protects his sheep. Might have to use of the first class with the students' names printed on the lambs, bibles and suns. (Found at Dollar Tree)

This darling set includes lots of rainbows and hearts. Borders say: "God Keeps His Promises." Shapes say: "God Is Love", "God's Promises", and "Jesus Loves Me." I am thinking of adding a few pots if gold and St. Patrick accents and use around St. Patrick's Day! Also picked up some rainbow stickers, just for fun. :) (Found at Dollar Tree)

These are some bonus items that I just couldn't bring myself to put back. There are some letters for putting words on the bulletin boards, name tags, and extra package of borders, this one featuring books of the bible, and an extra pack of small signs, featuring bees saying: "Bee Like Jesus", "Bee Humble", and "Bee Joyful." Too adorable to not get! I can't wait to use these to help make my classroom a welcoming environment for my students! Finished products pictures to come. God Bless!

Pinterest

You can find me and my CCD class ideas on pinterest using the name @lmcatechist. I can't wait to connect with you!

Where to start...

Well, here I am. I find myself with a new position teaching Kindergarten and 1st Grade catechism and no idea where to start. 
To-Do list: 
-Clean up my classroom because the old teacher left a mess
-Think up some ideas about how to jazz up my un-decorated classroom
-Go through materials that need to be taught
-Decide on yearly goals and what I want the students to know when they leave my class
-Decide what supplies I will need for the year
I'm so excited to teach my new students next year! This will definitely be interesting and a wonderful learning experience. Lord help me. Amen!