Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Education Center - Christian Education and Nurture Class


Below you can read the syllabus for the next CLP/Leadership Class

Presbytery of San Francisco Education Center Class
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND NURTURE
May 31 – June 1, 2113

Instructors: Charie Reid, charie.reid@gmail.com, 925 937-3032
Susan Hunn, susanah148@earthlink.net, 925 938-3362

This course is open to CLP candidates as well as others interested in educational ministry in the church.


Course Description
This course explores working with children, youth and adults in Christian education and spiritual formation in both formal and informal settings. It explores the role of Christian nurture in building up disciples, in a Presbyterian and Reformed context. It offers planning processes for teaching/learning, a review of selected resources, as well as experiences in prayerful approaches with Scripture that participants can then use in their congregational setting. It offers opportunity to plan a lesson using curriculum from one’s church.


Required Reading
Prior to class:
To Set One’s Heart, Sara Little (available on Amazon)
Rabbi Jesus: Learning from the Master Teacher, Stephen Jones (available on Amazon, 35 cents for a new book)
After class:
Basic Skills for Church Teachers, 2005 edition, Donald Griggs (available in class)


Suggested Reading; Resources for Your Library
Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development, James Fowler (available on Amazon) introduces the development theories of Erickson, Piaget and Kohlberg.


Pre-course Assignment DUE on Friday evening
1. Read Rabbi Jesus: Learning from the Master Teacher and write a one-page paper reflecting on your choice of one of the roles of Jesus the Rabbi: why/how do you most identify with it? How can it be most helpful to you in your setting?
2. Read To Set One’s Heart and study the chart on pp. 40-41 comparing five models or approaches to teaching. Be prepared to share which model you think your current (or hypothetical) teaching situation calls for and why.
3. If you can: Please bring curriculum you have used as a teacher (or student) and would recommend to share with the class. Curriculum for any age group is appropriate.
Final Assignment DUE June 15.
Using the methods introduced in class, prepare a lesson. Be sure to read carefully chapter 3 of Basic Skills for Church Teachers and use or adapt the planning worksheets. Add to the lesson planning worksheet the age group to be taught (children, youth or adults) the approximate number of students expected, and the setting (for example, camp or classroom). If you can actually teach the class during the next two weeks, reflect upon how it went and what was most helpful to you from any of the readings and/or our class.

Course Requirements:
  • Attendance at both class sessions.
  • Completion of all required readings and assignments.