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
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.