School Edition
Plant the Seeds of Discipleship
8805 Governor’s Hill Drive, Suite 400 Cincinnati, Ohio 45249 1 . 877 . 275 . 4725 | RCLBenziger.com Like us on
Follow us on
BeMyDisciples.com T3018
School Edition
Plant the Seeds of Discipleship
A Letter from the Publisher Dear Partner in Ministry, We at RCL Benziger are imagining what the world would be like if it was filled with Christ’s disciples. Do you share our vision and our hopes? Be My Disciples shares the Christian n story in a catechumenal model using reflectio on Scripture and doctrine. It initiates children into the community of faith and challenges them to discipleship. Be My Disciples is a balanced approach that invites, teaches, and challenges young people to become disciples r of Jesus. It leads Catholic students and thei families to: • Grow in their conversion to Jesus Christ • Accept the demands of discipleship • Decide each day to choose life in Christ • Live as active, committed members of the Catholic Church Using a spiral structure, the six units of Be My Disciples: • Explore the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s four pillars of Creed, Liturgy, Morality, and Prayer • Incorporates Sacred Scripture in every chapter • Provides sixteen seasonal lessons at each grade level in the school edition to give students the opportunity to experience the beauty and richness of the liturgical year of the Church and its major feasts and seasons
• Includes activities and prayer experiences that help students and their families keep their minds and hearts open to discipleship as witnessed in the life of Jesus ides The Be My Disciples family of texts prov ols. a comprehensive program for Catholic scho es The program for elementary students in Grad ugh 1-6 builds on the seeds of faith planted thro Stories of God’s Love, our unique Scripture ol based religion readiness program for prescho Our and kindergarten students. It dovetails with Catholic Heritage, RCL Benziger’s two-level orentry level program for intermediate and juni high students who are just beginning formal ed catechesis. Be My Disciples will soon be join adult by Be My Disciples Junior High and other resources correlated to the major themes of Be My Disciples. BeMyDisciples.com is a unique web site , that offers unparalleled resources for students families and educators. We at RCL Benziger are excited by the e promise of Be My Disciples. We hope you shar our vision after previewing this program and will join us in promoting “Disciple Power!” Best wishes,
Jo Rotunno Jo Rotunno Publisher RCL Benziger
Features in Be My Disciples Focus on Faith Formation for Students and Teachers Student Book 3 Age-Appropriate Approaches Consider Developmental Needs of Younger Students
Provide successful learning opportunities that engage students’ religious imagination
3 Disciple Power Students focus on a specific virtue or gift as they form the habits of discipleship
3 Looking Ahead
A quick preview of the chapter content
3 Faith-Filled People
S aints and holy people give students models for discipleship
3 I Follow Jesus
Make a decision about how faith will be lived
Plant the Seeds of Discipleship
through the week
3 Catholic Social Teaching
Cross-curricular unit lessons correlated to the social
teachings of the Catholic Church
Multi-Media Teacher Guide 3 Teacher Workshop Your starting point for confident, capable,
committed catechesis. This built-in interactive workshop and the Be My Disciples in-service video will help you get the year off to a great start. You’ll also find a correlation to related modules in the Echoes of Faith program for teacher formation that will increase your confidence further.
3 Lesson Planner Easy-to-follow plan for teaching each chapter 3 Connections with the National Directory for Catechesis and Catholic Social Teachings How to’s for making connections and implementing important directives
3 Enrichment Ideas for Every Lesson
Teaching options and a connection to a specific lesson concept
Resources 3 B eMyDisciples.com
Extensive creative and practical resources, interactive connections between textbooks and the web site, and innovative social networking opportunities
3 Music Program
Music CDs help children build a repertoire of liturgical music
3 Assessment Tools
Create an assessment portfolio with chapter tests and other assessment instruments
3 Additional Activities
Time-saving reproducible activities extend learning in class or at home
3 Program Director’s Manual Comprehensive E-Resource for implementing the Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com Be My Disciples program
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
1
We asked pastors, principals, DREs, teachers and parents throughout the country to share what they considered to be the essential elements of discipleship. As a result of their input, the features and benefits of the Be My Disciples program will help you meet the needs of the students and families you serve as they grow in the knowledge of their faith and live as disciples of Jesus. Be My Disciples shares the Christian story in a catechumenal model, using reflection on Scripture and doctrine. It initiates children into the community of faith and challenges them to discipleship.
Build a World Filled with Christ’s Disciples!
The balanced approach to catechesis offered by Be My Disciples: 3 Teaches, reinforces, and extends knowledge of Scripture, Catholic doctrine, and the Church’s seasons every year in every grade through RCL Benziger’s unique spiral structure. 3 Invites students to discipleship through a dynamic methodology that incorporates the latest findings in brain research, psycho-social development, and emotional intelligence. 3 Challenges children to a deeper integration of faith and life by leading them to higher levels of thinking and encouraging a weekly faith choice. 3 Invites families into a partnership with the school in the faith formation of their children. This exciting new program leads Catholic students and their families to:
Extend Knowledge of Our Catholic Faith Every Year Trinity • God Our Father and Creator • Jesus Christ, the Son of God • The Death and Resurrection of Jesus •The Holy Spirit • The Bible, the Word of God • The Church, the People of God • Mary • Saints • The Church’s Year of Worship • Liturgy • Baptism • Confirmation • Eucharist and the Mass • Reconciliation • Anointing of the Sick • Holy Orders • Matrimony • Loving God • Loving Others • Virtues • Grace • Ten Commandments • Beatitudes • Conscience • Making Choices • Works of Mercy • Jesus, Model of Prayer • Tradition of Prayer • Transformation through Prayer • Ways of Praying • The Lord’s Prayer
3 grow in their conversion to Jesus Christ 3 develop the habits of discipleship 3 decide each day to choose life in Christ 3 live as active, committed members of the Catholic Church 2
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
Program Components Student Book
The structure of each 12-page chapter invites the students to Explore, Discover, and Decide upon a response to the lesson content.
Multi-Media Teacher Guide
Guides support you every step of the way with consistent features and resources that help you prepare engaging lessons each week.
Music CDs A music CD for every grade level contains the program theme song, instrumental music, a Marian song, bilingual Spanish songs, and six hymns sung by young voices to help children build a musical repertoire of liturgical music.
Assessment Tools
Reproducible masters help you create an assessment portfolio for each young disciple.
Additional Activities
Time-saving reproducible activities extend learning in your session or at home.
At Home Family Guide
Parents and families share their faith journey using this comprehensive at-home companion.
Be My Disciples Summer Program
Use this guide to adapt the Be My Disciples curriculum for use in a summer program format.
Program Director’s Manual
Ideas for implementing the Be My Disciples program, along with teacher training and family support, are all contained in this accessible DVD.
BeMyDisciples.com
This comprehensive site offers support for students, families, teachers and program directors.
Stories of God’s Love, Kindergarten
Sow the seeds for a lifetime of discipleship using this storybased religion readiness program for Kindergarten.
Our Catholic Heritage
Use this initiatory text with intermediate-age and junior high students who are just beginning formal catechesis.
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
3
Present Important Concepts through the Four Pillars
Encouraging Students and their Families to Know and Live their Catholic faith To provide students and their families with a thorough understanding of our Catholic faith, Be My Disciples uses Scripture, doctrine, and the Church liturgical year, along with lives of the saints and real-life examples of Christian witness, to encourage the growth of Gospel-centered moral conscience and Christian discipleship.
4
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
Students Learn Catholic Prayers and Practices
Student Book
Traditional Prayers in both English and Latin As requested by the Holy Father, traditional prayers taken from the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church are provided, along with some of the Latin prayers.
Encountering the Word of God in Scripture The use of Scripture to begin each unit and throughout each chapter helps students grow in their knowledge of the Word of God.
Belief and Practice Deepen the Path of Discipleship Understanding Catholic Doctrine
Students are introduced to prayers and practices from our rich Catholic heritage.
Each year students encounter and extend their understanding of the core teachings of the Catholic faith through six unit themes.
Celebrating the Liturgical Year Weekly liturgical prayer and 16 seasonal lessons at each grade level give students the opportunity to experience the rhythm of the Church year.
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
5
Welcome and Engage Students
Introduction and Welcome Students are introduced to the program goals and invited to grow as disciples of Jesus.
Preview Activity An engaging activity leads students on a search through their book to preview what they will learn this year.
Engaging Artwork Photos, illustrations, and fine art provide visible cues to enhance the learning experience.
6
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
Prayer and Ritual
Student Book
Honoring the Bible As they gather for prayer, students are introduced to a Catholic ritual for honoring Sacred Scripture.
Interactive Prayer Be My Disciples addresses all prayer forms and helps students integrate prayer into their daily lives through both individual and group prayer.
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
7
Build Religious Literacy
Be My Disciples helps students know and live their faith through loving service to others. Day by day, student gather to: • Grow in Knowledge. Through RCL Benziger’s unique spiral structure, students are introduced to Scripture and the Catholic Tradition by reinforcing and extending their knowledge year by year. • Connect Faith with Experience. Through a process of presentation, application, reflection, and decision, students relate knowledge of the Catholic faith with their life experience and commit themselves more deeply to the person and mission of Jesus Christ. • Practice the Skills of Discipleship. By learning the gifts and qualities of discipleship and practicing its habits and virtues, students learn the skills and the passion needed to follow Jesus.
Scripture grounds the unit content in the Word of God
Activate the student’s prior knowledge
Predict key concepts and vocabulary
8
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
Chapter Opener
Student Book
Encounter the Word of God. The proclamation and reflection on the Word of God in Scripture begins each unit and each chapter. Throughout each chapter, the students grow in their knowledge and love of the Word of God. They see how God’s loving presence and his Revelation have guided the Church throughout history and continue to guide us in our lives today.
Looking Ahead Offers students a quick preview of chapter content and a synopsis of how they will explore, discover, and decide.
Reflection on Life A question helps the students connect the lesson with their life experience.
Encounter with Scripture An opening Scripture passage and reflection ground the lesson content in the Word of God.
Process Faith Concepts Questioning techniques help students process faith concepts from basic recall to developing skills for higher levels of thinking.
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
9
We Live Out the Values of Jesus
Stories of the People of God This page tells the story of a saint, holy person, or ministry that has made a difference in the world. By learning more about a person or group that has lived the values of Jesus, students begin to learn the demands of discipleship.
Disciple Power This key character formation feature helps students focus on a specific virtue or gift that forms the habits of discipleship.
10
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
Word and Image Support Core Content
Student Book
Learn Catholic Doctrine The spiral structure helps children encounter and extend their understanding of the core teachings of the Catholic faith every year.
Faith Focus A question to focus the students’ attention on the key lesson concept.
Faith Vocabulary Calls out the faith vocabulary terms defined in each lesson.
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
11
Discover & Illuminate Core Concepts
Faith-Filled People An additional related example of a saint or holy person who models the way of discipleship
Catholics Believe Highlights a Catholic doctrine or practice that helps build Catholic knowledge and identity
Engaging Activities Reinforce lesson content with fun-to-do activities in your class or at home.
12
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
Disciples Follow Jesus
Student Book
Activity Challenges the students to integrate faith and life as they grow as children of God and disciples of Jesus
My Faith Choice Students decide how they will live their faith during the next week.
Personal Prayer As the lesson concludes, students are encouraged to pray about their faith choice.
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
13
Concluding the Lesson
Chapter Review To Help You Remember This feature lists three important concepts that foster faith.
A Prayer Experience Each chapter concludes by drawing upon the rich prayer tradition of the Church to help the students learn the many forms and styles of the Church’s prayer life.
14
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
Full-page chapter reviews offer cognitive and affective reinforcement of key concepts.
Foster Faith in the Home
Student Book
With My Family This tear-out page in each chapter gives families: • Chapter summary • Family activities • Discussion starters • Background on the Church’s tradition of prayer to enhance the spiritual journey of families • Connections to related teaching from Church documents
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
15
Catholic Social Teaching
Catholic Social Teaching Cross-curricular activities are provided to reinforce the Catholic Social principle throughout the various disciplines so that students are invited to internalize this teaching in their daily lives.
Catholic Social Principle Points out a principle of Catholic Social Teaching with a brief explanation
Cross Curricular Activities Activities across the disciplines are provided to help the student more fully comprehend the social teachings in everyday life.
Faith Action Faith Action leads students from information to action.
16
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
Spiritual and Cognitive Developmental Needs Be My Disciples considers the developmental needs of students in Grades 1-3. As the Be My Disciples program was developed, consideration was given to both the spiritual and cognitive faith development of the younger child. You will discover an age-appropriate approach to support the faith journey of students. Key Developmental Features for Grades 1-3
Benefits of Developmental Features
• Shorter sentence length • Appropriate type size • Engaging colorful illustrations • Short ritual prayer experiences • Attention to formula prayers for memorization • Briefer chapter and unit reviews • Teaching strategies that address concrete thinkers with shorter attention spans
• Provide successful learning opportunities helping the student to grow in faith knowledge • Combine art and image to engage the student’s religious imagination • Introduce appropriate virtues to help the child build the habits of Christian living • Assist Sacrament preparation by teaching what we believe about the sacraments and how we celebrate them
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
17
Solid Background for Teachers Be My Disciples Teacher Guides build confident, capable, committed educators in Catholic schools! The Teacher Guide supports you every step of the way with consistent features and easy-to-use resources that help you prepare engaging lessons for every class. From Day One Use this built-in interactive workshop and the Be My Disciples in-service video to help you get the year off to a great start.
Chapter Background A short and easy-to-read essay provides theological background on the chapter content that helps you grow in faith. Reflection questions help connect faith concepts with your own life.
18
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
All the Support You Need
Multi-media Teacher Guide
Teacher to Teacher Practical suggestions to assist you with your lessons and faith sharing.
The Church Teaches Includes references from important catechetical documents and includes references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults for each chapter.
Teacher Prayer This short prayer centers you as you begin to plan your lesson.
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
19
Makes Lesson Planning Easy
Planning At-a- Glance! The plan for teaching each chapter includes: • Chapter goal • Objectives • Outline of the lesson process • Materials list
Color Coding The three-step lesson plan is highlighted in the plan and at the point of use through color coding.
Learning Features These include Faith Vocabulary, Faith-Filled People, and Catholics Believe
Lesson Activities Outlines materials and suggests additional resources for planning a great lesson.
Music Each grade level music CD has a liturgical hymn that corresponds to each unit plus a theme song and instrumental music enhancing student learning and formation.
20
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
Additional Activities Enrich your lessons with additional activities to meet the various learning needs of your students.
Effective Three-Step Plan A Lesson Process that Works Follow a simple, effective three-part process for each chapter: • Explore • Discover • Decide
Multi-media Teacher Guide
Looking Ahead Offer learners a quick preview to see how they will Explore, Discover and Decide throughout the lesson.
Explore You will lead the class through an opening process that engages their life experience, grounds the chapter content in Scripture, and invites reflection. A second page titled “The Church Follows Jesus” helps you share a story from the Church’s Tradition about a saint, holy person, or ministry that illustrates discipleship.
Prayer and Scripture Begin the Lesson Grounds the chapter content in Scripture and invites prayerful reflection
Human Methodologies Background information provided throughout the program assists you to make connections between the lesson content and the eight Human Methodologies.
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
21
Provides Wrap-Around Support
Wraparound Lesson Plans oncise point-by-point plans begin with a brief C classroom prayer and then lead you page-by-page through a creative teaching process.
Explore Begin the lesson by helping students explore how the Church has followed Jesus.
Easy-to-Follow Process Introduce, Reinforce, and Connect to keep students engaged throughout the lesson.
Integrated Activities Challenge students to integrate faith and life with meaningful activities.
Disciple Power Further background information is provided for you on a specific virtue or gift that forms habits of discipleship as students grown in faith.
Teaching Boxes The lesson plan pages also are filled with teaching boxes holding ideas, suggestions, and additional background information to help you. Look for this material at the bottom of each page of the lesson plan. Here are the topics you’ll find: • Faith Vocabulary • Catholic Social Teaching • Liturgy Tips • Partnering With Parents • Teaching Tips • Six Tasks of Catechesis • Special Needs • Human Methodologies • Background • Disciple Power
22
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
Connects You to Church Documents
Multi-media Teacher Guide
Faith Focus Helps students focus on the key concept taught in this section
Scripture With Scripture woven throughout each chapter, students grow in their knowledge of the Word of God.
Teaching Tip This unique feature offers teachers tips to help students effectively learn key concepts.
Catholic Identity Additional background is provided for teachers about the Catholics Believe section that highlights a Catholic doctrine or practice to build knowledge and Catholic identity.
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
23
Celebrate Catholic Tradition
Discover These doctrinal teaching pages are the building blocks of your lessons and will make the core doctrinal content accessible to the students. Each page of the teaching plan names the core concept for the page and provides you with simple teaching steps.
Discover A combination of word and image helps to illuminate core doctrinal concepts; additional Scripture stories and application activities work together to increase understanding.
Doctrine Information Background information is provided so that you have the needed information to help you assist students in their understanding of the doctrine of the faith.
Faith-Filled People Teachers find additional related information on the saint or holy person whose life is a model for the way of discipleship.
24
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
Point-of-Use Tips
Multi-media Teacher Guide
Key Concept The teacher sees the core information for each teaching page.
I Follow Jesus This important section helps you to assist students as they integrate faith with the experiences of everyday life.
Decide This page shows you how to assist the students in integrating the content with their own lives and making a clear faith choice for the coming week to continue their journey of discipleship.
My Faith Choice Teachers guide students to prayerful discern and practice their faith choice each week.
The Tasks of Catechesis Every chapter provides background information and a connection to the Six Tasks of Catechesis from the National Directory for Catechesis.
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
25
Leads Students to a Faith Decision
We Pray Chapter Reviews Teachers guide their students to review key terms and concepts using a variety of short assessment tools.
Teaching Tip Box content on every lesson page of the guide offers additional tips and activities.
26
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
Your lessons end as they began – with prayer. The lesson plan provides clear instructions for leading the prayer, along with ideas for involving the students and enhancing the prayer experience.
Concludes with Review and Prayer
Multi-media Teacher Guide
Living as Disciples Families relate to home and family as a school of discipleship and are given background information on the Church’s tradition of prayer for families. Tips for sharing Scripture, prayer, and at-home activities are also provided.
BeMyDisciples.com Remind your students to visit the web site for additional resources.
Before Moving On At the conclusion of each chapter, a reflection question focuses on how the teacher can grow in skills and confidence.
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
27
Provides Purposeful Activities
Enriching the Lesson At the end of each lesson plan you will find a page of three enrichment activities that provide teaching options. Each activity includes clear directions, materials needed, and a connection to a specific lesson concept. These activities either provide alternatives to the process in the lesson plan or extend and enrich the lesson for the students.
Purpose Check here if you would like an additional activity that connects to specific lesson content.
Directions and Materials Easy-to-follow directions and a complete materials list for each activity help you plan for fun and purposeful activities to extend and enrich the lesson.
28
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
Catholic Social Teaching
Multi-media Teacher Guide
Catholic Social Teachings Every unit ends with a focus on one of the Catholic Social Teachings. A simple process is provided for teachers to guide and integrate the teaching into real-life situations.
Cross-Curricular An interdisciplinary approach helps your students to connect the Social Teachings throughout the curriculum.
Extended Knowledge and Teaching Tips Background information and teaching tips are provided to assist teachers in extending the knowledge for students.
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
29
BeMyDisciples.com
Exciting New Online Resources Visit BeMyDisciples.com to find outstanding online support with additional chapter reviews, online lesson planning tools, and a variety of other helpful content for students, parents, and families, teachers and program directors. • Interactive connections between textbooks and web site • Easy access to practical and creative resources • Safe social networking opportunities for sharing faith
30
Resources Resources Designed to Enrich and Enhance Your Sessions! Music Program Directed by well-known Catholic composer and performer Steve Angrisano Each music CD contains: • A program theme song (both vocal and instrumental) • Six hymns (one for each unit) sung by young voices help children build a musical repertoire of liturgical music as they advance through the grades. • Sung Mass parts reflecting the Roman Missal, Third Edition • Instrumental music for classroom meditation Music Songbook – Complete lyrics and accompaniment for guitar and piano Steve Agrisano
Assessment Tools Use these reproducible masters to create an assessment portfolio with chapter and unit tests and other assessment instruments.
Be My Disciples Summer Program This complete resource helps catechetical leaders adapt the Be My Disciples curriculum for use in a summer program format.
Additional Activities Time-saving reproducible activities extend learning in class or at home.
At Home Family Guide An at-home companion to the Be My Disciples program that will help families and their children share your faith journey.
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
Program Director’s Manual This accessible DVD includes everything the catechetical leader needs to implement Be My Disciples in your school. You’ll find ideas for teacher training, family support, meeting models, retreat models, and much more!
31
Older Students Beginning Catechesis
Evangelize and Catechize Learners! This comprehensive and engaging two-level program for intermediate-age and junior high students is designed for firsttime older students who are just beginning formal catechesis on their journey of faith. Following the directives of the General Directory for Catechesis, it uses the RCIA’s initiatory approach prescribed by the bishops to both evangelize and catechize new learners in the intermediate grade levels. • Offer a full initiatory catechesis • Lay a foundation for a lived faith • Introduce the Rites of Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist and Reconciliation • Provide online support • S upport Catholic students and families who are new or returning to the Church or new to Catholic schools • S upport students and families from other faith traditions
Reach out to returning families
32
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
Lay a Foundation for Discipleship Use Stories of God’s Love Kindergarten as the foundation for Be My Disciples.
Sow the Seeds for a Lifetime of Faith! The Scripture-based format of Stories of God’s Love Kindergarten begins where every catechesis should begin – by touching children’s hearts with the Gospel message. Written by a team of kindergarten specialists, Stories of God’s Love Kindergarten follows USCCB guidelines for kindergarten materials, lays a firm foundation for young learners, and can be used with any elementary program. • Children learn of and relate to God’s love through Scripture and story. • Parents and families are nurtured through activities, reflection, and prayer that foster Catholic faith and values. • T eachers and catechists find solid background, helpful planning tools, and easy-to-follow lesson plans each week. • Online resources offer support for teachers, catechists, and families.
Call toll free at 1-877-275-4725 • RCLBenziger.com
33