2. Education
Education in its general sense is a form of learning
in which the knowledge, skills, and habits of a
group of people are transferred from one
generation to the next
through teaching,
training, or research.
Education
frequently takes
place under the
guidance of others.
Image: Taken from Clipart
3. Educator
• Respect students
• Creates community and belonging within the classroom
• Warm, accessible, enthusiastic and caring
• High expectations for all students
• Personal love of learning
• Skilled leader
• Can “shift-gears”
• Collaborates with colleagues
• Professional in all areas
Image: Taken from Clipart
Quote from Maria Orlando, EdD
4. Catholic Educator?
• Humble
• Patient
• Kind and show respect
• Enthusiasm for Subject Matter
• SHOW not tell
• Learn from Students
• Positive, smile
• Engage students
• High Expectations
• Warm Environment and
allow their students to make
mistakes
Image: Use with permission from Emily Albert
Quote from Theresa Thomas
5. How is being a teacher in a
CATHOLIC School different?
• Does not pit truth and love against each
other
• Instruct students in the art of prayer
• Grandeur and incarnational nature of the
Catholic faith
• Devotion to Mary and the Saints
• Love students in Christ-like manner; pray for
them – teach conversion of life
6. How is being a teacher in a
CATHOLIC School different?
• Trinitarian in catechesis
• TO FORM SAINTS WE MUST BECOME SAINTS!
Image: Copyright Public Domain. Original painted by Fra Angelico in 15th century
7. Catholic School Culture
• Rooted in worship
• Adherence to Christ
• JOY
• Religious Instruction
• Vision in all areas of
instruction
Image: Copyright by Creative Commons by Chris Wee
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cfwee/214399817/
8. Voices from Catholic Educators
• “I like to teach in a Catholic School because I
can pray with my students, share my
faith, and teach about Jesus and what he
would do in certain situations. I love the
family orientated atmosphere.”
Kindergarten Teacher
Image: Clipart
9. Voices from Catholic Educators
• “I teach in a Catholic School because it is where I
feel most fulfilled. Even on the days when I feel like
I can barely keep my head above water, I have my
students beside me, growing in Faith with me, and
it is so encouraging. I have enjoyed many different
students and a few different schools in my career,
and I can honestly say that teaching
in a Catholic school is where I am
meant to be.”
Grade 3 Teacher
Image: Clipart
10. Voices from Catholic Educators
• “I like teaching in a Catholic school because I
can make Christ the center of all that we do.
Students are encouraged to develop and use
their God given talents to serve others.”
Grade 4 Teacher
Image: Clipart
11. Questions?
• Who assists you in your learning?
• Who do you learn from on a regular basis?
• What kinds of professional development
have you been involved?
• Who do you turn for
professional development?
• Who do you turn for
religious formation?
Image: Copyright held by Creative Commons by Böhringer Friedrich found on:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Love_What_is_It.JPG
12. Professional Learning
Communities
Image: Copyright held by Creative Commons by Kevin Gill found on:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinmgill/6181049228/sizes/m/in/photostream/
• About continuous improvement ,
shared leadership and school reform
• Colleagues offer feedback, members share a
vision
• Empower risk taking
• Individual learning
13. Communities and Networks
• Community
– A group of people having common interests
• Network
– An extended group of people with similar
interests or concerns who interact with each
other in informal contact for mutual assistance or
support
14. The Three Prongs of Connected
Learning Communities
1. Personal Learning Communities
– Method
– Purpose
– Structure
– Focus
15. The Three Prongs of Connected
Learning Communities
2. Personal Learning Networks
– Method
– Purpose
– Structure
– Focus
16. The Three Prongs of Connected
Learning Communities
3. Communities of Practice
– Method
– Purpose
– Structure
– Focus
17. Use of PLN’s and PLC’s
• What are they?
• MINDSET – step toward digital literacy
Image: Copyright held by Creative Commons by Peeragogia found on:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PLN.png
18. Assumptions
• Creates a “connected” educator
– Co-learner, co-creator, co-leader
– Self directed, open minded
– Transparent in thinking
– Dedicated to ongoing
development
– Commits to deep
reflection
Image: Copyright held by Creative Commons by debaird found on:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/debaird/183861189/sizes/m/in/photostream/
19. Assumptions - 2
• Creates a “connected” educator
– Engages in inquiry
– Values and engages in a culture of collegiality
– Shares and contributes
– Good listener
– Engages in discussions
even if those are
difficult
Image: Copyright held by Creative Commons by debaird found on:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/debaird/183861189/sizes/m/in/photostream/
20. Building your
Network
• Takes time,
commitment and
communication
• “lurker”
• Re-evaluating work habits
• Self-promotion
• Contribute
Image: Copyright held by Creative Commons on:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_080112-N-0260R-
006_Builder_2nd_Class_Johan_Sanchez_and_Steel_Worker_3rd_Class_Andrew_Heffron,_both_assigned_to_Naval_Mobile_Construction_Bat
talion_(NMCB)_40,_work_at_a_building_construction_site_in_Obock.jpg
23. Resources
• Characteristics of an educator taken from Maria Orlando, EdD --
http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/philosophy-of-teaching/nine-
characteristics-of-a-great-teacher/
• Characteristics of a Catholic educator from Theresa Thomas
http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2011/10/thomas-ten-traits-of-a-great-
teacher/
• Characteristics of a good catechist – Part of presentation called: Top ten list for
Outstanding Catechesis by James Gontis
• Teacher quotes:
http://www.catholicglobe.org/no%20byline%20local%20news%201.24.13h.html
• Three Prongs of Connected Learning: Nussbaum-Beach, Sheryl, and Lani Ritter
Hall. The Connected Educator: Learning and Leading in the Digital Age.
Bloomington: Solution Tree, 2012.
• Catholic Culture: http://www.schooloffaith.com/teachers/
Editor's Notes
God is truth and God is love.The main point here is that Love and Truth are inseparable. Far too often it is said, taught, or at least hinted at that all we need is love. In a certain sense, this is true. All we do need is love! But this maxim presupposes a highly advanced and developed understanding of what love is! Love is a mountain that must be climbed. The steps that lead up the mountain are the commandments of God and the precepts of the Church. The Scriptures are full of admonitions such as this one: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Guard against the heresy of Antinomianism! This is the heresy that Love is in opposition to Law. The fact is that Love is the fulfillment of the Law. If a Catholic were to say, “I love God, so I don’t have to go to Mass” that person would be in serious error and quite possibly in mortal sin. We must be aware that, every once in a while, such a person will show up in one of our classrooms. If and when this happens, the outstanding teacher will be prepared to deal with him/her with a combination of logic and good humor.Prayer: Liturgy- Mass – Obligation for Sunday mass and holy days of obligation – not just “know” prayers but experience PRAYER: Eucharistic Adoration, rosary, stations of the cross, advent wreath devotions , divine mercy chapletIncarnation: body-soul composites – sacraments are sensible – sacred music, art, silence ….. Teach the truth, beauty and good …. Mary -- heroes provide HOPE – Eucharistic people devoted to the teachings of the ChurchChrist-like -- inspire students to want to be great as sons and daughters of THE KING – cannot live beneath their dignity – must teach the beauty of human life – made for Beatific Vision – teach why state of sanctifying grace is important – GO TO Sacrament of Reconciliation!
The One God is Three Persons.Good teachers of the Faith not only know that God is Three Persons but are caught up in wonder and awe at the fact that God is Three Persons and hardly ever give a lesson without some reference to it. These teachers take every opportunity to distinguish among the Three Persons whenever the lesson lends itself to the distinction — which it does most of the time. They make it clear that all three of the Divine Persons pre-exist creation, that the Father has always had a Son and that the Father and the Son have always breathed forth their Spirit. They make it clear that Jesus is the Second Person, not the First or the Third. They make it clear that the Second Person did not start to exist when Mary conceived Him in her womb. They make it clear that the Second Person will never cease to be human. At the same time, they make it clear that Jesus is not a human person. Good catechists do not say, “Oh well! The Trinity is a mystery! Let’s just leave it at that and move on!”To form saints … we must be good Catholics – must first be a good human being through the living out of the natural virtues of prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude as well as faith, hope and charity – distinctively Catholic: life in the Church – Eucharist, love for the saints, Mary, entire Church, as well as bishop, priests and deacons. – PERSONAL LEARNING!!!!
WORSHIP -- harmony with the heart and the mind of the ChurchCHRIST – shared and living adherence to the person and teachings of Christ in communion with the ChurchJOY – joyful witness to the unity in the faith among administration, faculty, staff, parents and studentsRELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION – doctrinally soundVISION – all academic instruction and student life
Community:Block (neighborhood) F2F ---------- FacebookNetwork: Join a community – FORM a network – the closer connections creates a community
1. Personal Learning Communities --- Method – often organized FOR teachers – purpose collaborate in grade level or subject area teams around tasks Structure – team or group-face/to/face Focus – student achievement
1. Personal Learning Networks --- Method – Do-it-yourself – Purpose to gather information for personal knowledge construction or to bring back to the professional learning community Structure – individual, face/to/face and online Focus – personal growth
1. Communities of Practice--- Method – Educators organize it themselves – Purpose: collective knowledge building around shared interests and goals Structure – collective, face/to/face and online Focus – system improvement
A PLN is a tool that uses social media and technology to collect, communicate and create with connected colleagues anywhere at any time. Personal to ME – (Twitter)Mindset – individuals gathering information and sharing resources that enhance personal and professional learning communities – specific – identified needs of the school and its students networks – design for themselves – short and long term goals for personal learning
Habits: Commitment – leave a commentSelf-promotion: this is who I am – this is what I do – this is what I am interested in – this is what I am trying to learn
Humility:recognize who God is and who we are, that we are not God and that in point of the fact we depend entirely on God not only for our existence but for every good work.Two aspects: reliance on God – our own inescapable inadequacy in sharing the Christian life with othersHow do we see this in teaching … TRANSPARENCY – proclaim own inadequacy in knowledge and virtueCharity – invite others into our space – our classroom should be an open door – use our gifts selflessly for othersHospitality – openness to allowing them inOur attention goes to themTrust in God -- Weakness is a key to our greatness – God makes our weakness greatPrayerConfidence not in ourselves but as His instruments
